Lighting is an important factor worth considering when designing modern data centres today. Choosing the right commercial lighting solutions for these mission-critical environments is crucial for many reasons. It enhances operational efficiency by ensuring the selected lighting can withstand the extreme temperatures. The right lighting also supports operational safety by ensuring clear visibility in critical areas.
Not only does poor lighting in modern data centres often causes higher energy bills. It also results in higher operational risks. To avoid these risks, it is absolutely critical that lighting supplier has to work alongside appointed lighting consultant and have all the necessary experience on working on these types of projects, just like 299 Lighting. In the rest of this post, we’ll explore why lighting is a crucial factor worth considering in data centres.
Understanding why lighting matters in data centres
Modern data centres are designed to operate around the clock. They house essential IT infrastructure. This advanced IT equipment requires continuous monitoring and regular maintenance.
Having the right data centre lighting matters for many reasons today. First, you need high output lighting for clear visibility—this supports maintenance activities in critical areas. Furthermore, commercial lighting enhances safety, especially during emergency situations. It also lowers operational disruptions by ensuring reliable visibility for ease of maintenance.
Key factors to consider when choosing data centre lighting
The most important factor when selecting lighting for data centres is the capability of the luminaires to operate in extreme temperatures. These are often over 40 degrees Celcius. The selected luminaire has to have all appropriate tests and certification from manufacturer.
1. Energy efficiency
Generally, data centres use a significant amount of energy to power their infrastructure. As such, one key aspect you need to focus on to minimise operational costs is lighting. That said, the right lighting should lower energy consumption without compromising on performance.
LED technology offers high-performance and energy-efficient systems, as they lower energy consumption by 50% to 70% compared to conventional fluorescent lighting.
They are a clear choice for sustainable designs.
Yes, they’re an environmentally conscious choice if you’re looking to create green data centres. We also recommend LED technology because it produces minimal heat.
Choosing commercial lighting alone isn’t enough. For further efficiency, you also need to factor in intelligent lighting controls. This further helps you to lower operational costs. For instance, motion sensors should be implemented in maintenance areas. This allows lighting to operate only when maintenance is going on.Other intelligent lighting controls worth considering are daylight harvesting and wireless controls. Daylight harvesting is ideal for areas with natural light access. The sensor adjusts artificial lighting levels based on needs. Wireless controls, such as Casambi lighting for offices, allow lighting adjustments with no intrusive cabling.
2. Safety
Safety is very important when choosing appropriate data centre lighting. The right system should lower the risk of accidents, especially during emergency situations. The system should also offer clear visibility to navigate high-density rack environments.
Furthermore, the system should also comply with statutory requirements, such as BS5266-1- Code of Practice for the Emergency Lighting Premises and BS EN 1838 standards for emergency solutions. Prioritising compliance ensures every exit route is sufficiently illuminated in case of a power failure.
Lastly, glare control is crucial when choosing the right commercial lighting for data halls. This eliminates discomfort & eye strain for maintenance teams. Bottom line, glare control is vital to improve workers’ overall well-being and enhance task performance.
3. Maintenance
Maintenance factor is crucial when specifying the right data centre lighting systems. The right systems should be easy to maintain. The key to seamless operation is being able to identify the faulty light fitting instantly. Using systems like DALI can help identify any luminaire that needs replacing or maintenance.
For the best result, we recommend using high Colour Rendering Index (CRI) lighting. These data centre lighting systems make it easier for the maintenance teams to identify various cable colours & equipment markings.
Conclusion
Today, data centre lighting plays an important role in operational safety, efficiency, and maintenance planning. By prioritising energy-efficient LED systems & other aforementioned factors, you can always create a lighting scheme that supports your facility’s mission.
In the UK today, 299 Lighting is one reliable company you can partner with for suitable lighting systems. This company specialises in providing solutions that ensure your facility is safe, efficient, and future-ready. You can visit the official website today to find data centre lighting solutions that align with your vision.
