Dear Reader: It’s always good to measure where your plant stands not only in comparison to where it once was (in order to drive and quantify continuous improvement), but to measure how you compare to other plants across America vis-à-vis any of a variety of available metrics from which to build those models. Our industrial […]
Compare Your Plant’s Performance to Others’ With Benchmarking Read More »
Dear Reader: The primary governing body over emergency and exit lighting is the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and their publication entitled NFPA 101, Life Safety Code is the gold standard. But first, some definitions, as provided by 29 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 1910.34(c) OSHA: Exit Route – A continuous and unobstructed path of
Emergency and Exit Lighting, for Human Safety Read More »
Dear Reader: Most manufacturing and food processing plants include some spaces that are classified by the National Electrical Code (NEC) as hazardous locations, “where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to flammable gases or vapors, flammable liquids, combustible dust, or ignitable fibers or flyings.” The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) has written a
When it’s a Hazardous Area, Use Hazardous Fixtures Read More »
Dear Reader: Any processor of food or drink – if it is to be consumed by human or animal – must concern him/herself with food safety. Rest assured, someone else is concerned, and the more understanding a Facilities Manager has of the safety rating process, the more prepared that person will be, and the safer
Food Processing Requires NSF-Rated Fixtures Read More »
Dear Reader: Not all lighting fixtures are designed and built to do all things .. no surprise there. There are a number of fixture types that are what might be called ‘Specialty Fixtures’, as they are manufactured for a particular type of work, typically in a harsher environment, frequently involving dust, dirt or water. These
IP Lighting, for When Ingress Protection is Needed Read More »
Dear Reader: Many electrical systems experience voltage surges, caused by any of a variety of reasons including electrical overload, faulty wiring, lightning strikes, and the restoration of power after an outage or blackout. The prudent Facilities Manager will take steps to provide for solutions to maximize her/his LED lighting fixture protection and continuity of service
Keep Electrical Surges from Frying Your Fixtures Read More »
Dear Reader: Electricity comes into the plant in waves, very much like ocean waves, or heat, or any of other phenomena that involves rhythmic movement. Energy is no different. The key is to move that energy as smoothly as possible through the plant, so as to reduce the frequency and magnitude of these waves of
Don’t Ignore Harmonic Distortion Read More »
Dear Reader: One of the most important indicators of an LED lighting fixture’s energy efficiency is its Power Factor rating. While the meaning of this metric eludes some Facilities Managers, it’s really very simple as to what it means, and how it’s calculated. Power factor is the measure of how much electricity is actually being
How Much Electricity Converts to Lumens is a Fixture’s Power Factor Read More »
Dear Reader: We believe generally that the typical focus during an LED buyer’s due diligence is on what can be expected during the initial performance of a new lighting system – hoping that once installed, everyone will look up and ooh and aah – but with not enough importance placed on anticipated performance over the
How Long an LED Fixture Can Practically Function: Rated Life Read More »
Dear Reader: Here’s a shocker: the Rated Life of an LED is not necessarily the same as the manufacturer’s warranty. In addition to Lumen Maintenance and Rated Life metrics, the lighting system buyer should fully understand what the warranty covers – and to what specific point in a fixture’s life the warranty is in effect.
Warranties Don’t Cover Everything Read More »