02 Aug 5 Good Applications For Linear Lighting

Linear Lighting is Versatile, Practical and Effective

Linear lighting is simple yet surprisingly effective. Arranged in a straight line, linear fixtures can be used in a variety of applications and in a variety of settings. Whether for residential, commercial, industrial, task, or accent lighting – there’s a linear fixture for every space.

They also come in a huge array of sizes, from compact strips that can fit on a shelf, to extended linear runs designed for warehouse aisles. At every scale, LED is the preferred light engine for several reasons. With LED linear lighting, property owners can secure an unmatched combination of performance, efficiency, and controllability.

Five Applications That Linear Lighting is a Good Fit For

Linear lighting is incredibly versatile. Most buildings are designed using straight lines as a standard shape. Hallways, gymnasiums, office buildings, department stores, manufacturing production areas – there are plenty of spots where linear lighting would make a big impact.

To illustrate linear lighting’s flexibility, here are five applications where it will really shine:

1. Task lighting – Task lighting refers to any fixture that helps guide people or helps them get a job done. For instance, task fixtures may be installed over a workbench to facilitate detailed technical work or installed around a cashier station to direct customers.
   Linear fixtures can fit into many task lighting applications. Their shape is ideal for warehouse operations, where long aisles are standard. Linear task fixtures can also be suspended above quality check stations in manufacturing facilities.
2. Open office lighting – The traditional office layout is going by the wayside. Professionals collaborate and communicate better in open offices but lighting those open spaces can be a challenge.
   Linear lighting is up to the challenge, as it provides excellent coverage no matter how large your open areas are. If your open office features a high ceiling, linear lighting can be suspended at a range of heights to get that perfect look.
3. Accent lighting, including undercabinet strips – Some linear strips are so small that they can be concealed in or under the room’s features. For example, linear strips can be installed under countertops, cabinets or bar tops. This approach makes sense for residential properties (kitchens, bathrooms) and in commercial settings (restaurants, product displays, nightclubs, reception areas).
   Linear strips can also be placed in architectural coves, like those found inside banks, hotels and building lobbies.
4. Auditorium and lecture hall lighting – Many university lecture rooms and auditoriums are expansive spaces, large enough to fit a hundred or more people. They’re also places where students are frequently engaged in important tasks such as taking notes or testing.
   Good lighting is a must, and linear fixtures are a strong option for these educational spaces. Lecture halls and auditoriums are typically built with tall ceilings, giving installers the opportunity to suspend linear fixtures and ensure wall-to-wall coverage.
5. Parking garage lighting – Parking garages are big, dark places that feature long stretches. The perfect place for linear lighting, in other words.
   What makes linear fixtures particularly effective for parking garages is their installation flexibility. Some garages have tall enough ceilings that linear fixtures can be suspended from them. Others don’t, but that’s okay because linear fixtures can be mounted directly to the ceiling. In either case, linear fixtures provide maximum illumination coverage, which is critical for pedestrian and motorist safety.

The Best Linear Fixtures Are Powered with LED Technology

There are a variety of lamp technologies that can fit in a linear fixture, including fluorescent and incandescent. However, LED lights are emerging as the source of choice. There are plenty of reasons for this, including:

• Better operating efficiency – This one’s first, of course, because it’s impossible to talk about LED lighting without mentioning its efficiency. LED lighting is the most energy efficient on the market at the source, but that’s only one part of the story.
  LED lighting is also far more efficient at the system level, because LED bulbs are directional by virtue of their engineering. With their directionality, LED fixtures are easier to aim, so it’s easier to get more of their output to the intended target. Other forms of lighting require expensive reflectors or suffer from significant losses.
  But that’s not all. LED lights last far longer than other lighting options, lasting an average of 50,000 hours before replacement is required. This reduces maintenance costs, which further reduces system operating costs.
• Compact lamp build – The engineering behind LED manufacturing is sophisticated enough that LEDs can be scaled up or down in size. Their compact build is especially useful in accent lighting applications, where tight installation spaces are the norm. LEDs give installers additional flexibility in where they can place the linear strips, so they can produce maximum lighting impact.
• Even illumination coverage – LEDs emit in a clear, even pattern that features minimal hotspots and dead areas. With no imperfections interfering, linear LED lighting creates the kind of aesthetic that works well in every setting, from bedrooms to boardrooms.
• Superb controllability – LED lighting technology is engineered with solid state circuitry, like the kind you would find inside a computer. Solid state circuitry is far easier to control than metal filaments or gas chambers, which makes LED lighting the most controllable on the market.
  In practice, this means LEDs are compatible with a wide range of lighting controls, including photocells, dimmers, timers, and occupancy controls like motion sensors. With these controls, facilities can minimize their lighting waste and optimize output for efficiency and comfort.
• Simple, safe disposal – LED fixtures contain no hazardous materials of any kind, so when it’s time to replace one, they can be disposed of like regular waste. Compare this to fluorescent tubes, for example, which do contain mercury and must be disposed of using special, more expensive procedures.

We Can Help Select The Ideal Linear Lighting Fixtures For Your Application

Linear lighting can fit into a variety of lighting projects, as it’s available in a variety of sizes and styles. That’s part of the problem, though. With so many types of linear lighting out there, targeting the best one for your project may seem impossible.

That’s where our team comes in. We’re familiar with all of the linear lighting products available and the applications they’re an optimal fit for. We can also help determine the optimal installation method to ensure you get the best coverage from your new linear lights.