Elevator Cab Lighting Ideas

There are several ways to light a space. When it comes to elevator lighting, this is a special area with its own unique considerations to keep in mind. Here are a few basic principles of lighting this area you need to know.

1. Know the safety and building codes

Whether an apartment building, government headquarters, or a corporate location, an elevator, along with all the accompanying lighting, must meet any local and state lighting regulations. The first step in choosing lighting is to know your codes!

2. Choose low to no heat emitting solutions

Once you have met the requirements of any regulations, you can start looking at solutions to find the right application. Since elevators are small spaces, you want to alleviate as much extra heat as possible to maintain comfort. Avoid incandescent bulbs since they produce more heat than light. A better choice is fluorescent which produces more light than heat in comparison. However, the best bet is still LED lamps. LED offers the best in no to low heat emissions while offering a great return on lumen to wattage ratio.

3. Select an appropriate color temperature

Aside from the heat factor, you also want to look at color temperature. The color temperature needs to be a comfortable option for the eyes. If it is too bluish white, it will be uncomfortable for the eyes. If it is too warm or yellow, it can make the interior of the elevator seem dingy. A good rule of thumb is to stay in the middle ground in terms of the Kelvin scale.

4. Consider efficiency

When running a large enough building that an elevator is necessary, you need to pay attention to utility costs. One of the best ways to get an efficient plan is to choose LED over other options since it uses lower energy for lower utility costs. You should also consider using lamps in sections. For instance, running alternating rows of light fixtures within the elevator and shutting off the intermittent rows of lights is a good idea. This will extend the life of your lamps because they are used half as often and are given a little break from constant usage.

5. Install emergency lighting solutions

As with any area of public buildings, emergency lights are a crucial component. Emergency lighting should be wired so that it will be available in the event of a power outage to keep those inside the elevator calm until power is restored. While red lights were once the normal option, more and more locations are staying away from this since red tones of light can induce panic. Instead, set your emergency lights to a cool white instead.