Lighting warehouse racking aisles: lux levels, vertical light and optics
Most warehouse lighting guides talk about light on the floor. In a racked warehouse, what matters just as much is light on the rack faces, so pickers and truck drivers can read labels at every level. This guide covers the levels in BS EN 12464-1 and how to design aisle lighting that delivers them.
Light levels for warehouses in BS EN 12464-1
| Area | Maintained illuminance |
|---|---|
| Store and stock rooms | 100 lux (200 lux if continuously occupied) |
| Gangways between racking, manned | 150 lux |
| Rack faces (vertical) | 200 lux |
| Packing and dispatch | 300 lux |
| Loading bays | 150 lux |
Source: BS EN 12464-1:2021, warehouse and rack store tables. A lighting design confirms the values for each zone of your building.
Why vertical light matters
A gangway can meet 150 lux on the floor and still leave the upper shelves dark, because a wide beam lands mostly on the floor and the tops of the racking. Picking errors, slower picking and difficult label reading follow. The 200 lux vertical requirement on rack faces is there to prevent that.
Choose the optic for the aisle
- Narrow aisle optics on a linear high bay push light down the length of the aisle and onto the rack faces. PS-CURVE is a linear high bay from 100 to 240 W with aisle optics for racking.
- Wide distribution suits open floor areas, marshalling and dispatch. PS-UFO-MAX is a round high bay, 100, 150 or 200 W selectable on site.
Mixing the two in one building is normal: aisle optics in the racking, wide optics in open areas.
Controls in the aisles
Many aisles are empty for most of the shift. Presence sensors dim or switch an aisle when nobody is in it and bring it back to full light when a picker or truck enters. LED fittings reach full output immediately, which is what makes this practical. How much this saves depends on how the aisles are used, so we look at the picking pattern in the survey.
Plan for racking changes
Racking layouts change. If aisles are likely to move, choose fittings and mounting that can be repositioned, and keep a copy of the lighting design so it can be rechecked.
Every Polaris product carries a 5-year warranty. See warehouse lighting, our guide to LED high bay upgrade costs and savings, or request a free lighting survey and lighting design plan.
Sources
- BS EN 12464-1:2021, Light and lighting. Lighting of work places. Part 1: Indoor work places (BSI).
Frequently asked questions
How many lux does a warehouse racking aisle need?
BS EN 12464-1 gives 150 lux for manned gangways between racking and 200 lux vertical on rack faces.
Why is vertical illuminance important in a warehouse?
Pickers and drivers read labels on the rack faces at every level. Light that only lands on the floor leaves upper shelves dark.
Which high bay is best for narrow aisles?
A linear high bay with an aisle optic, such as PS-CURVE, which puts light onto the rack faces.
Can aisle lights switch off when empty?
Yes. Presence sensors dim or switch an aisle when nobody is in it, and LED returns to full light immediately.
What warranty do Polaris products have?
All Polaris products carry a 5-year warranty.