Industrial and factory LED lighting
Fitting out offices as well as the plant? See office lighting for wellbeing.
For food manufacturing halls, see the PS-FOOD round high bay.
Lighting for industrial facilities and factories has to match the task: open halls, fine assembly, washdown areas and, where needed, hazardous zones. This page sets out how to specify factory illumination and improve lighting performance without over-lighting empty space.
What industrial LED lighting needs to deliver
A factory lighting scheme should give the maintained lux level for each task from BS EN 12464-1:2021, control glare where people look up, and cut energy with efficient fittings and sensors. Polaris Light surveys the building, produces a lux plot, supplies the fittings and installs with our own team. Every product carries a 5-year warranty.
Lux levels for common industrial tasks
| Area or task | Em required (lux) | Em modified (lux) |
|---|---|---|
| Rough assembly | 200 | 300 |
| Medium assembly; welding | 300 | 500 |
| Fine assembly; precision machining | 500 | 750 |
| Precision assembly | 750 | 1,000 |
| Store and stockrooms | 100 (200 if continuously occupied) | 150 |
Full workplace tables are in our free UK lux levels guide and the recommended lux levels article.
Choosing fittings by area
- Open production halls and loading: UFO high bays such as PS-UFO-MAX (switchable 100 / 150 / 200 W at 200 lm/W).
- Workshops and sports-hall-type spaces: low-glare PS-MILD (UGR below 19).
- Aisles between racking: linear high bays with aisle optics such as PS-CURVE.
- Washdown and food process: IP69K PS-CORROSION; see also the cold store lighting guide.
- Hazardous areas: UKEX-certified ATEX high bays and floodlights. Start with ATEX lighting.
Compare options in the LED high bay lights buyer’s guide. For a warehouse-focused upgrade checklist, use the warehouse LED lighting upgrade guide.
Lighting performance optimisation
Improving illumination in a factory setting is rarely about adding more watts. Match the optic to the layout, set maintained lux per zone, dim empty areas with sensors, and commission against the design. That is how you raise lighting performance while cutting running costs.
References
Named manufacturing and industrial projects on our projects page include Gates Hydraulics, Meggitt Aerospace, Meggitt Composites, Tate Business Group, Carter Environmental and Oakleaf Waste Facility, alongside food and logistics sites such as Farm Foods DC.
Also see warehouse lighting sensors and warehouse emergency lighting.
Frequently asked questions
What lux level does a factory need?
It depends on the task. BS EN 12464-1:2021 gives maintained values such as 200 lux for rough assembly, 300 lux for medium assembly and welding, and 500 lux for fine assembly and precision machining. Ask for a lux plot for each zone.
Which LED lights suit industrial buildings?
Open production halls usually need UFO high bays such as PS-UFO-MAX. Workshops where people look up suit low-glare PS-MILD. Washdown and food areas may need PS-CORROSION (IP69K). Hazardous zones need UKEX-certified ATEX fittings.
Do you design and install industrial lighting?
Yes. We survey, produce lux plots, supply and install with our own team. Every Polaris product carries a 5-year warranty.
How do I improve lighting performance in a factory?
Match lux to the task, use the right optic for open floors versus aisles, add sensors where zones are empty, and commission against a design. See our LED high bay lights guide and UK lux levels guide.