Canopy Overhead Lighting

Canopy Lights Are Reliable Fixtures For General Exterior Lighting

Canopy lighting is a proven piece of fixture technology and a frontline option for exterior vehicle and pedestrian lighting applications. It’s rugged, effective and versatile enough to fit under a variety of overhangs and ceilings.

In short, canopy lighting is a reliable lighting solution, and one that’s necessary for many businesses. People do not feel safe in poorly lit areas, for example, which could have a huge impact on businesses like gas stations. LED canopy lighting is one of the most cost-effective exterior lighting solutions available, so it’s ideal for all kinds of properties.

Where Are LED Canopy Lights Installed?

Canopy lighting is extremely versatile and can be used in both interior and exterior settings. Some of the most common LED canopy lighting applications include:

In addition to the above commercial applications, canopy fixtures can also be installed on residential properties. Garages, sheds and workshops are common interior applications, and you may also find canopy lights hanging under a gazebo or a pavilion. In each case, canopy fixtures may be surface-mounted, recessed or suspended from a pendant, offering a variety of practical uses.

A Few Features To Look For In LED Canopy Lighting

No matter what type of light you’re looking for, it’s a challenge to sort through all of the options. That’s also the case with canopy lighting, which is why most businesses work with a lighting expert to secure the canopy fixtures they need.

If you’re just getting started on your search, here’s a few canopy lighting features to target:

1. Aluminum build – Aluminum canopy fixtures are the industry standard, for a couple reasons. One, aluminum is a lightweight metal that is easy to suspend from ceilings, and that makes aluminum fixtures easier to install. Two, aluminum is resistant to many forms of corrosion, so it’s ideal for challenging exterior settings.
2. A shatterproof lens – There’s minimal risk of a canopy fixture plummeting to the ground, but the risk of something striking the fixture is real. Whether incidental or intentional, if the light shatters when hit by something, that’s an immediate hazard.
   To prevent this, many canopy fixtures are built with a shatterproof polycarbonate lens. These lenses are durable and typically resistant to UV radiation.
3. Protection against dust and moisture – Any lights intended for exterior applications must be protected against moisture and airborne particles. Otherwise, early failure is all but guaranteed. The quick way to assess this is to check the fixture’s IP rating.
   IP ratings consist of two digits, from one through seven. The first number details the fixture’s protection against solid intrusion. The second number details the fixture’s protection against water. The higher the number, the better in both cases. For exterior applications, aim for fixtures with at least a 44 IP rating.

Old Canopy Lighting Can Now Be Retrofitted With Modern LED Fixtures

Canopy lighting has been around for a long time, and so many buildings are still running legacy canopy lighting systems. Some of these systems are old enough that they’re still operating mercury vapor fixtures.

Whether your building is still lit by 19th-century technology or something a bit newer (but still outdated), it’s worth considering an LED retrofit. In recent years, the lighting industry has seen an incredible number of LED retrofittable fixtures, and this includes canopy fixtures. With retrofit LEDs now available for nearly every canopy lighting application, there are many good reasons to transition to LED.

Three Reasons To Make The Switch To LED Canopy Lighting

If your canopy lighting system needs an upgrade, consider an update. LED technology is the top choice for most modern lighting systems, and there are several reasons why. Three of those reasons include:

Energy efficiency

LED lighting is the most efficient form of lighting available and therefore costs much less to operate over time. This cost efficiency advantage can be huge for commercial properties that run hundreds or thousands of canopy lights at a time. Huge enough that a retrofitted LED lighting solution can pay for itself after several years.

LED’s efficiency is stark when you compare it to other lights. LED is about 85 percent more efficient than halogen, for example, and LED’s system efficiency (accounting for losses once the light leaves the source) is about twice that of HID’s.

Extended lifespan

LEDs can output quality illumination for at least 50,000 hours, and that’s usually the floor. Some LED lamps can go nearly twice as long. At 50,000 hours, the typical LED engine lasts about five times as long as an HID or fluorescent fixture, which means they’re practically maintenance-free once installed. This, combined with their superior efficiency, means LED lighting imposes the lowest operating costs possible.

Enhanced controllability

LED lighting is built on solid state circuitry – the same kind of circuitry found in your computer. Solid state circuitry is a much more reliable control medium, which means LED lighting is much easier to manage through modern lighting controls.

Dimmers, timers, occupancy sensors, photocells, color control – LED lighting is compatible with all of them. With LED’s superior controllability, you can customize the way your lighting looks after it is installed.

Bulb Daddy’s Lighting Experts Can Help Select The Right Canopy Fixtures For Your Application

There are hundreds of canopy lighting fixtures on the market, designed for everything from backyard gazebos to towering warehouses. With so many canopy fixtures to choose from, you may not know where to begin searching. Start with Bulb Daddy. Our expert team has decades of experience in residential, commercial, and industrial lighting, including LED lighting. We’ll put that experience to work in helping bring your canopy lighting project to life.