A beam angle is the angle of LED light that spreads across the floor when a LED lights is turned on. It can also be referred to as a beam spread. Choosing the right type of beam angle is very important for businesses to achieve the optimum lighting that they desire. When choosing the beam angle of LED lights, the most important consideration is to decide how bright you want the area to be. Different venues have different types of lighting requirements, such as, a factory or hospital will have the need to be extremely well lit while a break room or restaurant will not need to be as bright. Depending on the height of the ceiling, the beam angle can affect the illumination and visibility. For example, a warehouse with high ceilings will need LED high bay lights with a different beam angle than a retail store.
A universal way to classify light distribution is important, especially for contractors who work with outdoor fixtures such as flood and stadium lights. When planning an outdoor lighting project it is important to know what the distribution of light is within the beam created by a fixture. The NEMA Beam Angle classification helps to standardize these measurements so that you can best calculate the number of fixtures you need and the spacing required between them. NEMA distributions are described by the horizontal and vertical beam spread of a fixture. That beam spread describes two planes of light where the intensity is 10% of the maximum candlepower, or the center strongest beam of the light. This is also called the field angle. If only one number is given, then the distribution is considered symmetrical.
Mounting height plays a very important role in the strength a lamp has on its intended target. LEDs cast a cone of light and are naturally directional, the beam will always dictate the area that will be illuminated. Deciding the perfect beam angle for your fixture entails knowing the distance between where the light will be mounted, and the area you plan on illuminating. A closer distance will not need a long-range narrow beam, so it’s best to go with a wider flood. To light a specific point at a further distance, a more narrow, farther-reaching beam will be ideal. For multiple fixture placement, you may need to determine the distance between light sources and the beam’s radius to avoid overlapping. If you plan to group wider beam fixtures for ambiance, your beam spread diameter should be equal to or greater than the distance between fixtures.
Our employees at Factory LED Direct are here to help you determine what lighting you need for your projects. Please do not hesitate to contact us and get a free quote on your next project.
