Carbon8Lighting Case Study
Stansted Airport 2013
INTRODUCTION
UK-based Carbon8Lighting offers a range of ultra-efficient, high-quality LED light fittings for commercial, industrial, and office environments. Carbon8 Lighting fittings provide market-leading price/performance and reliability. The range of fittings is constantly being developed and improved, applying the latest technology, ensuring that customers are provided with the best value at all times.
The customer for this case study is a global leader in worldwide logistics, with hundreds of airport-based hubs globally. With innovation and environmental responsibility being fundamental to the customer’s decision-making, they work closely with suppliers to understand the environmental advantages and impacts of the products and services supplied.
THE REQUIREMENT – UPGRADE LIGHTING AT STANSTEAD AIRPORT PARCEL DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSE
Carbon8Lighting was introduced to the project by independent electrical wholesalers, Eyre and Elliston when its customer expressed an interest in upgrading its existing lighting to a high-efficiency product that could offer significant savings in both running and maintenance costs. The customer was looking to completely refit its busy UK parcel distribution hub at Stansted Airport.
The first step in the process was for Carbon8Lighting staff to visit the site, meet the customer and get a better understanding of the requirements, the working environment, and the customer’s expectations. The site is one large hanger/warehouse split into two areas. The first area is an open plan with high bay light fixtures at the eves, mounted 17 meters above floor level. The remaining area is fitted with a mezzanine floor at 7.5 meters above floor level. The same high bay fixtures are mounted in the eves and light the upper area of the mezzanine while the area below the mezzanine floor is lit with low bay fitted due to the height restriction.
The distribution of light provided by the existing fittings was completely satisfactory for the customer, so it was agreed that the new fittings should directly replace the existing fittings one for one. By electing to do this installation times and costs would be kept to a minimum. To further simplify the installation process, Carbon8Lighting offered to fit three pins Duraplug plugs to each new fitting before delivery to the installers on site, as these plug connections were already in place on the existing fittings. This simple piece of tailoring is typical of how Carbon8Lighting reduces costs by looking at opportunities on an individual basis. The aim is to simplify installation where possible and therefore keep costs to a minimum.
While on site Carbon8Lighting also did a full light reading and lighting layout survey. This information was then collated and, along with factors such as consideration of the ambient environment, the results were then used to determine exactly which combination of LED fittings would offer the best solution to the customer.
Carbon8Lighting often provides computerised lighting designs for customers
THE SOLUTION
At the request of the customer, it was agreed that all the fittings to be installed at the 17-meter eves would be of the same type, even above the raised mezzanine area. This was in keeping with the existing light-fitting layout. For this area, the Carbon8Lighting 120w BigFoot LED Highbay fitting was chosen. This highly flexible fitting is designed to operate comfortably in areas where the ambient temperature can be high for prolonged periods. The heavy-duty passive heat sink cooling ensures that the BigFoot LED module in the fitting remains operating well within its thermal tolerances in working areas where a more traditional LED product would struggle. The simple construction of this fitting also helped to keep the price well within the customers’ budget.
For the area under the mezzanine floor, the Carbon8Lighting 90w LED Multi-function was selected. The fittings, being mounted at 7m are relatively close to staff operating on raised platforms. Glare from the fittings was therefore an important consideration. The design of the LED light face of Multi-Function light plays two key roles in the selection of this particular fitting for the area. The compound module design, with chip-on-board (COB) modules mounted individually, and widely spaced on a broad heat sink face plate creates less harsh glare than with a more conventional LED module. The large area of the heat sink face plate allows the fitting to be a slim, shallow design well suited to low-bay environments. The Multi-Function light has numerous mounting, power output, and lens options that make it a superbly versatile fitting without compromise.
Carbon8Lighting’s versatile Multi-Function LED Fitting is available in output ranges from 30w through to 400w, with numerous options to enable it to be installed as a pendant, flood light, or street light fitting
Since the customer selected Carbon8Lighting for this project they have decided to replace all the lighting at the site with Carbon8Lighting products, including round and square LED light panels, LED emergency lighting, and exterior LED flood lighting.
RETURN ON INVESTMENT
The return on investment period for the warehouse project has been calculated to be less than 10 months. This return on investment figure, coupled with the whole project coming in well under budget has made for an extremely happy customer that is now looking to emulate the project at other country hubs.
Comments