Introduction to Lighting Maintenance
by Craig DiLouie and Randy Smith

All lighting systems experience deterioration of performance during operation and therefore require ongoing maintenance conducted either by properly trained in-house staff or an outsourced lighting management company. As the useful light distributed by the lighting system decreases, wattage remains the same, resulting in waste.

In many buildings, lighting systems are maintained in a reactive rather than proactive manner. Lamps are replaced as they fail, a service request is registered and the maintenance department can schedule the replacement with its other priorities.

Defective components such as failed ballasts and broken lampholders are only replaced when they cause the fixture to malfunction. And fixtures are rarely cleaned, although dirt and dust build-up is absorbing useful light rather than distributing it. Considering the waste in labor and energy costs involved, it's generally advisable to consider a planned lighting maintenance program during the planning of the lighting system.

Planned lighting maintenance is the practice of organizing labor and resources to ensure consistent recommended light levels and most economical use of the lighting system. It tunes the lighting system and optimizes performance.

In a planned maintenance program, three actions are taken on a periodic basis:

  • Group relamping: Replacing all lamps en masse at predetermined basis, usually at 60-80% of rated lamp life.
  • Fixture cleaning
  • Inspection and troubleshooting

Planned maintenance strategies can:

  • Reduce nominal labor costs related to fixture relamping and cleaning by up to 70%
  • Reduce cost by concentrating lamp purchases into fewer, high-volume buys
  • Produce higher light levels over the life of the lighting system
  • Generate lighting upgrade opportunities such as reduced-output energy-saving lamps that take advantage of higher light levels to reduce energy costs
  • Ensure proper inspection and upkeep of the lighting system, such as ensuring batteries are charged for emergency lighting in compliance with regulations.

Maintenance article sections

 


Above: the cost of using lifts and other devices to perform lighting maintenance can raise the cost of performing lighting maintenance.

Image courtesy National Association of Lighting Maintenance Companies