Why is Good Aircraft Hanger Lighting So Important?

Hangar Safety, Security, and Ease of Movement in the Mountain States

Performing Tasks with Precision

Proper lighting inside an airplane hangar space is key to ensuring safety and security. Adequate illumination greatly minimizes the risk of accidents by enhancing visibility, allowing crews to navigate the area safely while performing tasks with more precision. Poor-quality lighting can lead to trips, slips, and falls, which are common hazards in industrial settings like busy aircraft hangars. Those who own or operate hangars in the mountain states of the US may find the following to be very useful and helpful going forward.

Security Cameras Capture Clear Footage

Adequate lighting is important in identifying potential dangers, such as machinery malfunctions or spills, reducing the likelihood of workplace injuries. From a security perspective, well-lit aircraft storage hangars deter unauthorized access and reduce the chances of theft or vandalism. Good interior lighting ensures that security cameras capture clear footage and enables security personnel to monitor the area more effectively. It also creates a safer workplace during night shifts, ultimately enhancing worker confidence and productivity.

Creating a Usable Space

In truth, the right kind of hangar lighting goes far beyond simply providing better visibility. It is more about creating a usable space where aircraft storage, aircraft movement, as well as maintenance and repair work can happen in a safe, secure, and reliable way. Lighting up a hangar for maximum worker advantage can be as easy as knowing a few key points, which we will discuss here.

Enhances Visibility During Repair Work

First, it is good to note that the cavernous area that makes up a typical aircraft hangar interior will indeed have unique lighting requirements as compared to other industrial or commercial spaces. Well-planned lighting design enhances visibility during detailed and intricate repair work and maintenance inspections while greatly improving safety factors. It also magnifies overall operational performance and streamlines time management.

Different Levels of Illumination

Properly implemented lighting design should consider the specific needs of the hangar space, such as high intensity directed lighting for careful and precise work as well as general illumination for common areas. Additionally, various areas of an aircraft hangar may demand different levels of illumination. For example, hangar maintenance bays typically benefit from brighter, more focused lighting, while storage areas can be illuminated with somewhat reduced-intensity flood-type lighting.

Uniform Lighting is the Key

One of the main tenants of good hangar lighting design is the uniformity of light levels. For example, the most beneficial lighting levels, measured in lux, will vary dependent upon the space’s actual functional use. For precise maintenance activates, a minimum of 500 to 1000 lux is usually the best, while more open general areas can be expected to benefit from around 300 to 500 lux. Uniform lighting planning is at the core of reducing shadows while also minimizing worker eye strain and stress.

Illumination is Evenly Spread Across the Hangar

When lighting within a hangar is poorly distributed, it leads to uneven and haphazard illumination, creating regions of darkness and intense brightness. Well-crafted lighting design and implementation guarantees that vital illumination is evenly spread throughout the hangar, lowering the potential for accidents while improving the quality of work that is routinely performed by maintenance teams and crews.

Efficient Use of Energy

The smart and efficient use of electrical energy is s major selling point when it comes to good hangar interior lighting design. Because aircraft hangar space is typically large in capacity, huge lighting demands can be expected to draw massive KWs of electricity from the grid. That said, new technology, including things like LED lights, offers a more efficient solution as compared to legacy lighting systems. LEDs consume less electrical energy, have far longer lifespans, and need less replacement and maintenance, resulting in much less operational expense and a reduced environmental footprint.

Motion Sensors and Dimming Controls

Another important tenant of well-designed hangar lighting is the strategic use of motion sensors and dimming controls. These systems are comparatively inexpensive and serve to substantially reduce energy usage. The simple idea of automatically adjusting lighting levels as a function of worker and occupant activity and presence is well founded. Over time, motion sensors and dimming controls will pay for themselves in multiples.

The Control of Glare

Safety and comfort are two of the biggest concerns when adequately lighting an aircraft hangar. Controlling glare is a major part of this idea. Glare occurs anytime excessively bright or poorly positioned lighting sources result in visual discomfort, reducing the ability to see clearly. Mitigating glare is best accomplished by fixing lighting at the most beneficial angles. This is intended to reduce bright spots and blinding reflections. Diffusers are also recommended to better disperse light more evenly. Also, selecting light fixtures that have good shielding prevents bright light from spilling into unintended areas.

Light Color Rendering and Temperature Factors

Hangar lighting requires the right kind of color rendering and color temperature. The color temperature of light is measured in Kelvin (K) and refers to the appearance of the light—ranging from warm (yellowish) to cool (bluish) tones. For aircraft hangars, a neutral to cool white light, typically between 4000K and 6000K is the best. This provides sufficient brightness while improving visibility, assisting workers in differentiating between colors and intricate details critical for aircraft care and maintenance.

Colors of Objects Compared to Natural Sunlight

Something known as the Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures the accuracy with which a light source reveals the true colors of objects compared to natural sunlight. A higher CRI is important in spaces where accurate color representation is needed, particularly for inspecting small aircraft parts, detailed paintwork, and electrical component identification. Lighting with a CRI of more than 80 is best, ensuring that teams can accurately assess materials and conduct quality checks free of any color distortion.

The Fluorescent Lighting Option

One good source of lighting in a hangar is that of fluorescent bulbs. They deliver better performance in terms of energy efficiency and color rendering. Fluorescent lights offer a cool, white light that boosts visibility while reducing shadows. They are frequently used in conjunction with other lighting types to gain a more balanced illumination level. Note that fluorescent bulbs do require more frequent replacement. They also tend to be more sensitive to temperature. With colder temperatures, fluorescent lights are less effective and may require supplemental heating to maintain their performance.

High-Intensity Discharge (Hid) Lighting

This form of lighting including metal halide and high-pressure sodium lamps. It is commonly used in hangars because of the high output and long reach. Metal halide lamps offer bright, white light for precise work and to perform maintenance. That said, HID lamps do have drawbacks, including extended warm-up times and less energy efficiency compared to other lighting options. High-pressure sodium lamps boast warm light that is good for general illumination but not for detailed work. While HID lighting can still be found in some hangars, its use is declining as more energy-efficient lighting options come into view.

Led Lights

LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting has quickly become the preferred choice for hangar lighting needs. It offers several benefits, including greater energy efficiency, longer lifespans, and superior color rendering, making LEDs a smart choice for both general and task-specific lighting in aircraft hangars. They deliver bright, uniform light with low heat emission, reducing the risk of heat-related concerns in sensitive areas. Note that LED high-bay lights are best suited for larger hangars, making available very bright illumination with wide-spanning coverage.

Smart Controls for Hangar Lighting Needs

Deploying smart lighting controls inside an aircraft hangar can significantly enhance efficiency and convenience. Smart controls imply automated adjustments to lighting levels based on occupancy, time of day, and even specific tasks. Motion sensors will automatically adjust lights on or off based on movement, while dimmers adjust brightness levels as necessary. Integration with building management systems (BMS) affords centralized control and monitoring of all lighting systems. This enables hangar management to optimize interior lighting and monitor energy usage, improving efficiency and reducing costs by using real-time adjustments.

Final Word

Deploying the right kind of aircraft hangar lighting strategy provides for a more functional and efficient workspace. By selecting and using the most beneficial lighting technologies, facility managers are guaranteed optimal illumination for aircraft maintenance, repair, inspections, and storage. Modern advanced lighting systems, particularly LEDs, deliver significant advantages when it comes to energy efficiency, performance, and sustainability. By deploying well-designed lighting solutions, safety is greatly enhanced, and operational efficiency improves. There are also long-term cost savings and environmental sustainability benefits.

This highly informative article is made possible courtesy of Aviation Property Network, a leader in aircraft hangar sales and leasing. Contact us today to learn more!