Dear Reader: As people, we live daily with the constant need to assess how to maximize the output of every one of our inputs. We do that by any of a myriad of ways, from determining what car will provide the most miles per gallon, to which steak will give us the most ounces per […]
The King of Lighting System Metrics: Lumens per Operating Dollar Read More »
Dear Reader: It’s not uncommon for the primary metric, when determining a go/no go decision, to be Simple Payback, which, simply put, is the total cost of the investment (in this case a lighting system) divided by the annual dollar savings. The better approach to determining the quality of an LED investment is to engage
The Investment Long View with the Life-cycle Cost Benefit Tool Read More »
Dear Reader: There are three sides to the equation that determines how much money your firm spends per kWh of electricity, and they are your kW of consumption (units), the number of hours you’re consuming that electricity (time), and when (peak versus off-peak). While you can persuade yourself that all three components are fixed –
How to Improve Your Facility’s Cost per kWh Read More »
Dear Reader: It’s always good to measure where your plant stands not only in comparison to where it once was (in order to drive and quantify continuous improvement), but to measure how you compare to other plants across America vis-à-vis any of a variety of available metrics from which to build those models. Our industrial
Compare Your Plant’s Performance to Others’ With Benchmarking Read More »
Dear Reader: The primary governing body over emergency and exit lighting is the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and their publication entitled NFPA 101, Life Safety Code is the gold standard. But first, some definitions, as provided by 29 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 1910.34(c) OSHA: Exit Route – A continuous and unobstructed path of
Emergency and Exit Lighting, for Human Safety Read More »
Dear Reader: Most manufacturing and food processing plants include some spaces that are classified by the National Electrical Code (NEC) as hazardous locations, “where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to flammable gases or vapors, flammable liquids, combustible dust, or ignitable fibers or flyings.” The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) has written a
When it’s a Hazardous Area, Use Hazardous Fixtures Read More »
Dear Reader: Any processor of food or drink – if it is to be consumed by human or animal – must concern him/herself with food safety. Rest assured, someone else is concerned, and the more understanding a Facilities Manager has of the safety rating process, the more prepared that person will be, and the safer
Food Processing Requires NSF-Rated Fixtures Read More »
Dear Reader: Not all lighting fixtures are designed and built to do all things .. no surprise there. There are a number of fixture types that are what might be called ‘Specialty Fixtures’, as they are manufactured for a particular type of work, typically in a harsher environment, frequently involving dust, dirt or water. These
IP Lighting, for When Ingress Protection is Needed Read More »
Dear Reader: Many electrical systems experience voltage surges, caused by any of a variety of reasons including electrical overload, faulty wiring, lightning strikes, and the restoration of power after an outage or blackout. The prudent Facilities Manager will take steps to provide for solutions to maximize her/his LED lighting fixture protection and continuity of service
Keep Electrical Surges from Frying Your Fixtures Read More »
Dear Reader: Electricity comes into the plant in waves, very much like ocean waves, or heat, or any of other phenomena that involves rhythmic movement. Energy is no different. The key is to move that energy as smoothly as possible through the plant, so as to reduce the frequency and magnitude of these waves of
Don’t Ignore Harmonic Distortion Read More »
