A hotel never has one lighting job. It has a dozen small ones that all have to look like they belong to the same building. The lobby needs a statement. Corridors need steady, comfortable light for years. Guest rooms need layers. The restaurant needs a different mood from the lobby it opens onto, and the back-of-house needs light that simply works.
So when you shortlist a lighting supplier, price per fitting is the least useful question to start with. These are the ones that save you trouble later.
Start with the zones, not the catalogue
Write down the areas first. A simple list is enough: arrival and lobby, lifts and corridors, guest rooms and bathrooms, F&B outlets, meeting rooms, back-of-house, car park and exterior.
Each zone has a different answer on brightness, colour and how often someone will be changing lamps. A supplier who asks you about zones before quoting is already thinking the right way. One who sends a price list straight away is guessing.
If your lighting designer or ID firm has issued a lighting schedule, send it as it is. It tells the supplier the model, colour temperature, beam and finish for each tag, and it stops everyone quoting against different assumptions.
What to ask before you shortlist
Keep the list short and ask every supplier the same questions, so the answers can be compared.
- Can you quote against our schedule, and if you propose an equal, will you show the datasheet side by side?
- What is stocked locally, what is ordered in, and what is made to order? Ask for lead times item by item, not one number for the whole job.
- Can we see a sample of the key fittings before the full order, and who pays for it?
- Which documents come with the order? Datasheets, and photometric files if your designer needs them.
- What happens if we need 20 more of the same fitting in a year?
- Who installs, and does the quote cover it or leave it out?
The fifth question is the one people skip. Lamps and drivers from a different production batch can show a slightly different colour. In a corridor with fifty identical lights, you will see it. Ask about spares at the start and put an extra percentage into the order.
Lead times: ask by category
A hotel programme is only as fast as its slowest fitting. Items on the shelf and items made to order live in different timelines, and mixing them in one answer hides the problem.
For fittings that are made to order, plan from the date the design is approved, not the date you first enquire. At Home Genie, a custom piece takes around 2 months from design approval, depending on complexity. Put that date in your programme early. The feature light in the lobby is usually the one that decides the opening date.
For stocked items such as downlights, panels and battens, ask what quantity is on hand and when more can arrive.
Paperwork that should come with the order
Ask for it before you sign, not after the lights are up.
For lamps and tubes, Singapore has mandatory energy rules. Under the Energy Conservation Act, regulated single-phase lamps sold in Singapore must meet NEA's minimum energy performance standards and carry the energy label, and NEA says non-compliant supply is an offence. Ask your supplier for the model's NEA registration.
For escape routes, emergency lighting is a fire-safety item, not a décor choice. The SCDF Fire Code points to SS 563 for emergency lighting, which sets a minimum of 0.5 lux at floor level along the centre line of an escape route, for at least one hour after a power failure. Your M&E or fire safety consultant will specify the scheme. Make sure whoever supplies the fittings can show they meet it.
Feature pieces and everyday fittings are different purchases
Most of a hotel's lighting is standard product, bought in quantity, where the job is consistent supply and sensible price. Then there are two or three pieces that people remember: the lobby chandelier, the bar pendants, the lights over the restaurant entrance.
Those are usually better made to measure than forced out of a catalogue, because the drop, the width and the finish have to suit that room. We cover that in a separate guide to custom lighting for hotel lobbies and F&B outlets.
It helps if one supplier can handle both. You get one point of contact, one delivery plan and finishes that match across the standard and the custom pieces.
Where Home Genie fits
We have been in business in Singapore for 40 years, and we sell and install lighting as well as make custom pieces. For a hotel or hospitality project, that means three things we can do under one roof.
- Supply stocked lighting: downlights, LED panels, battens and tubes, track lights and ceiling lamps, from brands including Philips, Loyal and Ecolink.
- Design and make custom lighting for lobbies, restaurants and feature walls. The first consultation is free and site visits are available.
- Install through our installers. Installing lighting is not a DIY job on a project, so we would rather quote it with the supply.
High bay, emergency lighting and exit signs can be sourced on request, from various brands depending on the spec. We have worked on lighting for hotels, F&B outlets, offices and commercial fit-outs.
If your designer has specified particular brands or models, send us the schedule and we will tell you plainly which lines we can supply.
How to start an enquiry
Send us what you have. It does not need to be neat.
- The lighting schedule or BOQ, if one exists, or a floor plan with the zones marked
- Ceiling heights and ceiling type
- Rough quantities
- The date you need the lights on site
Then WhatsApp us on 8837 6682 or email enquiries@homegenie.com.sg. For a full walk-through of what a quote contains, read how a project lighting quote works. You can also see our project and commercial lighting page.
FAQ
What should I ask a hotel lighting supplier before choosing one?
Ask whether they can quote against your lighting schedule, what is stocked versus made to order, how long each category takes, whether you can see samples first, what documents come with the order, and whether spares of the same batch are available later.
How long does custom hotel lighting take in Singapore?
At Home Genie, a custom piece takes around 2 months from design approval, depending on complexity. Plan from approval, not from the first enquiry.
Does emergency lighting have to follow a standard in Singapore?
Yes. The SCDF Fire Code refers to SS 563 for emergency lighting, which sets a minimum of 0.5 lux at floor level along an escape route centre line for at least one hour after power failure. Your fire safety consultant specifies the scheme.
Can one supplier provide stocked lights, custom pieces and installation?
At Home Genie, yes. We supply stocked lighting, design and make custom pieces, and install through our own installers, so one team can quote the whole job.
Do you work with interior designers and contractors?
Yes. We work with businesses, designers and contractors, and pricing is discussed per project. WhatsApp 8837 6682.
