Buying lighting for an office floor, a workshop or a warehouse looks simple until the quote comes back with six different fitting types, three colour temperatures and a note about emergency lights. This guide walks through the main choices in plain terms, so you can read a quote and ask better questions.
Start with ceiling height
Ceiling height does most of the sorting for you.
For ceilings of roughly 6 metres and above, such as warehouses and production halls, the usual choice is a high bay fitting. It is built to throw a lot of light a long way down. Below that height, a low bay, batten or panel fitting does the job, because a high bay at 4 metres can glare and waste light.
Treat 6 metres as a guide, not a rule. Rack layout, the colour of the walls and what the people below are doing all matter. If you have a drawing, a supplier can usually tell you in a few minutes whether the numbers make sense.
Offices, shops and meeting rooms
For ordinary commercial interiors, you are mostly choosing between three shapes.
LED panels sit flush in a ceiling grid and give even, shadow-free light. They suit open-plan offices and corridors. Check the colour rendering (CRI) and the colour temperature, because a cool 6500K panel and a warm 3000K one feel completely different in the same room.
Downlights work where the ceiling is plasterboard and you want a cleaner look, such as reception areas and meeting rooms. Look at the cut-out size before you order. A downlight that does not match the hole already in the ceiling is an expensive mistake.
Battens and tubes are the plain workhorse for back-of-house, stores, car parks and plant rooms. Some battens, like Philips' SmartBright tri-colour batten, are listed for hospitality, office and retail use too.
How bright? SS 531-1, Singapore's code of practice for workplace lighting, sets recommended maintained lux by space type. For shops it lists 300 lux for small sales areas and 500 lux for large sales areas and the till, with a colour rendering index of 80. Your lighting designer or M&E consultant will set the figure for your project.
Colour temperature and colour rendering, quickly
Colour temperature, in kelvin, is how warm or cool the light looks. Around 3000K is warm and welcoming. Around 4000K is neutral and common in offices. 6500K is cool daylight, often used in stores and workshops.
CRI tells you how faithfully the light shows colour. For anywhere that people sell, inspect or match colours, ask for CRI 80 or better, and check the listing actually states it.
Outdoor and wet areas: read the IP rating
IP ratings describe protection from dust and water. An IP65 fitting is dust-tight and protected against water jets, which makes it suitable for open-air use such as loading bays, perimeter walls and covered car parks. IP20 means indoors only.
Floodlights are the usual answer for perimeter and yard lighting. Our range includes IP65 models with selectable colour temperature.
Emergency lighting is not optional
Escape routes in commercial and industrial buildings need emergency lighting. The SCDF Fire Code refers to SS 563 for this. It sets a minimum of 0.5 lux at floor level along the centre line of the escape route, for at least one hour after the mains fails. Exit signs have their own requirements.
Three things to settle with your M&E or fire safety consultant before you buy: which routes need coverage, whether the fittings are self-contained or on a central battery, and who tests and logs them afterwards. Do not buy emergency fittings on price alone, and do not treat them as an afterthought in the BOQ.
We can source high bay, emergency lights and exit signs for projects, from various brands depending on the spec you need. Send us the drawing and the quantity, and we will quote.
Energy rules for lamps and tubes
Since 1 April 2024, NEA's rules also cover T8 and T5 linear lamps of 500 to 1500 mm, including LED tubes. Regulated lamps must meet minimum energy performance standards and carry the energy label. For LED tubes the minimum is 100 lumens per watt, and for fluorescent tubes 75. Ask your supplier for the NEA registration of any lamp model.
For building-level energy, SS 530 is the code of practice for energy efficiency of building services and equipment, and BCA Green Mark projects set their own lighting targets. If your project is going for Green Mark, tell the supplier at the start so the fittings you shortlist can be checked against the target.
What we stock for project buyers
Our current lighting range is built around Philips, Loyal and Ecolink. For project buyers the useful part is:
- LED panels and downlights for offices and reception areas
- Tubes and battens, including Philips contractor grade LED tubes and Loyal tubes sold by the box
- Floodlights and track lights
- Wall and cove lights and ceiling lamps
We also design and make custom lighting and install through our installers. Pricing is discussed per project.
Send us the job
WhatsApp us on 8837 6682 with your drawing or BOQ, the ceiling heights and the quantity you have in mind. Not sure what a good quote looks like? Read how a project lighting quote works, or see our project and commercial lighting page.
FAQ
What is the difference between high bay and low bay lighting?
High bay fittings are made for tall spaces, generally ceilings of about 6 metres and above, and push light a long way down. Low bay and batten fittings suit lower ceilings, where a high bay would glare and waste light.
What is an IP65 rating?
IP65 means the fitting is dust-tight and protected against water jets. It is the usual minimum for open-air use such as loading bays, yards and perimeter lighting. IP20 is for indoor use only.
Do emergency lights have to meet a standard in Singapore?
Yes. The SCDF Fire Code refers to SS 563, 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 power failure.
Do LED tubes sold in Singapore need an energy label?
Yes. Since 1 April 2024, T8 and T5 LED tubes of 500 to 1500 mm are regulated lamps and must meet NEA's minimum of 100 lumens per watt and carry the energy label.
Does Home Genie supply commercial lighting in bulk?
We supply commercial LED lighting to businesses, designers and contractors, and pricing is discussed per project. WhatsApp 8837 6682.
Can Home Genie supply high bay or emergency lights?
Yes, on request. We source high bay, emergency lights and exit signs from various brands depending on the spec. Send us the drawing and the quantity.
