1. What is an LED Parking Garage Lighting Calculator?

Definition: This calculator determines the number of LED lights needed to achieve proper illumination in a parking garage based on desired foot-candles, area size, and light output.

Purpose: It helps facility managers and lighting designers plan efficient and code-compliant lighting for parking structures.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• Number_of_lights — Quantity of LED fixtures needed
• FC — Required illuminance in foot-candles
• Area — Total area to be illuminated (square feet)
• Lumens_per_light — Light output of each fixture (lumens)

Explanation: The total lumens required (FC × Area) is divided by the output of each fixture to determine how many lights are needed.

3. Importance of Proper Parking Garage Lighting

Details: Adequate lighting improves safety, security, and user experience while meeting building code requirements (typically 5-10 fc for parking areas).

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the desired foot-candles (default 5 fc), area in square feet, and lumens per fixture (default 10,000 lm). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical FC requirement for parking garages?
A: Most codes require 5-10 foot-candles for general parking areas, with 10-20 fc for drive aisles.

Q2: How do I find lumens per light?
A: Check the product specifications of your LED fixtures. Typical LED garage lights range from 8,000-20,000 lumens.

Q3: Does this account for light loss factors?
A: No, consider multiplying the result by 1.2-1.5 to account for lumen depreciation and fixture dirt accumulation.

Q4: How does mounting height affect the calculation?
A: Higher mounting requires more lumens to achieve the same FC at ground level. This calculator assumes proper spacing for the given lumens.

Q5: Should I round up the result?
A: Yes, always round up to the nearest whole number when purchasing fixtures.