Commercial job guide
Warehouse lighting changes for new racking in Calgary
Changing a warehouse layout can leave working lights in the wrong places. Review the racking plan, tasks and controls together before simply adding fixtures. The goal is useful light where people work, with a layout that can be maintained around the new operation.
CCT 01What the first visit needs to establish
Provide the old and proposed racking plans, aisle widths, rack heights and the activities in each zone. Receiving, picking, packing and detailed inspection do not use the space in the same way. Identify glare, shadowing and control behaviour as observations rather than ordering a fixture count.
The contractor or lighting designer should establish what needs assessment, including the existing circuits and controls. Consider when the racks will be installed: access to lighting above an empty floor is very different from work over stocked high-bay storage.
CCT 02What to include in the work order
Ask the proposal to address fixture positions, appropriate product selection, control zones, wiring changes and commissioning. Include lift access, stock protection and coordination with the racking installer. Have the designer identify any broader building or life-safety interfaces raised by the layout change.
Specify whether a lighting calculation, site measurements or a sample area forms part of the proposal. A replacement wattage alone is a weak acceptance criterion. The LED retrofit guide explains how equipment and controls belong in the same business decision.
CCT 03What changes the price and schedule
Existing fixture compatibility, mounting arrangements, circuit changes and working over stock affect cost. A staged project may preserve production but require several mobilizations. Compare the operational cost of staging with a clear-space installation window.
If energy savings are being used to justify the work, separate measured operating hours from assumptions. Changes in shift length or occupied area can overwhelm a simple before-and-after bill comparison. Use the payback calculator for a planning scenario, and ask the contractor to confirm permit requirements for proposed wiring alterations.
CCT 04Information to send with your request
- Old and proposed warehouse plans with racking dimensions.
- Tasks, shift hours and any areas with reported visibility problems.
- Existing fixture and controls information from maintenance records.
- Racking-installation sequence and when each area will be clear.
- Stock protection, traffic management and lift-access requirements.
- Whether the project is a layout change, an energy retrofit or both.
CCT 05What a completed job should leave you with
Review the commissioned lighting and controls in the actual operating layout. Keep the zone map, product schedule, programming information and warranty contacts. Assign a person who can adjust schedules without losing the approved settings.
For a staged rollout, record lessons from the first area before ordering the remaining equipment. Staff observations are useful when documented with a location and task. Keep any later energy comparison aligned to the operating assumptions used in the business case.
Questions people ask
Should lights run directly above every aisle?
Can existing LED fixtures be reused?
Sources and further reading
Use the official links in this guide and the editorial standards. Scope and procurement checklists are editorial planning guidance, not quotations or installation instructions.