Cold and hot aisle layouts and luminaire positioning
The arrangement of cold and hot aisles, and consequently the positioning of lighting rows along the aisles rather than across the racks, affects both lighting uniformity and workspace visibility. During the design process, we take into account rack orientation, aisle width, and luminaire mounting height. This helps minimise shadowing and provides better conditions for maintenance work.
Rather than basing the project solely on luminaire wattage, we match optics and luminous flux to the geometry of the room. We also verify that the lighting layout does not obstruct access to equipment or interfere with other systems installed below the ceiling.
Vertical illuminance on rack fronts
Generated using AI
Vertical illuminance on rack fronts, where technicians read labels and identify ports, is just as important as floor illuminance when verifying connections, checking markings, or replacing components. For this reason, photometric calculations should consider not only the horizontal floor plane but also the visibility of vertical working surfaces.
We do not assume one universal vertical illuminance value for every rack unless a specific requirement applies to the task being performed. Instead, we assess working conditions, aisle geometry, and luminaire placement, then verify whether the resulting light distribution provides sufficient visibility for ports, cables, and labels.
Heat generated by lighting, cooling load, and PUE
The heat generated by lighting is an important consideration when planning an energy-efficient data center. Most of the electrical energy consumed by luminaires ultimately becomes heat, increasing the load on the cooling system. The use of energy-efficient LED lighting can significantly reduce power consumption compared to less efficient technologies. However, the actual impact on Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) depends on the performance of the entire facility infrastructure.
Occupancy-based lighting control in low-traffic areas
Occupancy-based lighting control in areas that are only occasionally used can significantly reduce energy consumption in aisles, technical rooms, and other spaces accessed periodically by staff. Presence sensors and scheduling functions allow lighting levels to be adjusted according to actual occupancy.
DALI lighting control and integration with a Building Management System (BMS) can also be implemented to improve efficiency and operational flexibility.
Emergency and escape lighting in data centers
Emergency and escape lighting must enable the safe evacuation of occupants in the event of a failure of the normal lighting supply. When designing these systems, we consider the requirements of EN 1838, the layout of escape routes, and the function of individual areas.
For escape routes up to 2 metres wide, a minimum illuminance level of 1 lx is required at floor level along the centreline of the route. In open areas covered by anti-panic lighting, the minimum requirement is 0.5 lx at floor level, excluding specified areas close to walls. Areas where high-risk tasks are performed are subject to different requirements that depend on the illuminance level needed to safely complete the task.
How to select luminaires for a server room
The process of choosing lighting for a data center begins with defining the function of each room and identifying all relevant standards and regulatory requirements. We then analyse rack layouts, photometric performance, illuminance levels on working surfaces, glare control requirements, and available lighting control options. The impact of the installation on energy consumption and day-to-day operation is also assessed.
At Lena Lighting, these factors form the basis of our lighting design approach for data centers. This allows us to develop installations tailored to the specific IT infrastructure, operational requirements, and energy goals of each project while maintaining high standards of safety, reliability, and performance.