Searching for lighting fixtures can be a bit overwhelming. There are so many manufacturers to choose from. My entire day is dedicated to lighting and picking the right fixtures and I am even overwhelmed at times. In March of this year, I went to Light + Build, a lighting trade show in Germany. There were 8 entire buildings full of lighting products. It took me several days to walk the show and I still didn't see everything!
So how do you root through all of these choices to make a selection that is right for your project? These are the steps that I typically take when selecting a fixture:
1. Identify the type of fixture you are looking for.
This is the first step in any fixture search. Generically identify the type of fixture that you are thinking for a space such as an indirect fluorescent pendant, a decorative wall sconce, an exterior ingrade, etc.
2. Pull from your experience.
When I think of an indirect fluorescent pendant, I have several manufacturers that pop into my head that I know make this type of fixture. I can then go to their online catalogue and search.
What I don't recommend doing is reusing the same fixture over and over again. Always look at new designs and new lamp technologies before reusing the same fixture type.
3. Rely heavily on your local reps.
This is their job, so utilize their expertise on their lines. What I typically do is send an email out to all of my local reps an say, "I am looking for an indirect fluorescent pendant. What lines do you recommend that I take look at?"
I also ask them for their honest opinion on the quality of their products. Most reps will be honest with you because they know that they will to deal with the issue if something goes wrong.
I also let my reps know what types of fixtures that I typically use and ask them to give me updates on any new products that come out.
4. Lighting search engines.
www.elumit.com and www.lightsearch.com are search engines that I have found to be very helpful when searching for fixtures. The search engines will search for manufacturers in their data base that match your search criteria.
5. Quality.
Over time you will start to identify manufacturers that you know produce high quality fixtures . If you are considering using a fixture with a manufacturer that you have not worked with before, I highly recommend ordering a fixture sample. Take a look at the construction of the fixture and process of lamp maintenance. If the fixture is not good quality, don't use it and make sure that your spec lists the specific criteria that you are looking for. The criteria should be able to rule the low quality fixtures out when the substitution process occurs.
6. Reputable manufacturers.
When I specify a fixture, I always ask myself "if there is a problem, will this manufacturer fix it?" If I know that this fixture meets the needs of the application and has a company that will back it up, I feel comfortable specifying this fixture. This can definitely help you to narrow down your search. This is especially true for all of the new LED products that are coming out. Make sure that the company is reputable and has the resources to help you out if there is an issue. I feel more comfortable going with larger manufacturers that have been around for a long time. I am hesitant to use the new smaller LED companies. I make sure that I see samples and drill them with questions before using them.
7. Call Abbey Beresik to help you out.
I am more than happy to help you out with fixture searches and give you my opinion on manufacturers that I have worked with on past projects. Feel free to call my cell at 724-355-3953.
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