Outdoor Lighting for Business Premises: Yards, Loading Zones and Floodlights

Business premises are used at night: trucks load, forklifts drive, staff walk to the car park. At the same time, lighting should deter intruders, support cameras and make the facade look professional. This guide shows EN 12464-2 lux values for outdoor workplaces, how to choose floodlights and how to avoid glare and spill light.

Lux values for business premises

Area	Illuminance	Note
Walkways, access to buildings	approx. 5 lux	More at entrances and steps
Routes for forklifts and slow vehicles	approx. 10 lux	Watch uniformity
Routes with regular truck traffic	approx. 20 lux	Brighter at junctions
Storage areas with occasional handling	approx. 20 lux	Containers, bulk goods
Loading and unloading, continuous handling	approx. 50 lux	Labels and cargo readable
Outdoor workshop and assembly areas	approx. 100–200 lux	Depending on task detail

The values are based on EN 12464-2 and are maintained values. Staff and customer car parks have their own guide: Car Park Lighting.

Loading zones and docks

Docks are worked in all weathers, often under time pressure. The light must therefore reach into the truck trailer. What works well:

• Floodlights above each roller door, angled down onto the dock.
• Additional dock lights on swivel arms that shine directly into the cargo space.
• Neutral white light (4000K–5000K) for readable labels and delivery notes.

Choosing and aiming floodlights

Mounting height	Power	Beam angle	Typical use
4–6 m (facade)	50–100W	90–120°	Yards, entrances, paths
6–10 m (facade, mast)	100–200W	60–90°	Loading and storage areas
10–20 m (mast)	200–400W	30–60°	Large storage yards, container areas, ports

Floodlights should be mounted as flat as possible, with little upward tilt. A tilt above about 25° sends light above the horizon, dazzles drivers and causes trouble with neighbours. Asymmetric optics put more light on the area when mounted horizontally. How to assess protection ratings outdoors is explained in IP Ratings Explained.

LED floodlights for business premises

Security, cameras and facade

• Intrusion deterrence: Even light without dark corners at fences, gates and storage areas. Motion sensors that ramp to full output on approach add deterrence.
• Cameras: Uniformity and neutral colour temperature matter more than maximum brightness. Avoid backlight straight into the camera.
• Facade and logo: Narrow floodlights from below or illuminated letters make the building visible at night without overpowering the site.

Worked example

Business yard with 12 metal halide floodlights of 400W (approx. 440W), dusk to dawn with 4,000 hours a year, €0.28/kWh. Replaced by 12 LED floodlights of 150W: saving 12 × 290W × 4,000 h = 13,920 kWh, around €3,900 a year. Much more with motion sensors on rarely used areas. More on lamp replacement in Replacing HQL, HQI and Sodium Lamps with LED.

Frequently asked questions

How many lux does a loading zone need?

Around 50 lux for loading and unloading zones with continuous handling under EN 12464-2, and around 20 lux for routes with truck traffic.

What protection rating do outdoor luminaires need?

At least IP65; IP66 in exposed locations with heavy rain or water-jet cleaning.

How do I aim floodlights without glare?

As flat as possible, with a tilt of no more than about 25°, or mounted horizontally with asymmetric optics.

Are floodlights with motion sensors worthwhile?

Yes, on areas rarely used at night. They save energy and the sudden light adds deterrence.

Which colour temperature for business premises?

4000K neutral white is standard: good visibility for people and cameras. Near residential areas, 3000K can make sense.