Nearly half of all lights placed in business structures like offices, stores, schools, and hospitals in North America are fluorescent troffers. The most typical design for troffer installation is 2 feet by 4 feet in T-bar grid drop ceilings.
As of 2018, the efficiency of LED troffer lights and troffer conversion packages is over 40% greater than that of fluorescent lighting (approximately 110 lm/W vs. 75 lm/W).
LED troffers and LED troffer retrofits are a strong option for sites looking for a practical way to reduce lighting running costs due to their significant difference in efficiency, extended estimated life, and, in most instances, brightness production that can adequately substitute fluorescent lighting.
In this article, we'll look more closely at the factors to take into account when thinking about switching to LED troffers.
Some of the information in this article is taken from a 2018 study on LED troffers by the USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, which offers a broad overview of the current contrast between incandescent and LED troffers. The over 40,000 items registered with the LED Lighting Facts initiative, including all LED troffers and troffer retrofits, are included in the DOE research.
Important Factors to Take into Account When Considering the Effectiveness of LED and Incandescent Troffers
Fluorescent troffers typically have an effectiveness range of 65 lm/W to 75 lm/W. The typical LED troffer produces 100 lm/W, while LED troffer retrofits produce, on average, 107 lm/W.
The minimal Design Light Consortium (DLC) standard effectiveness baseline is met by both of these LED efficacy values (QPL Technical Requirements V4.2). Additionally, 17% of the troffers registered with DOE have effectiveness levels at or above 125 lm/W, which satisfies the DLC Premium criteria, according to the DOE study.
LED troffers are getting close to having twice the light per watt values of conventional fluorescent troffers as efficiency continues to rise.
Light Production
About 3500 starting lumens are produced by a standard 2 ft. x 4 ft., 32W T8, 2-lamp, average balance factor fluorescent troffer. An identical three-lamp troffer generates about 5400 starting light.
50% of the 2 ft. x 4 ft. LED troffers examined, according to the DOE study, had light outputs between 3500 and 5400.
Of course, only about 50% of the LED troffers were able to produce light at these normal levels of lumen output, so consumers must closely evaluate the lumen output of different goods to make sure the LED lights will satisfy the demands for the precise light level in their application.
Furthermore, customers should be informed that LED troffer brightness bundles can reach 6,000 lights. These lights could generate a lot of sunlight if used in spaces with 8- to 10-foot ceilings.
When switching from fluorescent to LED lighting, it is crucial to match luminaire light levels with the application-specific needs and account for lumen decline (mean lumens).
Shade Quality
A light source's color rendering index (CRI) offers basic information about how well it can correctly disclose the hues of the things it reveals. Based on a contrast with a natural or standard light source, the number (on a range of 0 to 100) is given.
Good color clarity is defined as a CRI value of 80 to 82 for a light source, which is adequate for workplace, educational, and academic uses that typically use troffer type lights.
Nearly all LED troffers and LED troffer retrofits will equal the CRI values of fluorescent when compared to fluorescent troffers using updated 800 series bulbs (e.g., F32T8/835, which implies CRI 80+ and color temperature 3500K).
All LED retrofits for fluorescent troffers currently on the market will outperform the color quality of these earlier fluorescent bulbs when they replace fluorescent troffers using older 700 series lamps (such as F32T8/735, which has a CRI of 70+ and a color temperature of 3500K).
Additionally, the available color temperature (CCT) for almost all LED troffers is the same as the standard fluorescent trifecta of 3000K, 3500K, and 4000K.
Spread of Light
A glare-free, broad light is needed because troffers are frequently used in workplace or instructional environments where displays are in use. To give the intended light dispersion, fluorescent troffers may have louvers or filters. Prismatic optics are typical for LED troffers. Since LEDs are linear light sources, diffuse light dispersal requires a consistent prismatic lens.
Critical note: Building managers should consider the expense of new diffusers to substitute louvers if they are presently used on the existing fluorescent lights when planning an LED troffer conversion project in which an LED light module replaces the linear fluorescent bulbs. After an LED upgrade, it's doubtful that the light dispersal will be optimal if louvers are reinstalled.
Controls It is crucial to make sure that the LED troffers (or upgrade troffer modules) will function with the fitted controls if the present incandescent troffer system makes use of access controls. Many motion monitors, dimmers, and photocells won't successfully regulate LED lights, particularly if they have been in place for a while.
Scored Existence
One of their main selling factors has been their longer estimated life than the majority of other light sources. Fewer bulb replacements brought on by longer lamp life can result in substantial upkeep cost reductions over the course of the system. When comparing incandescent to LED lighting, upkeep savings expenses may be just as essential as or even more so than electricity savings.
Although some more recent fluorescent lights have estimated lives of 40,000 hours, the majority of fluorescent systems still in use today use lamps with rated lives in the 10,000–20,000 hour range.
LED troffer lights typically use light sources with a lifespan of 85,000 hours or more (LED arrays, not LED T8 bulbs). These LED displays are built into the device and frequently cannot be changed. This indicates that the fixture's lifespan is equal to the lifespan of the light source. However, after 85,000 hours, the light source or device will still be functional even if it is used 12 hours per day, 365 days per year.
Conclusion
By 2018, LED troffers had advanced to the point where they provided an incredibly convincing argument for both new building projects and renovation and repair projects.
When compared to fluorescent troffers, LED troffers and retrofits typically outperform or equal their fluorescent counterparts in terms of efficiency, bulb life, and color clarity. Although the light output of LEDs frequently equals that of different fluorescent designs, control interoperability must also be carefully taken into account to guarantee that the LED installation will satisfy the requirements unique to the application.
