The Do's and Don'ts of Self Storage Unit Lighting

When a potential customer arrives at your self storage facility for the first time, they instinctively assess its safety before even stepping through your office door. Their subconscious mind asks a simple yet crucial question: “Is this place safe?”

Lighting plays a vital role in answering that question. As the silent guardian of your facility, it not only enhances security but also supports safety measures.

Today, we’ll explore the do’s and don’ts of lighting for self storage units, sharing tips that can improve tenant satisfaction and positively impact your bottom line.

Why lighting matter for self storage units?

The self storage industry is booming. According to Grand View Research, the global self storage market was valued at $56.81 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2024 to 2030.

With increasing competition, how can you attract more customers? Lighting is important in both customer experience and operational efficiency.

Bright, evenly distributed lighting eliminates shadows and dark corners. This helps reduce criminal activity and enhances safety, increasing customer confidence in your facility. The well-lit space also makes it easier for customers to navigate, even during evening hours, reinforcing a sense of reliability and security.

From an operational perspective, efficient lighting solutions reduce electricity consumption, leading to lower costs and a more sustainable operation.

Do’s of self storage unit lighting

To enhance safety, improve customer experience, and lower operational expenses, you should ensure adequate illumination, place lighting fixtures strategically, and implement smart lighting solutions.

Ensure adequate illumination

Adequate lighting is the basis for safety and reliability in self-storage facilities.

According to the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), 10 to 20 foot-candles of light are recommended for corridors to ensure clear visibility, allowing tenants to navigate safely, identify unit numbers, and easily move belongings. Inside storage units, a slightly lower level of 5 to 10 foot-candles is generally sufficient, providing adequate brightness for organization without causing excessive glare

Strategic lighting placement

Placing lights strategically enhances visibility and comfort while minimizing the number of fixtures needed, reducing installation and energy costs.

Wall-mounted, high-powered fixtures should be installed on the building’s exterior to ensure proper illumination of the premises.

Fixtures should be centrally positioned in hallways to distribute light evenly, ensuring both the corridor and unit interiors receive sufficient illumination. Overhead-mounted fixtures at an appropriate height maximize light spread, preventing dark sports. Avoid attaching fixtures directly to one side of the corridor, as this can result in uneven lighting.

If additional lighting is needed inside units, fixtures should be mounted on the purlins to provide wide, soft and evenly distributed light, improving visibility without creating harsh shadows.

Implement smart lighting

To reduce energy consumption and overhead costs, you should incorporate smart lighting solutions.

Motion sensors like PIR and microwave sensors, detect movement and adjust lighting accordingly. In self storage facilities, hallway and open area lighting should be controlled by motion sensors that dim by not less than 50% when no activity is detected. Each hallway’s lighting should operate independently, ensuring efficient power usage without affecting other hallways.

Wireless lighting control systems like Casambi and Zigbee offer seamless, flexible lighting control. These wireless solutions allow for remote management, scheduling, and automation, making lighting more efficient while reducing maintenance time and costs.

Don’ts of self storage unit lighting

Certain common mistakes can reduce effectiveness and even create hazards. To ensure optimal lighting, don’t make follow mistakes.

Ignore outdoor and perimeter areas

Lighting isn’t just important inside storage units, outdoor and perimeter areas create the first impression of your facility, especially at night. The parking lot, entrances, exits, loading areas, and pedestrian pathways should be well-lit to enhance safety and improve customer experience.

For energy efficiency, NEMA sockets or button photocells can be used for automated outdoor lighting controls. Motion sensors or timers can also reduce unnecessary energy consumption.

Over illumination

Too much lighting can cause glare and light pollution, which negatively affect both customers and surrounding environment. Overly bright lighting can also create hazards, such as impaired visibility for drivers and pedestrians.

It is recommended to maintain a maximum exterior lighting color temperature of 3500K. Upward lighting should be avoided as it can contribute to light pollution and disrupt natural habitats. Full-cutoff lighting and shielded lighting should be used to minimize spillover onto roads, sidewalks, and neighboring properties.

Forget regular maintenance

Maintenance is essential to keep lighting systems functioning safely and efficiently. A poorly maintained system can be electrical hazards or inconsistent lighting coverage.

For regular maintenance, install at least one exterior outlet on every building. Ensure these outlets are on a separate breaker and can be turned off when not in use by management.

Regularly inspect and replace faulty fixtures and sensors to ensure a functional lighting system for your storage facility.