ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • 29 Industry News Data Centre Lighting – Supporting Uptime, Performance and Safety However, data centres are also under increasing scrutiny. Their significant energy consumption has led to growing concerns, with some developments delayed or challenged due to pressure on local power grids and sustainability targets. As a result, every aspect of a data centre’s design is being examined more closely, and lighting is no exception. While lighting represents only a small proportion of overall energy use compared to cooling and IT loads, it is one of the few areas where efficiency gains can be implemented relatively easily. Transitioning from legacy fluorescent systems to modern LED solutions can significantly reduce energy consumption, lower maintenance requirements, and support wider sustainability goals. In an industry where incremental gains matter, these improvements quickly add up across large-scale facilities. Beyond efficiency, reliability is critical. Data centres operate 24/7, and uptime is everything. Any disruption, planned or unplanned, can have significant operational and financial consequences. Lighting plays a key supporting role here, enabling safe and efficient access for maintenance teams, ensuring visibility in critical environments, and helping reduce the time required to carry out inspections or repairs. Different areas within a data centre place very different demands on lighting systems. In control rooms, for example, lighting must support concentration and reduce fatigue for operators working long shifts. Carefully designed lighting can improve visual comfort, minimise glare, and even incorporate human-centric principles to help maintain alertness. In data halls, the environment is more technically demanding. High airflow, temperature variations, and the potential for condensation mean that robust, high-ingress-protection luminaires are essential. Reliable, uniform lighting ensures that technicians can work safely and efficiently among densely packed server racks. Plant rooms introduce another layer of complexity. These spaces often house mechanical and electrical equipment operating under challenging conditions. In certain areas, ATEX-rated lighting may be required to ensure safety in potentially hazardous environments. At the same time, intelligent lighting controls can help minimise unnecessary energy use when spaces are unoccupied. External areas should not be overlooked either. Data centres are often located in exposed environments, from coastal sites affected by salt-laden air to regions experiencing extreme temperatures. Durable, corrosion-resistant lighting solutions are essential to ensure long-term performance, while careful design can also support dark-sky initiatives and reduce light pollution. Ultimately, lighting in a data centre is about more than illumination. It is about supporting performance, improving safety, enabling maintenance, and contributing to overall efficiency. As the demand for digital infrastructure continues to grow, and with it the pressure to operate more sustainably, well-designed lighting solutions will play an increasingly important role in helping data centres meet the challenges ahead. Data centres have become an essential part of modern life. From online shopping and cloud storage to the rapid growth of AI, our reliance on digital infrastructure continues to accelerate. While often out of sight, these facilities underpin almost everything we do—making them, in many ways, a necessary foundation of the digital economy. Data centres demand lighting that does more than illuminate. From fast-track installations and evolving specifications to 24/7 operation and critical maintenance, every detail matters. Glamox provides robust, energyefficient LED lighting solutions for all data centre environments - supporting performance, safety, and long-term reliability. With dedicated project support and solutions tailored for all areas, such as; control rooms, data halls, plant areas and external environments, we help keep your project and your facility running smoothly. Designed for uptim Delivered at projec Data centre lighting
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