Cold rooms and freezers are harsh places for lighting. LED chips themselves often run more efficiently in the cold, but other parts of a fixture, such as the driver, the seals, the lenses, and any controls, have minimum operating temperatures, and some products lose output or fail to start at extreme lows. This calculator allows for a temperature factor so the design does not fall short of the light needed.

Choose fixtures that are rated for the lowest temperature in the space, and check the manufacturer’s data for the driver as well as the LEDs. Condensation and frost are a constant risk when doors open and warm air enters, so use sealed, vapor tight fixtures with a suitable ingress protection rating, and avoid housings that can trap moisture.

Typical light levels in storage areas are around 100 to 200 lux, and higher where workers pick and inspect goods. Occupancy sensors save energy, but make sure they are rated for the temperature. Doors that open often make quick turn on and good color rendering useful, so people can read labels and see the condition of the products.