Ongoing loadshedding has put significant pressure on the South African building industry, as productivity can be affected if companies do not have backup power or reliable alternative lighting solutions.

It also causes significant damage to electrical products, resulting in them failing unexpectedly and prematurely.

Such damage is typically caused by massive voltage surges that occur when the power is restored. Surge protectors – to protect appliances – can be installed to alleviate the impact of surges, explains lighting supplier Spazio Lighting marketing manager Moynene Bredenkamp.

“This could potentially extend the life span of a light fitting.”

She also recommends installing solar fittings for exteriors to ensure that outside areas are well lit during loadshedding at night. Solar fittings have been in demand, owing to the increasing frequency of loadshedding.

Customers are also concerned about their safety during loadshedding at night; most of Spazio’s solar fittings include motion sensors, which activates when motion is detected.

Spazio’s solar products do not require any electrical wiring, which allows for it to be installed on any surface that is exposed to plenty of sun.

Further, Spazio sells a range of exterior solar fittings ranging from wall lights, flood lights, spots and bollards to footlights.

One of the most popular solar products is the company’s Sunmite 6 W light-emitting diode (LED) solar wall fitting, which can last for up to four nights on one charge if it is set to dim mode. It also comes with a replaceable 3 000 mAh, or 3.7 V, battery.

Another popular product is the 3Sixty – a colour temperature changing solar post top with an additional base, wall mount, pole and spike included. Users have flexibility in terms of the installation surface whether it be on top of a wall, mounted to the side of the wall with the arm, on a pole mounted to the ground or pushed into grass or soil using the spike.

Spazio will also add a range of solar powered floodlights later in April this year.

The Teco Proflood range of high lumen floodlights has a wattage ranging from 100 W to 300 W.

Owing to this wattage range, the floodlights provide “a massive amount of light” and can be installed at big outdoor areas such as distribution centres and sports fields. The range also has a five-year chip warranty and a 50 000-hour life span.

Spazio also offers the Easybat LED batten which is available in a standard version as well as motion sensor and emergency light versions. It is a colour temperature changing LED industrial batten with a steel body and polycarbonate diffuser. It is available in 40 W and 60 W versions and includes a five-year chip warranty and 50 000 hour life span.

It is also available with a built-in motion sensor to conserve electricity, while an emergency backup version ensures the fitting can still operate during loadshedding.

Shedding Light on Local Industry
Bredenkamp says track lighting with high-power LED spots, as well as decorative pendants over focus areas, such as reception desks, is in demand for commercial installations.

Emergency lighting has also become increasingly popular in commercial and industrial installations, owing to the frequency of loadshedding, as emergency lights can keep interior spaces lit during blackouts.

There is also high demand for high-power LED high bays, and flood lights for interior and exterior areas that require lighting to cover large areas.

Bredenkamp adds that, similar to other industries, the lighting industry is still trying to recover from the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic such as a slowdown in production and a massive raw materials shortage, which, in turn, caused shipment delays and longer lead times.

“Spazio Lighting is constantly aiming to bring the market ground-breaking, quality products and technologies at affordable prices. This year, we will focus on products that will be beneficial to the South African market and, in particular, aid in the ongoing power crisis,” she concludes.