Data centres are unusual lighting environments. The priorities are different from typical commercial spaces, and getting it wrong can be expensive—not because of the lighting itself, but because of impacts on the equipment that matters.

I’ve worked on lighting for several data centre projects, from small server rooms to hyperscale facilities. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Understanding Data Centre Priorities

In a data centre, lighting is almost the lowest priority. What matters is:

1. Continuous power to IT equipment
2. Cooling to prevent equipment overheating
3. Security (physical and cyber)
4. Reliability of all support systems
5. Everything else, including lighting

This priority order affects every lighting decision. Any lighting choice that risks power stability, adds heat load, or compromises security gets rejected, regardless of its lighting merits.

Server Halls and White Space

The “white space” where servers live has specific lighting requirements:

Light Levels

Task lighting at racks: Technicians need to read labels, identify cables, and work on equipment. 300-500 lux at working height (typically vertical, not horizontal measurement).

Aisle lighting: General illumination for movement and orientation. 150-200 lux is usually adequate.

Under raised floors: If technicians access under-floor areas for cabling, temporary or permanent task lighting is needed.

Heat Load

Every watt of lighting becomes heat that the cooling system must remove. In a data centre, cooling is often the largest operational cost.

LED lighting’s lower heat output is genuinely valuable here. A server hall lighting upgrade from fluorescent to LED might reduce lighting heat load by 60-70%. That’s a direct reduction in cooling energy.

Calculate this benefit specifically. Data centre operators understand cost per kilowatt intimately.

Switching and Controls

Most server halls don’t need sophisticated lighting controls. The space is either occupied (lights on for work) or unoccupied (lights off).

Simple switching with aisle-by-aisle control is often sufficient. Occupancy sensing can help—lights come on when technicians enter an aisle and switch off after they leave.

Avoid complex control systems that could fail or require maintenance. Simplicity and reliability win here.

Power Quality

Data centres have clean, conditioned power for IT equipment. The lighting typically runs on utility power with generator backup.

LED drivers should be quality units with good power factor and low harmonics. Any electrical disturbance could potentially affect the sensitive IT environment, though properly designed power distribution should isolate these issues.

Control Rooms and NOCs

Network Operations Centres (NOCs) and control rooms are 24/7 manned spaces. Lighting requirements are completely different from server halls.

Shift Work Considerations

Staff work rotating shifts. Lighting affects alertness, comfort, and long-term health.

Recommended approach:

• Higher light levels during day shifts (400-500 lux)
• Moderated levels during night shifts (200-300 lux)
• Tunable white capability to shift colour temperature
• Individual task lighting for workstation customisation

The circadian lighting principles from aged care apply here too—helping shift workers maintain alertness during night shifts and wind down after.

Screen Glare

Control rooms have many screens—wall displays, individual monitors, tablet devices.

Lighting must not create reflections on screens. This requires:

• Careful placement (behind or beside screens, not in front)
• Good glare control from fittings
• Matte surfaces on walls and ceilings
• Sometimes task lighting rather than overhead ambient

Emergency and Backup

Control rooms must remain operational during emergencies. Lighting needs:

• UPS backup for critical operational lighting
• Emergency lighting per AS/NZS 2293
• Consideration of how staff will work in emergency conditions

Support Spaces

Data centres include various support spaces:

Electrical and Mechanical Rooms

These need robust, reliable lighting for maintenance work. Industrial fittings, adequate illumination at equipment, easy lamp replacement.

Higher IP ratings may be needed near cooling equipment where condensation or water is possible.

Battery Rooms

Battery rooms require specific considerations:

• Explosion-proof fittings where hydrogen may accumulate
• Adequate illumination for monitoring and maintenance
• Ventilation system that may affect fitting selection

Security and Entrance Areas

Front-of-house areas need commercial-quality lighting that presents the facility professionally while supporting security requirements (cameras, access control).

Loading Docks

External and loading areas need weather-rated outdoor lighting, often with high output for security.

The Commissioning Process

Data centres have rigorous commissioning processes. Lighting is part of this.

Factory Witness Testing: Some operators want to inspect lighting products before delivery.

Integrated Systems Testing: Lighting is tested alongside other building systems—fire, security, BMS.

Documentation requirements: As-built drawings, product specifications, warranty information, maintenance procedures.

Be prepared for documentation requirements beyond typical commercial projects.

Working in Live Environments

Retrofit projects in operating data centres add complexity:

Access restrictions: Security protocols, escorted access, limited work windows.

No disruption tolerance: Work can’t affect IT operations. Power outages are not acceptable.

Clean environment: Some server halls maintain positive pressure and particle control. Construction activities must not compromise this.

Coordination: Work schedules coordinate with IT maintenance windows, which may be limited to specific overnight periods.

For data centre operators with sophisticated building management systems, lighting integrates with broader facility intelligence. The AI consultants Brisbane working on data centre automation projects handle these integrations, connecting lighting, power monitoring, cooling optimisation, and security into coordinated intelligent systems.

But the lighting contractor’s role is providing reliable, well-documented, control-ready lighting that can participate in that integration.

What Data Centre Clients Care About

In my experience, data centre operators focus on:

1. Reliability: Will it work? Will it keep working? What’s the failure rate?

2. Heat load: What’s the watts-to-floor impact on cooling?

3. Maintenance: How often do lamps need replacement? Can facilities staff do it?

4. Documentation: Complete technical documentation for their systems records.

5. Compliance: Meeting relevant standards and their internal specifications.

6. Cost: Important, but secondary to reliability and operational factors.

Lead with reliability and operational benefits. Energy savings are a bonus, not the primary value proposition.

Specification Tips

When specifying for data centres:

• Choose products with proven reliability records
• Provide complete technical specifications including heat output data
• Offer long warranties (5+ years is expected)
• Include detailed maintenance instructions
• Be prepared for technical questions during tender evaluation
• Reference similar data centre installations if you have them

Summary

Data centre lighting isn’t complicated, but it requires understanding the priorities. Reliability trumps efficiency. Heat load matters. Security and access affect installation.

Approach these projects with respect for the critical nature of the facilities and you’ll do well.

James Thornton has been working in commercial lighting for 18 years and is based in Australia.