Lighting a building exterior with LED wall pack light can have a significant impact on the night visibility, security and safety of pedestrians. Just stacking fixtures won't ensure uniform lighting.
The most frequently encountered problem in exterior lighting is a shadowed corner area around a building. From a distance the wall may appear to be quite lighted, but where two walls meet there is still a noticeable darkness. The shaded area will lower sightlines for walkers, introduce blind spots for security cameras and make an otherwise lit building appear uneven.
Higher wattage lighting isn't always the answer. The best results are found in the selection of the proper fixture placement, light distribution, spacing and aiming strategy in most situations.
Why Do Dark Spots Form Around Building Corners?
Typically, a wall pack is used to illuminate light away from a vertical wall. This is relatively effective on a flat building front as it lights the space in front of the building.
But a corner is different.
When two walls form a 90-degree corner, any light passing through one will be partially blocked by the other. This can create a shadowed area right next to the corner.
There are other factors that may aggravate the situation:
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There are too many distances between fixtures.
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Light distribution is not correlated with building layout.
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The fixtures are too high above the target area.
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Concentrated hotspot is created directly under the fixture by the wall pack.
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The light is obstructed by large architectural elements.
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Exterior surfaces that are dark, absorb more light rather than reflect.
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The fixture is oriented towards the wrong part of the property.
Illuminating Engineering Society's Outdoor Lighting Design suggests that wall-mounted luminaires' performance is influenced by mounting height, optics, and uniformity.
1. Treat Building Corners as Separate Lighting Zones
The most frequent error is considering a corner as another point on a straight wall.
Suppose there is a warehouse, and wall packs are set at a certain distance all the way around. When the same spacing is used straight though the corner, the fixture closest to the corner may create a shadowed space between the two walls.
Rather, consider the corner as a critical lighting zone.
Look at:
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The corner itself
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Approach to the corner walkway
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The space directly outside the corner
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Proximity to doors or emergencies exits.
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The viewing areas for security cameras.
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Loading and servicing areas.
The idea is to have coverage from both sides, not to have one fixture light the whole corner.
2. Choose the Right Light Distribution
All LED wall packs aren't created equal.
The forward-throw fixture can send light further from the building which is beneficial for parking areas, driveways, and exterior areas further away from the building. A more controlled or full cutoff design will help keep light nearer to the building and minimize undesirable spill.
The U.S. Department of Energy explains that LED outdoor luminaires can provide more precise optical control and improved uniformity when properly designed.
When is the time to ask a simple question for a corner?
To where must the light be directed?
A distribution with a longer forward reach could be needed if the target area is located far from the wall. For a narrow walkway just outside the building, a less aggressive distribution might be suitable.
Additionally, you can view LED wall pack light solutions for different configurations of wall-mounted LED lights.
3. Don't Assume More Lumens Will Fix a Bad Layout
One of the typical responses to a dark corner is to put a brighter fixture in the space!
This can be effective in some cases, but can also lead to another issue: a super bright hotspot in close proximity to the fixture and a dim corner.
In other words:
Extra lighting is not necessarily better lighting.
It is important to note that it is the distribution of available light over the target area that is important.
DOE states that outdoor lighting design should not only add light but also take into account uniformity and glare.
Any optical issues that the beam may have with reaching the corner will not be addressed by boosting the wattage.
4. Check Fixture Spacing Before Changing Wattage
Spacing is another major factor.
If two wall packs are installed too far apart, the illumination between them can fall significantly. The same problem can occur around a building corner when the nearest fixtures are positioned too far from the turn.
Instead of using a universal spacing number, evaluate:
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Mounting height
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Fixture lumen output
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Distribution type
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Width of the area being illuminated
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Required uniformity
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Building geometry
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Nearby obstructions
For larger commercial or industrial properties, a photometric layout is preferable to relying solely on a spacing rule of thumb.
A photometric plan can show where light levels are expected to be highest and where potential dark areas may occur before installation.
5. Consider Mounting Height Carefully
Mounting a wall pack higher does not automatically increase coverage.
At greater mounting heights, light may spread across a larger area, but the light reaching the ground can become less concentrated. Conversely, mounting a fixture too low can produce a bright area immediately below the fixture while leaving areas farther away underlit.
The right mounting height depends on the fixture's optical design and the area that needs to be illuminated.
For this reason, always review the manufacturer's photometric information instead of choosing a fixture based only on wattage.
6. Pay Attention to Building Materials
The building itself can influence how the lighting looks at night.
Light-colored concrete, painted walls, and other reflective surfaces can bounce some light back into the surrounding area. Dark brick, dark-painted surfaces, and rough materials may absorb more light.
This means two buildings with identical wall pack layouts can produce noticeably different visual results.
If a dark corner remains problematic even after optimizing fixture placement, consider whether the facade material is contributing to the perceived lack of brightness.
7. Avoid Solving Dark Spots by Creating Glare
There is another important balance: visibility versus glare.
A fixture that is extremely bright or poorly aimed can create discomfort glare for pedestrians, drivers, or nearby occupants while still leaving other parts of the property underlit.
The U.S. Department of Energy's guidance on outdoor LED glare explains that glare can be influenced by luminaire intensity, fixture size, mounting height, and viewing angle.
The best wall pack layout should therefore provide useful light without putting an excessively bright source directly in a person's line of sight.
8. Don't Forget Light Trespass Around Corners
Corners can also become a source of unwanted light spill.
If a fixture is positioned or aimed incorrectly, light may travel beyond the intended property boundary or into neighboring windows.
DarkSky International recommends outdoor lighting that minimizes glare, light trespass, and unnecessary light pollution.
This is especially important for commercial properties located near homes, apartments, public roads, or other businesses.
A good design should answer two questions:
Where do I need the light?
and
Where do I not want the ligh
A Practical Corner-Lighting Strategy
To install or move LED wall packs, follow this process prior to installation in a typical commercial building:
Step 1: Go for a walk around the property at night and find the existing dark spots.
Step 2: Label corners, entries, loading zones, walkways, dumpsters and other high traffic areas.
Step 3: Determine the direction and distance that each area needs to be illuminated.
Step 4: Choose a wall pack distribution that should be consistent with the target area.
Step 5: Design fixtures to ensure there is no large gap that is not being lit.
Step 6: Inspect the layout for glare and/or nuisance light intrusion.
Step 7: For medium to large scale projects or projects of security interest, draw up a photometric plan before installation.
In locations located beyond the building envelope, LED parking lot lights may be more appropriate to wall-mounted lights. Wall packs work best near the building and pole-mounted parking lot lighting can give more extensive light coverage away from the building.
LED Wall Pack Placement: Focus on Uniformity, Not Just Brightness
Dark spots around building corners are rarely solved simply by installing the highest-wattage LED wall pack available.
The better approach is to consider the entire lighting system: fixture location, mounting height, optical distribution, spacing, building geometry, surface reflectance, and the intended target area.
A well-designed installation creates consistent illumination from one section of the building to the next, including the areas where walls meet.
For commercial properties, warehouses, garages, loading docks, and building perimeters, the goal should not be to make every fixture as bright as possible. The goal is to put the right amount of light in the right location while minimizing glare and unwanted spill.
If you're planning an exterior lighting upgrade, start by identifying the dark areas first, then select the right LED wall pack lighting solution based on the actual coverage requirements of the property.
Frequently Asked Questions（FAQ）
⏵ Why are there still dark spots after installing LED wall pack lights?
Excessive fixture spacing, poor light distribution, fixture mounting height or obstructions like corners can all contribute to the formation of Dark Spots. Just more wattage doesn't necessarily help. The placement of fixtures and beam distribution needs to be assessed.
⏵ How far apart should LED wall pack lights be installed?
There is no universal spacing distance. The ideal spacing depends on mounting height, lumen output, beam distribution, building layout, and the required lighting uniformity. A photometric plan can be useful for larger commercial projects to decide the spacing.
⏵ What type of LED wall pack is best for building corners?
Depending on the area to be illuminated. Distributions that shoot forward can be useful where light is to be extended away from the building, and controlled distributions can be useful where light is to be extended near the building. The fixture's layout should correspond with the fixture's optics.
⏵ Can LED wall pack lights improve security camera visibility?
Yes. Correctly placed LED wall packs can enhance visibility at night around building facades, corners, walkways and entrances. But too much brightness (or glare) can cause loss of the quality of the image(s) taken by the camera, so it's important to make sure the camera lights up the area evenly, not just with the most powerful light.
