Primary audience: Contractors
Draw the area that needs light
A flood light can illuminate a loading apron, equipment yard, sign or building face. Those jobs need different aiming and light distribution. Begin with a measured sketch showing the target, fixture position, property boundaries and nearby windows. Mark where people walk and where drivers look when approaching the site.
Record whether the task needs light on a horizontal surface or a vertical one. A loading lane needs visibility across the pavement and around vehicles. A sign needs light across its face. One bright spot in the middle cannot establish either task’s uniformity. Ask the designer to define the calculation surfaces before comparing fixture quantities.
Also record what happens outside working hours. A continuously occupied service entrance and a locked yard may need different schedules. The DarkSky and IES outdoor-lighting principles call for useful, targeted light with appropriate levels and controls. Apply those principles to the brief; they do not establish any Allmax product approval.
Use photographs from both the target and neighboring viewpoints. Daytime images reveal structures and mounting access; an evening inspection reveals glare from existing fixtures and other light sources.
Compare distribution before increasing wattage
Fixture lumens describe total output. They do not show how much light reaches a doorway, fence or loading surface. The distribution and aiming angle determine where that output goes. A wider pattern may cover a larger area while sending more light beyond the intended boundary.
| Decision | Check | Failure to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Target geometry | Width, depth and mounting offset | A bright center with dark edges |
| Distribution | Exact configuration’s IES file | Output landing outside the work area |
| Aiming | Elevation, direction and neighboring views | Direct glare toward traffic or windows |
Both published Allmax flood-light families describe their distribution as 7H × 7V. Keep that label as written. It is not a degree-based beam angle, a property-line limit or a guarantee of uniform illumination. Request matching photometry and use the intended mounting orientation in the calculation.
If the first layout misses an edge, compare a different position or additional aiming point before simply increasing output. More lumens can increase the unwanted light as well as the useful light. Record the chosen approach and its effect on boundary readings.
Keep the exact family and settings together
The LED Flood Light 15–65 W page lists MFD11 models at 15, 27, 40 and 65 W. Its output table separates 3000K, 4000K and 5000K values. For example, MFD11-40W lists 5,700, 6,000 and 5,800 lumens in that order. Use the value for the selected color setting.
The LED Flood Light 90/120 W page identifies its variants by wattage. It publishes four output-power settings and slip-fitter mounting. The catalogue does not provide orderable model codes for these rows, so request the written configuration in the quote rather than creating a suffix.
Both pages publish AC 120–277 V input and 0–10 V dimming. We do not publish a 480 V or 200 W flood-light model on these pages. A voltage option on an area light or canopy light does not extend to this family.
The pages also list photocell and mounting accessories. Confirm which accessories the quote includes and which assembly fits the proposed support. Do not turn an accessory illustration into evidence that every mounting arrangement is included.
Specify controls and mounting as part of the installation
A photocell responds to ambient light. A schedule responds to time. An occupancy sensor responds to detected activity. Write the intended sequence first: when lighting starts, whether it dims after closing, and who can override the normal operation.
Allmax’s flood-light pages show a photocell accessory with ordering option P. Confirm the exact driver and accessory combination before release. Published 0–10 V dimming does not independently establish compatibility with every sensor, relay or building-control system. Ask for the connection instructions and the behavior expected when the control signal is absent.
The support needs its own review. Confirm the mounting interface, attachment condition, cable entry and adjustment clearance. Record whether a lift can reach the unit without blocking a loading route. The contractor should review structural attachment and electrical conditions using the installation documents.
Commission after dark with the site in its normal operating condition. Check the target, the approach road and adjacent boundaries. Record the final aiming position, output setting and control schedule. A daytime switching test alone cannot reveal whether the light shines directly into a driver’s view.
Send a site and document checklist with the request
- Measured target dimensions, mounting height and distance from the target.
- Photographs of each support, wiring entry and neighboring viewpoint.
- Confirmed supply voltage and existing control sequence.
- Required working hours, dimmed periods and override behavior.
- Exact fixture variant, color setting, accessories and installation instructions.
- Matching IES file, calculation surfaces and project boundary criteria.
Give each proposed position an identifier that also appears in the fixture schedule. This connects the drawing, quote and commissioning record. Identify missing information explicitly, including unverified support dimensions or an unavailable photometric file. An incomplete survey should not silently become a final quantity.
Send the site sketch and flood-light schedule through RFQ to request the model documents and accessory confirmation. Include the required document date and the person responsible for layout approval.
Before accepting the installation, agree on how the contractor records the nighttime review. Use the same viewing positions as the survey and identify the fixture settings in each photograph. If a boundary concern requires a different aiming angle, update the schedule and calculation as needed. Keep the owner’s operating schedule with the control instructions so maintenance does not restore an unwanted all-night setting after a service visit.
Related guides
- Parking Lot LED Lighting: Choosing Shoebox Area Lights
- BUG Ratings and Dark Sky Lighting: A Specifier’s Guide
- Occupancy Sensors, Photocells and LED Dimming
Prepare the contractor fixture schedule.
Browse all buyer guides or send your fixture schedule for a quote.
Follow NEC/local code and use a licensed electrician.