Carport lighting

You can achieve optimum carport lighting through the strategic use of indoor and outdoor lighting solutions. A carport not only serves as a parking space for cars, but is usually a place where shopping is loaded and unloaded or where hobbyists like to spend time. Carport lighting should be considered as an important safety element in addition to its appearance. Find out how to choose the right lighting and what to look out for in carport lighting in this blog post.

Natural daylight is recognised as the healthiest and most cost-effective light source in the world. It is therefore no coincidence that many people think of daylight first when choosing a light source. It is usually glare-free, often has the right light colour and intensity and is free of charge.

Even though it would be ideal to illuminate carports exclusively with natural daylight, weather conditions do not always permit this and it does not guarantee a sense of security in the area. Artificial lighting therefore comes into play in this area of application.

When it comes to planning lighting for carports, it is important to understand the significance of carport lighting in advance. The light sources for carports not only have the task of illuminating and giving the building an attractive design. Above all, they play a major role in safety and orientation both inside and outside the carport.

The interior of a carport is not only used for parking the vehicle, but also often for tinkering or repairing parts of the car. It is therefore very important to use the right lighting. The lights are often mounted on the ceiling. For optimum lighting, we recommend using additional lights that can illuminate the space evenly. 

Carports are usually open at the sides and are exposed to moisture and the risk of breakage. You should also choose the right protection class for the interior lighting of carports. A luminaire with an IP44 rating offers protection against moisture. Full protection is provided by IP65. We also recommend that you opt for lighting with IK protection from 5. These products are protected against breakage and vandalism.

Outdoor lighting is used for orientation and safety. The luminaire should provide sufficient protection against moisture and breakage. Therefore, luminaires with IP67 are the most suitable against moisture and an IK5 against the risk of breakage.

It is also important to provide optimum lighting for vehicle access. Your direct route into the house leads from the carport - at any time of day or night. To avoid glare, we recommend that you do not install the lighting too low.

With the help of sensor lights, the light is only switched on when it is needed, for example when darkness or movement is detected. Lights with motion detectors only switch on when there is movement, for example, while twilight sensors react to twilight and automatically switch on at sunrise and off at sunset. There are also lights with a timer. These allow you to decide for yourself when the light should be switched on or off. 

Lights with integrated sensors are suitable for carports. It is very pleasant when the light switches on automatically and also deters unwanted visitors.

Would you like to illuminate your carport appropriately and are wondering whether dimmable light sources are also suitable for carports? The answer is YES. In this area too, it is important to adjust the light colour and light intensity to suit your needs. If you want to park your car as usual or check something on the engine, a cool white light colour is well suited. If you just want a little peace and quiet, e.g. for cosy evenings with friends or colleagues in the carport, you can change the light colour to a relaxed warm white.

Solar lights impress with their energy efficiency because, unlike other lights, they draw their energy from natural daylight. This saves high electricity costs in the long term. Solar lights are also a good alternative for illuminating carports. Especially outdoors, the lights have easy access to daylight and can store energy during the day, which they consume later.

The following points should be observed for good lighting design in the carport:

• In addition to the ceiling lights, install additional lights, e.g. on the walls, for uniform illumination.
• Pay attention to IK and IP protection for inside and outside
• Adequate lighting of the driveway
• Fixtures with sensors for more freedom and safety
• Dimmable luminaires offer sufficient flexibility

We are your lighting experts and will impress you with our many years of experience. If you need advice on lighting for your carport or any other area, please contact us!

Angèle  - last updated march 2024