Commercial wall pack lighting installed on building exteriors illustrating selection and specification considerations

Commercial Wall Pack Lighting Selection and Specification Guide

Exterior Wall Pack Lighting for Commercial Facilities

Wall pack luminaires are a core component of exterior commercial lighting systems, providing controlled illumination for building perimeters, service corridors, loading areas, walkways, and parking structures. Proper wall pack selection improves safety, supports security objectives, and ensures compliance with energy codes and local lighting ordinances.

Modern wall pack fixtures—particularly LED models—are engineered to deliver high-output illumination with controlled distribution, reduced glare, and long service life in exposed outdoor environments.

Key Benefits of Commercial Wall Pack Lighting

Energy Efficiency

  • LED wall packs consume significantly less power than HID or legacy fluorescent systems
  • High lumen-per-watt performance reduces operating costs
  • Supports compliance with energy codes and sustainability initiatives

Consistent, Uniform Illumination

  • Improves visibility along building façades and pedestrian paths
  • Reduces dark zones and shadowing near exterior walls
  • Enhances safety in high-traffic and service areas

Security and Site Visibility

  • Illuminated perimeters deter unauthorized access
  • Supports camera visibility and surveillance coverage
  • Motion-sensor options provide adaptive lighting where required

Types of Commercial Wall Pack Fixtures

Wall Pack Type Primary Use Case Key Characteristics
Full Cutoff LED Wall Pack Perimeters, property lines, dark-sky zones Zero uplight, glare control, ordinance compliance
Semi-Cutoff LED Wall Pack Walkways, secondary façades Balanced forward throw with limited uplight
Traditional HID Wall Pack Legacy installations High wattage, reduced efficiency, declining use
Solar Wall Pack Remote sites without utility power Battery runtime and solar exposure dependent

Installation and Placement Considerations

Mounting Height and Spacing

  • Mounting height directly impacts coverage and glare
  • Higher mounting heights require increased lumen output
  • Fixture spacing should be validated using photometric data

Aiming and Distribution

  • Fixtures should direct light downward and outward from the building
  • Minimize uplight and light trespass onto adjacent properties
  • Cutoff optics preferred for compliance and visual comfort

Electrical and Control Integration

  • Universal voltage operation (120–277V typical)
  • 0–10V dimming compatibility where required
  • Photocells and motion sensors for adaptive exterior lighting

Maintenance and Long-Term Performance

  • LED wall packs typically exceed 50,000 hours of rated life
  • No lamps or ballasts requiring routine replacement
  • Periodic lens cleaning maintains output and uniformity
  • Housing and gasket inspection ensures continued weather sealing

Properly specified wall pack lighting balances optical control, durability, and energy efficiency while supporting long-term safety, security, and operational performance across commercial facilities.

Brandon Waldrop commercial lighting specialist

Brandon Waldrop

As the lead technical specialist for our commercial lighting technical operations, Brandon Waldrop brings over 20 years of industry experience in product specification, outside sales, and industrial lighting applications.

His career began in physical lighting showrooms, where he focused on hands-on product performance and technical support. He later transitioned into commercial outside sales, working directly with architects, electrical contractors, and facility managers to translate complex lighting requirements into energy-efficient, code-compliant solutions.

Today, Brandon applies that industry experience to architect high-performance digital catalogs and technical content systems, helping commercial partners streamline the specification process and deploy lighting solutions with total technical confidence.