A commercial lighting site assessment turns facility conditions and business priorities into a defined scope and written estimate.
The assessment reviews what is installed, how each area is used, where lighting or maintenance problems occur, when the system operates, what access is required, and what the customer wants to improve. The output should make assumptions visible and separate repairs, upgrades, controls, and future planning.
Questions a site assessment can answer
Facility decision-makers do not need to know every fixture wattage before making contact. The assessment is designed to collect the technical and operational information needed to prepare sensible options.
- Which areas are priorities and what is causing the current problem?
- What fixture, lamp, driver, ballast, pole, or control types are installed?
- How do operating hours and occupancy vary across the building?
- Where do access, tenant, production, parking, or shutdown constraints affect the work?
- Should the project focus on repairs, fixture replacement, controls, or a phased retrofit?
- What current incentive routes or purchasing discounts are worth investigating before work starts?
Scope
What the assessment may include
The exact level of detail depends on the facility and the requested scope. Formal photometric modelling or engineered design is only included when specifically available and stated.
- Facility areas, fixture types, representative quantities, wattages, and visible condition
- Failed equipment, dark areas, glare, inconsistent light, and maintenance history
- Ceiling height, poles, lifts, racking, equipment, tenant, and access constraints
- Operating hours, occupancy, daylight, switching, sensors, photocells, timers, and networked controls
- Potential repair, replacement, retrofit, control, phasing, and maintenance options
- Written scope and estimate with stated assumptions, exclusions, and information still required
Site-Specific Planning
Bring operations and technical details together
A lighting decision can fail when it ignores how the facility actually works. The assessment should connect equipment data with loading schedules, employee or tenant access, high-use zones, maintenance history, seasonal exterior conditions, future layout changes, procurement rules, and the decision-maker’s budget and timing.
| Planning factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Existing system | Fixture types, wattages, quantities, controls, condition, failures, maintenance, circuits, and available records establish the baseline. |
| Facility priorities | Energy, coverage, glare, appearance, maintenance, safety visibility, controls, compliance, budget, and timing need to be ranked. |
| Implementation | Access, lifts, work zones, shutdowns, tenants, shifts, inventory, parking, weather, protection, and phasing affect the estimate. |
| Decision evidence | Written assumptions, options, quantities, energy calculations, incentive timing, inclusions, exclusions, and responsibilities support approval. |
How the Work Is Planned
What happens during a commercial lighting assessment
The process collects enough information to recommend a next step without requiring the customer to arrive with a complete fixture schedule.
Initial Discussion
Define the facility, decision-makers, lighting problems, desired outcomes, priority areas, timing, and available records.
Site Review
Walk relevant areas, document representative fixtures, controls, failures, conditions, access, schedules, and constraints.
Option Development
Organize repair, retrofit, control, maintenance, phasing, energy, and incentive considerations into practical options.
Written Estimate
Provide the proposed scope, assumptions, exclusions, equipment or allowances, schedule considerations, and next decisions.
Operations
Scheduling work around the facility
The walkthrough should occur when the relevant areas can be accessed and the right facility contact is available. For exterior coverage or control issues, a night observation may add useful information. Restricted production, tenant, or service areas may need separate arrangements.
Helpful information includes utility bills, fixture schedules, floor plans, prior proposals, maintenance records, photos, control screenshots, operating schedules, planned renovations, landlord requirements, and procurement deadlines. None of these need to delay the initial inquiry if they are not available.
Lifecycle Decisions
Energy, maintenance, and compliance considerations
When enough baseline data exists, the assessment can compare existing and proposed connected load and estimated annual energy use. These remain planning estimates unless verified through defined measurement and analysis. Incentive eligibility and final payments are determined by program providers.
Electrical Safety Authority guidance explains that almost all electrical work in Ontario must be reported through a notification of work. The Licensed Electrical Contractor responsible for the electrical work normally handles the applicable notification and inspection process.
Related Work
Connect this service to the rest of the facility
Commercial lighting decisions often overlap. These related services and facility pages can help define a complete scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
Commercial lighting assessment questions
What do I need to know before requesting an assessment?
Start with the property, facility type, main problem, priority areas, operating schedule, desired timing, and who should attend. Technical details, fixture counts, bills, and plans are helpful but do not need to be complete for the first inquiry.
Does an assessment include a written estimate?
The assessment is intended to support a written scope and estimate for the defined work. Complex engineering, photometric modelling, utility analysis, design, or investigative work should only be assumed when specifically stated in the proposal.
Can you assess only one area of a large facility?
Yes. A focused assessment can address a warehouse aisle, department, parking lot, office floor, tenant area, loading zone, or recurring maintenance problem. The scope should identify interfaces with the rest of the lighting system.
Can an assessment estimate energy savings?
When existing and proposed wattage, quantities, schedules, controls, and an electricity rate are available, a planning estimate can be prepared with stated assumptions. Actual use and savings may differ.
Will the assessment confirm incentive eligibility?
It can identify current routes worth investigating and collect useful project information. The applicable program provider confirms eligibility, product rules, application timing, installer requirements, and final incentive amounts.
Start with what you know about the facility
Tell us the property type, lighting issue, priority areas, and timing. Technical details can be collected during the assessment.
Primary Sources
Sources used for electrical, workplace, local, and incentive guidance
These primary sources support the material factual details on this page. Program information was reviewed July 24, 2026 and should be rechecked before a purchase, application, approval, or installation decision.
- Electrical Safety Authority: Notifications and InspectionsOntario guidance on notifications of work, inspections, and Licensed Electrical Contractors.
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: Lighting ErgonomicsWorkplace guidance on visibility, glare, shadows, contrast, task lighting, and fixture distribution.
- Save on Energy: Instant Discounts ProgramCurrent eligible lighting products, participating distributor process, customer requirements, and installation timing.
- Save on Energy: Retrofit Measures and IncentivesCurrent Retrofit lighting-control measures, custom-project information, and the June 2026 lighting-program update.