BGS LED Area Light | Lithonia Lighting
Our BGS LED Area Light represents decades of engineering expertise distilled into a single, robust fixture. Designed for commercial parking lots, pathways, building perimeters, and security zones, this LED area light delivers photometric performance that meets or exceeds IES standards while reducing energy consumption by up to 75% compared to traditional HID solutions.
We engineer every BGS optical assembly to maximize uniformity while minimizing light trespass and upward spill. The borosilicate glass refractor lens system achieves precise beam control across five distribution patterns, each optimized for specific mounting heights and spacing requirements.
Thermal Architecture & Reliability
Heat Sink Design
The BGS employs a vertical fin heat sink that maximizes natural convection airflow. We calculated fin spacing and surface area to keep LED junction temperatures below 85°C even under full load in 40°C ambient conditions. This thermal headroom extends LED life and maintains lumen output over decades of operation.
Driver Integration
Our UL Class 2 LED driver mounts in a separate sealed compartment, thermally isolated from the LED array. This two-chamber architecture prevents driver heat from accelerating LED degradation, a common failure mode in single-cavity designs. The driver operates at 90% efficiency across the entire input voltage range and includes active power factor correction to reduce utility demand charges.
Installation & Mounting Flexibility
Every BGS ships with our universal slipfitter bracket accommodating 1.5-inch to 2.375-inch round or square poles. The tool-less locking mechanism allows 360-degree rotation and ±5-degree tilt adjustment without loosening hardware. We include stainless steel fasteners and a pre-wired photocell socket as standard equipment.
For wall-mount applications, our optional trunnion bracket provides the same adjustment range while supporting horizontal arm or direct-mount configurations. The hinged door opens 180 degrees for full access to wiring and driver components without removing the fixture from the pole. Waterproof quick-disconnect harnesses simplify field service, and our color-coded wiring matches NEC standards to prevent installation errors.
Performance & Construction
Complete Your Outdoor Lighting System
Customer reviews
BGS LED Area Light Common Questions
For standard parking lot applications with pole heights between 20 and 30 feet, we typically recommend 150W to 200W BGS units with Type III optics. Spacing depends on mounting height and maintained light levels—a 25-foot pole mounting a 150W Type III can achieve 1.0 footcandle average with roughly 80-foot spacing in a uniform grid.
For perimeter poles or higher-security zones requiring 2.0 footcandles or more, the 250W or 300W configurations deliver the necessary output. We provide photometric files in IES format for every model, allowing your lighting designer to model exact performance for your site layout before ordering.
Yes, the BGS slipfitter bracket fits standard 1.5-inch to 2.375-inch pole tenons, matching the mounting profile of most HID area lights. You’ll remove the old fixture and install the BGS using the same pole and arm hardware.
One advantage of the retrofit is reduced weight—the BGS weighs significantly less than a comparable HID fixture plus ballast, reducing stress on aging poles. You’ll also eliminate the external ballast and ignitor, simplifying the electrical connection to a simple line-voltage feed. Most retrofits take under 30 minutes per pole.
The BGS operates reliably in ambient temperatures down to -40°F without auxiliary heating. LEDs actually perform more efficiently in cold conditions, and our sealed optical compartment prevents snow and ice accumulation on the lens.
Unlike HID lamps that require warm-up time in freezing weather, the BGS reaches full output instantly at any temperature. The driver electronics include cold-start circuitry that ensures consistent performance across the full operating range. We’ve deployed thousands of units in Canada, Alaska, and northern tier states with zero cold-weather failures.
Our LM-80 testing projects 100,000 hours to L70—the point at which the LEDs maintain 70% of their initial lumen output. At 12 hours per night of operation, that translates to roughly 23 years before noticeable depreciation.
The driver is rated for the same service life, and we warranty both components for five years. In practical terms, most customers will see 15 to 20 years of maintenance-free operation before considering replacement. The sealed optical chamber and corrosion-resistant housing ensure the fixture body outlasts the electronics.
Yes, every BGS includes a pre-wired twist-lock photocell socket located on the side of the housing. We offer our own photocell as an accessory, or you can use any NEMA-compatible sensor.
The photocell controls power to the entire fixture, so there’s no standby draw when the unit is off during daylight hours. For projects requiring dimming or networked control, you can leave the photocell socket empty and control the fixture through the 0-10V dimming leads. Some customers use both—photocell for on/off scheduling and 0-10V for output adjustment.
We provide a five-year limited warranty covering both the LED array and the driver against defects in materials and workmanship. The housing and optical components carry the same five-year coverage.
If a failure occurs during the warranty period, we’ll ship a replacement fixture or component at no charge. Our warranty includes coverage for coastal and industrial environments—no exclusions for corrosive atmospheres or high-vibration installations. Registration is automatic at the time of purchase through your distributor.
The standard BGS carries a UL wet location listing suitable for general outdoor use. For hazardous locations requiring Class I Division 2 certification, we offer the HBGS variant with additional sealing and surface temperature control.
The HBGS model uses the same LED platform and optical system but adds conduit sealing fittings and a housing design that meets NEC 501.10 requirements. If your application involves petrochemical facilities, refineries, or paint spray environments, specify the HBGS at time of order.