Beam spread, or beam angle, measures the spread of light (the width of the beam) from a reflected light source. As light moves away from a reflected light source, it spreads out and becomes less intense.
There are six standard beam spreads:
Narrow Spot 2x2
The narrow spot distribution is ideal for applications where a tighter beam is required. It is also excellent for applications with far setbacks or longer distances such as flagpoles or tall trees.
Narrow Flood 4x4
Ideal for accenting sculptures, landscape and facade lighting with farther setbacks, narrow flood distribution provides a tight and symmetrical concentrated beam.
Horizontal Flood 5x3
Horizontal flood provides a wide horizontal beam with a narrow vertical concentration. It is ideal for applications that require a wide horizontal coverage with a shorter setback. It is a great distribution for grazing and accentuating architecture.
Vertical Flood 3x5
Great for tall facades and signs with a limited setback, vertical flood provides tall, tight distribution.
Medium Flood 5x5
Designed for applications that require a wider uniform pattern with a medium setback, medium flood is ideal for facades, under canopies, signs and general landscape applications.
Wide Flood 6x6
Wide flood distribution provides a large and uniform light pattern. Good for applications that require a shorter setback, wide flood can be used for signs, large facades, and broad landscape foliage. it can also be used for pole mounted applications for general area lighting.
Beam spread is classified into NEMA Types.
NEMA indicates how wide or narrow the light is projected out of the flood light. Horizontal and vertical beam spread angles are used to distinguish NEMA types. Example: If the horizonal beam spread is 120° and the vertical beam spread is 140°, then the NEMA type is 6x7.
| Beam Spread (°) | NEMA Type | Beam Description | Beam Projection Distance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
10°-18° | 1 | Very Narrow | 240 ft+ |
 |
> 18° - 29° | 2 | Narrow | 200 - 240 ft |
 |
> 29° - 46° | 3 | Medium Narrow | 175 - 200 ft |
 |
> 46° - 70° | 4 | Medium | 145 - 175 ft |
 |
> 70° - 100° | 5 | Medium Wide | 105 - 145 ft |
 |
> 100° - 130° | 6 | Wide | 80 - 105 ft |
 |
> 130°+ | 7 | Very Wide | Under 80 ft |