LIGHTING ARTICLES

Michael Goodman, senior key accounts manager at Clevertronics, explores the importance of emergency and exit lighting and how approaches such as smart monitoring, long life batteries, energy efficiency, BMS integration, and sustainable design are elevating these systems from regulatory compliance tools to essential pillars of resilient healthcare facilities.

As NHS estates face increasing operational pressure, emergency lighting has evolved far beyond a compliance requirement. P4 explores how self-testing technology, intelligent monitoring, and connected emergency lighting systems are helping healthcare organisations improve resilience, reduce maintenance burdens, and support compliance with BS 5266.

Evidence suggests that LEDs might be causing harm to our cells – meaning that the health of the population is being adversely affected by spending lots of time indoors without daily exposure to daylight or full spectrum lighting. However, there are measures that designers and facilities managers can take to improve the situation, as Lorraine Calcott, director and principal designer at it does Lighting Ltd, explains.

Failing to comply with emergency lighting regulations endangers a building’s occupants, while putting owners and occupying organisations at risk of significant penalties. Yet a lack of knowledge around emergency lighting regulations means breaches remain all too common, especially in the healthcare sector, says Liam Greene, emergency lighting product manager at Thorlux Lighting.

David Navarrete, director of Research Initiatives and Professional Education at Sky Factory – a fine arts and digital technology studio that leverages Neuroaesthetics in its design framework, discusses some of the interesting research on the positive impact of dynamic lighting systems in reducing stress and burnout among healthcare staff and improving patient outcomes. Among the areas studied have been ‘the unique patterns of brain activation’ associated with exposure to photographic sky compositions (representing nature stimuli) compared with other positive, negative, and neutral images.

Lighting design consultant, Dr Shelley James – who will speak at the one-day IHEEM ‘Innovation in Healthcare’ conference at Uttoxeter Racecourse on 11 September* – shares the latest evidence for the return on investment in lighting that supports the body clock in terms not only of improved patient health outcomes and better staff engagement, but also lower electricity bills.