Clinical Lighting
This section refers only to the design and installation of electric lighting for general
purposes in operating theatres and ancillary areas.
General lighting is the background or area lighting provided in theatres and
treatment rooms. It is usually ceiling fixed with two standards of ingress protection
i.e. IP65 / IP54; or IP65 / IP65.
The first ingress protection value usually refers to the protection value provided
(when properly installed) between the luminaire and its surrounding environment
including its seal to the building fabric. The second ingress protection value
represents the luminaire when it is opened for maintenance between the sterile
environment and the non-sterile environment outside the clinical area. The term
Clinical Areas refers to areas or rooms in which a surgical, clinical or medical
procedure is carried out usually by a surgeon or doctor. The chief requirement for
any lauminaires within these ares is that they provide sufficient light for the critical
examination or treatment of patients. Also to help with operative procedures and
for the use of life support apparatus. It is essential that any lighting within these
areas should have clinical colour rendering characteristics i.e. CRI≥90.
In clinical areas or rooms the lighting is usually provided by two systems. The first
is task specific and the second is non-task specific. Task specific lighting is
provided by high powered focusable luminaires fixed to an articulated arm
providing the surgeon or doctor with a degree of dexterity to adequately illuminate
the treatment area with shadow free lighting. These illuminaires are called major or
minor surgical theatre lamps and are usually sourced from specialist suppliers. The
European standard is BS EN 60601-2-41:2000; "Particular requirements for the
safety of surgical luminaires and luminaires for diagnosis" provides detailed
information on the requirements of "luminaires for diagnosis", "Minor (treatment)
surgical luminaires" and "Major system surgical luminaires".
The second non-task specific lighting is usually provided by ceiling recessed
luminaires. These luminaires provide background lighting while and treatment or
operating procedure is taking place. The background lighting should aim to provide
a visual between the task specific and non-task specific area in order to maintain
comfortable viewing conditions and help sustain visual acuity. The value
recommended for background lighting within treatment or theatre areas is
1000Lux (maintained average).
