Night Lighting
Patients generally convey any discomfort they feel through verbal dialogue,
however in certain instances such as when they are asleep or in a comatose state
their general discomfort will only be detected by body, facial or arm gestures. It is
important therefore that the lighting level is sufficient to allow nursing staff on
nightly rounds to see the patients face but not high enough to destroy a good
sleeping environment. The illuminance for the central ward circulation space should
therefore be no greater than 5 Lux average at 0.85m working plane. To help with
visual acuity the maximum level measured anywhere in the ward circulation space
should be no more than 10 Lux at the working plane. In addition the maximum
permissible level measured anywhere on the pillow should not exceed 0.5 Lux.
These levels are illustrated below;
In addition LG2 2007 also imposes strict glare control requirements in order to
preserve a good sleeping environment. To avoid disturbing glare the luminance of
any luminaire left on during the night within the ward area should not exceed
30 Cd/m2 above and including a luminance limiting angle of 35° from the luminaires
downward vertical at all angles of azimuth. This level must not be exceeded
particularly for any part of the luminaire that can be viewed by a patient from their
bed. In addition any luminaire positioned at the bed head or within the bedded area
described by the screening curtains should not exceed 30 Cd/m2 above and
including a luminance limiting angle of 20° from the luminaires downward vertical at
all angles of azimuth. What this means in reality is that in order to meet the night
time performance requirements the use of multi-source luminaires or lamp points is
essential. It is impossible to achieve the requirements by using a single source or
lamp centrally positioned within a parent luminaire.
In order to make night lighting easier to understand at the point of specification,
installation and end user operation Healthcare Lighting has introduced their unique
Night-Care system. This is a simple multi-point LED night time optical system that
utilises single source LED's in the ward area integrated within parent luminaires
to provide light at the correct level precisely where it is required.
Click
here for an example of a Night-Care LED integrated within a
BedCare luminaire giving precise illumination over the pillow
area
Click
here for an example of the Night-Care system illuminating a ward
The Night-Care system can of course be tailored
to meet all the night time and
emergency lighting requirements throughout the hospital. To take
advantage of our
bespoke design service or to discuss your system requirements please
contact
Healthcare Lightings.
