Healthcare Design - September 2019 - 17

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smaller form factors as well as subtle variations in the interaction of
light across the surface of a luminaire that often feels very similar to
the variation found in nature. The initial LED products on the market were constrained by previous form factors that were the result
of the limitations of fluorescent technology. More options beyond
downlights and troffers will keep coming in the LED era. This will
give designers better options for incorporating biophilic elements
into their design and allow them to move away from the luminaire
form factors often associated with institutional environments.
Daylighting and views of nature are a big focus in healthcare
design. How can lighting technology support that?
Newer lighting systems have opportunities to be more responsive
to daylight, not only in terms of the intensity of the light but also the
color of the light. They can also take advantage of a transition to sensors on every luminaire instead of just one or two per zone. For spaces
with ample daylight, one or two sensors is often not enough to capture the variation of daylight, particularly in spaces with direct sunlight. More sensors allow the designer more control.
There is some talk of matching the color temperature of electric
light to the color temperature of daylight as it varies throughout the
day; however, it's important to remember that a correlated color
temperature (CCT) of 5000 K or greater is generally not considered
acceptable indoors, while daylight is typically 5000 K or greater.
Additionally, there are large differences between the intensity of light
indoors and outdoors as well as the spectral power distribution of the
light, even if the CCT is the same, all of which affect our perception of
colors. For a long time, it's been standard practice that all luminaires
have the same CCT, but in the future we may see more variation in
the patient room, for example, reflecting the various areas-such as
5000 K luminaires near the windows with luminaires over the bed of
3000 K, creating a more natural feel.
What new solutions are available to support circadian rhythms in
healthcare environments?
Initially, the discussion of supporting circadian rhythms was often followed by a suggestion to utilize standard warm white and cool white
LED chips to create different spectra for different times of day. The
discussion is now shifting to more optimized spectra, with a greater
variety of LED chips in the luminaires to better align with research
regarding which visible spectrum wavelengths are most important for
circadian rhythms. There's still much to learn regarding the relationship between light and human biology, with an increasing number of
discussions regarding other responses to light, such as alertness.
What's on your radar right now?
LED luminaires are expected to incorporate more sensors that
gather, process, and send data to electronic medical record systems,
building automation systems, maintenance personnel, and more.
Hospitals are managing countless assets, and tracking these assets is
of great potential value. Many designers try to minimize objects on
the ceilings but lighting usually still finds its home in the ceiling, providing the possibility of incorporating sensors in luminaires in nearly
every location where people and assets are located. The possibilities
and opportunities are just beginning to emerge. 

SEPTEMBER 2019

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Healthcare Design - September 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Design - September 2019