Sponsored: Wandsworth introduces new wave in hospital lighting

18 March 2013

Healthcare technology specialist, The Wandsworth Group, has launched an innovative hospital lighting solution that reduces costs, energy consumption and infection control risks

Ergonomically designed to provide both uplighting and downlighting in a single unit, ‘The Wave’ from Wandsworth Group provides high light output with low viewed luminance (luminous intensity). As a result, the undulating unit can function as both an observation light for medical staff and a reading light for patients, reducing the number of luminaires required for the patient environment, which reduces installation costs and can reduce energy consumption by up to 80%.

The Wave exceeds CIBSE LG2 requirements with a minimum average illumination level across the floor of 100 lux, using a single 16mm diameter TL5 HO lamp. The low energy lamp provides flicker-free start up and a virtually constant lumen level, with excellent lumen maintenance and good colour rendering, and, with viewed luminance within 700cd/m2, there is never any risk of patient discomfort from glare. Specifiers can choose between 54w and 80w fixed or dimmable output luminaires for the uplights, with optional DSI or DALI interfacing for connection to lighting control systems.

Managing Director of Wandsworth Group, Gary Stevens comments: “Patient environments need gentle ambient light for patients but at least 300 lumens is required for an observation light which often results in specification of more than one luminaire for each bed. The cleverly designed replaceable diffusers in The Wave use carefully placed prisms to maximise directional luminance while eliminating shadowing, enabling the units to achieve increased light output with low luminous intensity. This means that the reading light can double as an observation light, saving the hospital the cost of a separate observation light unit (around £400), plus the additional energy, installation and maintenance costs.”

The Wave’s softly flowing aesthetics have also been designed to answer the specific requirements of healthcare environments. Featuring a fixing-free housing and sealed, smooth surfaces, the unit eliminates dust traps and is easy to clean, helping to deliver hospitals’ infection control regimes.

Gary Stevens continues: “Hospital estates are looking for solutions that address the cost, energy efficiency and patient care challenges of the sector and The Wave answers all of these. It can also be connected to our innovative IPiN TCP/IP nursecall system, giving the patient complete control from a single handset.”