Human-centric lighting prioritizes the biological, psychological and emotional needs of everyone in the healthcare environment. It can actively support patient recovery and improve the efficiency of healthcare staff.
For any healthcare property, from large public hospitals to small private clinics, understanding the key factors of HCL (Human-Centric Lighting) in healthcare applications is becoming an increasingly important part of modern healthcare design.
How Healthcare Lighting Differs from General Lighting？
Healthcare lighting refers to lighting designed for healthcare environments such as hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. It aims to support patient health, improve healthcare staff efficiency, ensure safety, and control infection.
Unlike general lighting, which is task-oriented and energy-saving, healthcare lighting often needs to strike a balance between two conflicting uses.
For patients, healthcare lighting must be a tool for recovery. It should promote comfort and reduce anxiety, and regulate natural circadian rhythms. Lighting is a precision tool for healthcare staff. It needs to provide precise lighting for examination and operation activities, and keep healthcare staff alert during long shifts.
Health and Safety Requirements for Healthcare Lighting
Healthcare lighting must comply with strict healthcare safety and hygiene regulations.
Lamps need to be sealed and durable to withstand frequent cleaning. For example, many medical-grade lamps have an IP65 rating or higher and are made of shatterproof materials.
Lamps need to be antimicrobial to prevent infection, especially in operating rooms. Sealed, smooth lamp housings and non-glass materials are recommended to prevent bacteria and dust from hiding in gaps. Antimicrobial coatings or copper-impregnated parts can kill microorganisms on contact, reducing the risk of infection.
Imaging departments (MRI/CT) also have special requirements for lamp materials, prohibiting the use of magnetic materials that interfere with detection. Psychiatric department lamps use vandal-resistant materials to prevent patients from violent behavior.
Healthcare Emergency Lighting
Emergency lighting ensures the safe evacuation of patients and healthcare staff in emergencies, while preventing healthcare emergencies (such as during surgery).
Emergency lighting should cover all exit routes of healthcare institutions - open areas such as corridors, stairwells, ramps and exits, as well as high-risk work areas in operating rooms and examination rooms.
Lighting needs to be restored within 10 seconds after a power outage and remain on for 90 minutes. Large hospitals usually use Type I or Type II emergency drives or central inverters to meet this time requirement.
Smart Controls of Healthcare Lighting
Smart lighting with light sensors can simulate the changes in natural light throughout the day in healthcare environments, helping to regulate patient mood and sleep cycles.
Many medical institutions are open 24 hours a day. This requires adjusting lighting levels and modes for different periods. At night, the lights in wards can be intelligently dimmed to warm colors to facilitate patients ' rest. Other areas with less personnel flow are equipped with motion sensor lights to reduce energy waste.
It’s recommended to choose smart lights with preset color temperature changes based on different scenarios. For example, the examination room can switch to bright cold light when an examination is required, and then return to soothing warm light after the examination.
Aesthetic and Emotional Lighting for Private and Pediatric Healthcare Institutions
Compared with the functional lighting of large general hospitals, the lighting design of private and children's healthcare institutions must also emphasize beauty and participation.
Unified and stylish lighting design helps to strengthen the high-end brand image of private clinics. This improves the patient's experience and promotes their trust in the clinic.
Children's clinics emphasize fun and creative lighting. This may include the extensive use of colored LED lights, or themed murals illuminated by hidden LED lights. The lamps themselves can also be decorative. The goal is to distract children and relieve fear.
Other Key Considerations
Color Rendering Index (CRI) and Correlated Color Temperature (CCT)
High CRI makes external symptoms, such as the patient's skin and body fluids, appear realistic, making it easier for doctors to make diagnoses.
CCT adjustment is a matter of life and death in delicate medical operations. High-brightness cold light ensures that doctors stay focused and alert during surgery.
Glare Control (UGR)
Luminaires should have a low uniform glare level. This can reduce physical discomfort and emotional stress for patients.
Flicker-free Operation
Flicker can cause headaches and eye fatigue, even if it is difficult to detect, which is particularly troublesome for neurodiverse and ICU patients. Specifying flicker indicators and using high-frequency drivers can prevent stroboscopic effects during dimming.
