I recently had the opportunity to interview Tony Sarti, Healthcare Sales Manager for Kenall Manufacturing, for an article I wrote about healthcare facilities lighting for The Electrical Distributor (TED) Magazine. The interview was extremely informative, and I wanted to share it with you complete here.

DiLouie: How would you characterize healthcare facilities as a market for lighting? What types of facilities characterize this market?

Sarti: Healthcare facilities present quite a challenge for light fixture manufactures. Infection control, EMC & MRI compatibility, multifunctional lighting requirements and circadian rhythm are just some of the elements which must be considered when designing lighting products for the healthcare industry. Whether it is a hospital, medical office building or small clinic consideration of these environments should be evaluated when selecting lighting products.

DiLouie: What are the basic lighting requirements in a healthcare facility, and how do they distinguish this market from other applications?

Sarti: Infection control has been such an important topic for a long time and has gained a concentrated focus over the past few years. With over 2 million new cases of hospital acquired infections each year contributing to nearly 100,000 fatalities annually, special attention to combat this epidemic has been a priority.

Manufacturers of healthcare light fixtures sensitive to the infection control battle have addressed this concern in a few ways. Anti-microbial additives have been added to paint finishes to inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and fungus on the surface of luminaires. This approach addresses the exposed painted surfaces of the luminaire; however, this is not effective on the lense portion of the fixture. To address the entire luminaire against the transmission of infectious disease, a fixture with a NSF2 rating should be selected. This NFS designation ensures that the design is compliant with ease of cleaning, smooth wipe down surfaces and finishes that adhere to strict hospital cleaning protocols.

A second line of defense with regards to infection control involves inhibiting the transmission of airborne pathogens. In most operating rooms airflow is drawn through a hepa-filtration device designed to prevent pathogen cross contamination to adjacent areas throughout the building. This device is designed to filter any biological pathogens that may be present within the surgical area. If a breach or leak exists in any area within the system, the negative pressure of the room would be compromised. If a luminaire has not been properly sealed from the surgical suite, airflow could then be diverted from the designed path to the hepa-filtration device and travel to the source of the leak.

If this gets in an improperly sealed luminaire the potential for bacteria or mold to colonize might exist. Heat from an energized luminaire might then aid in more rapid growth of this colonization. Once established, this bacteria or mold could find itself into the plenum through a hole, crack or seam within the fixture. Any pathogens present could then spread to adjacent areas within the building.

Surgical suite lighting recessed into the ceiling should, therefore, carry an IP65 rating along with welded housing to ensure the space within the luminaire is isolated from the space in both the surgical suite and plenum. Specifically, fixture doors should be fully gasketed between the surgical suite and light compartment to provide an IP65-certified dust as well as the water seal between the door and lens, doorframe and housing, and doorframe and ceiling.

Electromagnetic as well as magnetic compatibility within surgical suites and diagnostic rooms is essential for patient and staff safety. An improperly shielded luminaire might interfere with sensitive medical devices, which could be critical in diagnosing a problem or become a life safety concern. Military Standard 461F is the most recent certification adopted by the lighting industry with regards to noise limit control of electromagnetic interference for both radiated and conducted emissions.

The presence of ferrous material in a luminaire could affect imaging results or become a safety issue when used in an MRI application. Therefore, special attention must be given in the design of any fixture being used within an MRI suite.

Manufacturers of light fixtures must be conscious of healthcare facilities’ needs by providing lighting attentive to all such concerns. Selecting products that provide listings and certifications from accredited testing facilities is the best way for the specification community to ensure that luminaires are well suited to the challenges of their intended application. Without adherence to these standards, it would be not be possible to determine whether a luminaire manufacturer was producing products capable of achieving their desired result. Disregarding these design elements might cause interference with delicate electrical or magnetic imaging machinery, resulting compromised readings and/or test results. Fixtures bearing listings that support ease of cleaning and barriers to transmission are important safeguards to assure the right fixture for the right job.

DiLouie: What are the major recent trends in healthcare lighting, and how are they impacting lighting needs? (Not just energy and maintenance but color, visibility, controllability, etc.?)

Sarti: The most significant trend impacting all of lighting in recent years has been the adoption of LED lamp sources. Early adopters of LED products had to suffer through inconsistent color shifts, unreliable sources and products that were not designed to provide optimal performance. The results proved to be disappointing, with fixtures that produced inadequate light for their intended application, poor CRI, and premature driver and LED failures.

With the growth and advancement of LED technology, the concerns involving the performance and design of LED light fixtures has greatly diminished, provided a reputable manufacturer is making the luminaire. This newer technology allows manufacturers the flexibility of smart designs that utilize less space—particularly critical in healthcare environments—while producing light fixtures that yield optimal performance.

DiLouie: Are there any new markets that are developing in healthcare lighting? New opportunities for lighting that are being created by these trends?

Sarti: There is an increase in robotic surgical suite and hybrid operating room environments, often involving video-view technology. As a result, supporting the visual needs of the staff is becoming increasingly critical to successful patient outcomes. Essentially, surgical suite lighting must deliver consistent, effective light where and when it’s needed. For example, the use of either symmetric or symmetric/asymmetric reflectors in surgical suite luminaires, depending on the needs of a particular application, provides superior optical control within each of the surgical suite zones. Surgical teams must also be able to depend on the luminaires providing accurate color every time the step into the surgical field, so the color rendering index (CRI) of the light source also becomes critical to their success.

DiLouie: What opportunities are there for increasing user comfort from lighting via methods such as daylighting and patient color tuning and intensity control?

Sarti: Research suggests that natural light is the preferred light source, which means that lighting control systems that measure and adjust based on contributions support patient health while providing the facility owner with cost and energy savings. Graphic lightboxes with soothing images can also be utilized to reduce patient stress during a procedure or hospital stay.

DiLouie: What types of lighting are common in healthcare facilities, including any specialized lighting such as exam lights?

Sarti: There are many types of lighting common in healthcare facilities. Specialized lighting includes multi-function patient room lighting, LED troffers, step lights, downlights, headwell lights, task lights, exam lights, chart lights, healing lights and darkroom safelights. Non-specialized lighting includes vanity mirrors, wall sconces, downlights, stairwell lights, exit and emergency lights, reading lights, and parking structure and surface lot lights.

DiLouie: What are three unique aspects of this lighting market that electrical distributors need to become educated about to distinguish their expertise or otherwise take full advantage of selling opportunities?

Sarti: Be aware of the needs, requirements, and hot points that healthcare facilities must contend with that are exclusive to this industry. Infection control, and staff and patient safety is paramount in the planning and design of all healthcare facilities.

Know and understand the significance of listings and certifications, particularly their importance when discussing lighting for the healthcare industry.

Patient-centric focus has become the overarching goal of most hospitals over the past decade. Privatization of rooms, closer personal attention and greater control of their environment – all while providing an architectural, less clinical look – has become the driving force in today’s hospital design and planning.

DiLouie: What kinds of retrofit opportunities are available that offer good selling opportunities to electrical distributors? What should they look for in an existing building?

Sarti: Exit signs and night lights that run 24/7 can yield anywhere from 25-75 percent savings depending on the lamp source being retrofit to LED. There are several options when retrofitting these types of fixtures. Many installations are easy and, in most cases, will fit into the same footprint of the replaced unit.

DiLouie: How should electrical distributors engage their customers on healthcare facility lighting projects? Where can they add value and distinguish themselves from the competition?

Sarti: They should seek to understand the needs of their customer by engaging in open dialogue with all involved parties. The healthcare staff, maintenance crew, administrative departments may all have different needs and requests for what they want when lighting their facilities. They should understand these needs and respond to them in a positive way, by sharing this information and making these opinions heard along the entire supply chain. Taking the time to listen to the voice of the customer and meeting their lighting challenges is powerful and will ultimately set you apart from others.

DiLouie: If you could tell all electrical distributors just one thing about today’s healthcare lighting market, what would it be?

Sarti: Make sure the lighting fixtures you specify are sealed and carry certified listings that support effective infection control, which is so critical in today’s healthcare environments.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Eric Snyder, marketing manager for Eaton’s Cooper Lighting Business, for an article I wrote about outdoor lighting for The Electrical Distributor (TED) Magazine. The interview was extremely informative, and I wanted to share it with you complete here.

DiLouie: What are the major recent trends in outdoor area lighting?

Snyder: There are several trends in outdoor area lighting, with the most obvious being the market shift away from HID and towards LED based solutions.  Distributors, electrical engineers, lighting designers and end users are much more educated on LED technology and solutions today than just a few years ago.  Because of this, there is a much higher level of scrutiny and expectation for an LED product versus a traditional source product.  There is also a high level of market interest and product development in outdoor lighting controls.  I believe there will be significant growth in controls adoption over the next couple of years as better and more cost effective control solutions become available.  Another trend I see is a higher level of awareness when it comes to code compliance and good lighting practices.  Because of this, I see a much higher use of solutions that limit spill-light and minimize light pollution even when it’s not required by code.

DiLouie: Commercial building energy codes are increasingly regulating outdoor lighting, with a recent notable trend being bilevel control capability. How is this changing outdoor area lighting product design and availability?

Snyder: Changes in regulation provide both a challenge and opportunity for manufacturers and distributors.  Current control solutions vary and capabilities as well as compatibility are not always well understood by end users.  Going forward, fixture and control manufacturers will need to develop more cohesive systems rather than independent components.  As awareness and understanding of control solutions expands, market adoption will grow with better solutions introduced at more cost effective prices. 

DiLouie:  The Model Lighting Ordinance is not widely adopted, though light pollution standards are being implemented through green building rating systems such as LEED as well as some energy codes such as Title 24 (California).

Do you see large-scale adoption of the Model Lighting Ordinance based on legislative initiatives such as recently introduced in Massachusetts?

Snyder: I’m not familiar with the specific initiatives in Massachusetts, although I believe that focusing on educating the market on MLO and good lighting practices will translate to accelerated LED adoption and better end results.

DiLouie: How are existing ordinances, LEED and energy codes affecting design of lighting products to address light pollution concerns?

Snyder: Lighting ordinances and energy codes vary substantially throughout the country and definitely pose a challenge from a fixture design perspective.  I do believe manufacturers are much more aware of specific code and performance requirements today than in years past.  These requirements often shape and drive product development, resulting in a better and more effective solution. 

DiLouie: How widely is the BUG system used at this time, and how effective is it?

Snyder: Adoption of the BUG system is definitely growing and many customers and end users are much more educated on BUG ratings than in recent years.  I expect to see better lighting practices implemented throughout the country due to the MLO and BUG system.

DiLouie: How would you characterize the commercial outdoor area lighting market as a retrofit market for energy savings or lighting quality? What are the opportunities for metal halide, LED, bilevel control? What are typical savings?

Snyder: The retrofit market is substantial for commercial area lighting, and programs such as the DesignLights Consortium have helped accelerate LED adoption.  When it comes to the retrofit market, there are many different choices for the end user.  By replacing HID with the LED equivalent, it’s common to see 50-75% energy savings.  Adding a control device such as an occupancy sensor will further accelerate payback on the investment.  For the past several years, HID area lighting products in the 150-400W range have been replaced with LED solutions to reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs.  Recent LED product introductions have lumen packages designed to replace up to 1000W HID, which is a common source at many retail and commercial installations such as big box stores and auto dealerships.

DiLouie: What LED options are available for outdoor area lighting, and how would you characterize demand for these options? What are the advantages and disadvantages of LED?

Snyder: There is a wide variety of LED area lighting solutions on the market today.  Many of those solutions have a choice of over ten optical distributions compared to around half of that for many products with traditional sources.  The wider array of distributions allows for more optimized layouts that further reduce energy consumption while providing a more uniform and safer environment in the application. Aside from optical distributions, it’s common to see a choice of multiple correlated color temperatures ranging from 3000K to 6000K.  For many end users, a neutral 4000K CCT is the preferred choice for area lighting applications.

DiLouie: Are there any other options that should be considered, such as induction or light-emitting plasma?

Snyder: It’s always good to be open minded about different solutions and technologies.  With that said, there are several good and cost effective LED solutions on the market today.  As LED technology continues to improve, I believe this will further solidify the justification to choose LED.

DiLouie: What control options are available for outdoor area lighting, and how would you characterize demand for these options? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Snyder: There are several options for controlling the output of area lighting:  Bi-level dimming, with 2 circuit wiring each controlled independently, an occupancy sensor or a wireless control system. 

The most basic is 2 electrical circuits that can be wired to separate time clocks resulting in reduced energy consumption in time periods of low occupancy in the application. The drawback of this approach is the cost to run the additional circuit to the pole, which may not be a practical option for an existing installation.

Integral or pole mounted occupancy sensors are available from many manufacturers, which work well for many applications and help reduce energy costs.  Implementation is typically straightforward the additional cost of the occupancy sensor providing a good return on investment for many applications. 

The ultimate solution is a wireless control system.  With a wireless system, there is a higher level of features with many being customizable to the application. Energy monitoring, failure reporting and time scheduled on/off or dimming capabilities being just a few features.  The drawback is that implementation may be complex and current solutions may not be cost effective for smaller scale installations.

DiLouie: How should electrical distributors engage their customers to provide the most effective (and profitable) outdoor area lighting solution?

Snyder: Many end users focus solely on the upfront cost or payback period for retrofit scenarios.  While upfront cost and payback is important, I think it’s also important for electrical distributors to be an educational resource and highlight other benefits that technologies such as LED can provide.  For example, having a more uniformly illuminated environment provides a higher level of safety, which can be a very important benefit for many end users.  In addition, most LED based products have a much longer warranty than HID based products which reduces the risk for end users and enhances value in their lighting investment.    

Whenever possible, I would also recommend demonstrating real world LED installations to potential end users.  To some extent, seeing is believing and demonstrations are a great tool to show the potential of LED solutions.

DiLouie: If you could tell all electrical distributors just one thing about today’s outdoor area lighting, what would it be?

Snyder: Do your homework before choosing a product and invest in educating yourselves as well as customers on technology and recommended practices.  Beyond the product itself, do business with companies you trust and that will stand behind their product if or when issues arise.

DiLouie: Is there anything else you’d like to add about this topic?

Snyder: Whenever evaluating different lighting solutions don’t overlook the details.  I always recommend performing a lighting layout to verify the light levels are safe and appropriate for the application.  When comparing different products pay close attention to details such as BUG ratings, surge protection, color temperature, lumen maintenance as well as construction specifications like IP, vibration and ambient temperature ratings. 

I recently had the opportunity to interview Jay Massa, regional sales manager for Kenall Lighting, for an article I wrote about senior facilities lighting for The Electrical Distributor (TED) Magazine. The interview was extremely informative, and I wanted to share it with you complete here.

DiLouie: What are the major recent trends in how senior living facilities are designed and used, and how are they impacting lighting needs and applications?

Massa: A recent trend in the design of senior living facilities is the result of circadian rhythm research, which directly impacts lighting needs and applications. Blue light has been shown effective in resetting the circadian rhythm of aging adults. As a result, the use of blue light in senior living facilities can help improve sleep cycles, particularly for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

DiLouie: What are the major lighting design considerations for lighting for senior living facilities? What do seniors need in terms of light level, glare control, color, etc. that is different than younger people?

Massa: By age 60, the eye receives only a third as much light as it did at age 20, which means seniors require considerably more light to see properly than their younger counterparts. They are also particularly sensitive to glare. These vision impairments raise significant safety concerns for the senior population. Inadequate lighting is also a safety concern because it impacts depth perception, making seniors particularly prone to falling. Therefore, an important design consideration when lighting senior living facilities is providing adequate footcandles for older eyes, and positioning the lamp source in such a way that disorienting shadows are minimized. In addition, automated controls can help seniors get in and out of bed safely and also adjust light levels without getting up, thereby avoiding trips and falls.

DiLouie: How would you characterize the senior living facilities market as a new construction market? What is current demand?

Massa: The simple truth is that never before in human history has there been so many older people on the planet. As the “baby boomer” population ages, the demand for senior living facilities will soon far outweigh the current capacity to serve this demographic. As a result, the senior living facilities market will need to include new construction if it is to keep pace with this demand. The “boomers” also represent a generation of seniors that, having been exposed to a swifter pace of technological advances that the previous generation, are technologically savvy. And while it’s true that it’s easier to incorporate state-of-the art technology into new construction, there are also significant opportunities to introduce it into existing facilities via retrofit/remodel situations. For example, LED technology offers a more energy efficient lighting alternative, representing significant electric utility cost savings to senior living facilities. Additionally, with new, state-of-the-art facilities being built, there is mounting pressure on facility owners to upgrade existing buildings in order to remain competitive.

DiLouie: How would you characterize it as a retrofit market? Have changes in best practice regarding lighting for seniors changed over the years to create a retrofit opportunity based on making the design up to date versus energy savings?

Massa: In order to remain competitive with new construction by incorporating advances in technology, including those that represent significant cost and energy savings to the facility owner, the senior living facilities market has become a prime market for retrofits. In addition, LED lamp sources offer a strong option for senior facilities from a safety perspective, while also offering significant opportunities for cost and energy savings via lighting retrofits.

DiLouie: What are the best opportunities to save energy in existing senior living facilities?

Massa: According to the US Energy Information Administration, cooling, lighting and ventilation accounts for 72 percent of a healthcare facility’s electricity use; with lighting alone consuming 42 percent electricity. Based on this, lighting certainly seems the obvious choice for upgrades, both interior and exterior fixtures.

And since going green saves money, senior living communities who achieve improved energy performance can invest their savings in improved care & services for the residents they serve. Additionally, automation that includes features like daylight harvesting, dimming and occupancy sensors can greatly enhance the already significant energy savings of more efficient lamp sources.

DiLouie: What are the best opportunities to update the lighting to current best practice?

Massa: I think it’s important that a facility develop and implement overarching Operation and Maintenance practices in which lighting upgrades are incorporated. To that end, innovative lighting designs and advanced technologies, including LEDs, photosensors and occupancy sensors, can help seniors in long-term care facilities maintain independence and be more comfortable. A shift to more natural, ambient lighting with greater uniformity and high CRI is also key.

As former Energy Secretary Steven Chu said on so many occasions, “energy efficiency isn’t just low-hanging fruit; it’s fruit lying on the ground.” To that end, the first lighting retrofit a facility can undertake is the exterior lighting for the parking lot or structure.

While the upfront costs are more than traditional fixtures, LED luminaires lessen the facility’s energy consumption, and energy and maintenance costs. Additionally, many times a senior living facility is located in a residential neighborhood and there are concerns about meeting light trespass requirements; LED luminaires with cutoff meet these requirements while providing desired light levels, which improve visibility and security for both the employees and residents.

Hard-to-reach lighting controls and bright, glaring room lights add to the difficulty seniors have getting up in the middle of the night. Additionally, nurses may need to check residents several times at night and often disrupt their sleep and comfort by repeatedly turning on the room lights. Therefore, it’s important that these lights be taken into account for upgrades.

DiLouie: What special lighting products are available for senior living facilities and what is their purpose and benefit? Please address how some senior living facilities present a mix of commercial, healthcare and residential lighting solutions.

Massa: In the common areas, the greatest lighting concern is often the aesthetic appearance of the fixture. However, in the apartments (in an independent living senior facility), it’s important to understand residents’ sight issues and to design and provide proper light levels to help elderly residents see better with less glare.

Another important factor in healthcare/senior living facilities is that the luminaires remain contaminant free, and meet or exceed relevant industry standards. These standards include cleaning protocols (NSF2 Splash Zone), or maintaining critical environmental barriers to guard against surface viruses (IP65 and K230).

Sconces are an ideal fixture to enhance the hallways both aesthetically and for illumination. Again, it’s important to not only consider styles that complement the architectural and interior designs but are ADA compliant, and NSF2 listed to meet the most stringent requirements for infection control and electromagnetic compatibility with sensitive medical equipment.

Another excellent fixture for senior living facilities is a sealed LED step light, which is a great choice for patient rooms, corridors, pathways, and workstation lighting. They’re on the market in a choice of amber, blue or white LED lamp sources and many manufacturers engineer them to be adjustable to 100 percent, 50 percent or 25 percent of full brightness.

A senior living facility also falls into the category of commercial because of the kitchen. Whether established by the USDA, the FDA or the end user themselves, today’s senior living facility must meet stringent cleanliness standards. Driven by the need to keep foods free of contaminants, the kitchen luminaires must support critical sanitation protocols while maintaining their sealed envelope. They must be designed to withstand rigorous cleaning protocols and meet performance listings relevant to their intended use—including wet location listings, IP65 ratings, and NSF2 certifications—all of which support frequent hosedown and overall cleanability.

DiLouie: What control options are most applicable for senior living facilities, and how would you characterize demand for these options?

Massa: In a senior living facility, lighting control options that adjust based on daylight and occupancy are the most applicable, as they assist residents in obtaining adequate light levels when and where they need them. This enables them to perform daily tasks and activities safely. The effective use of occupancy and daylighting controls also results in significant cost savings to the facility owner. Because controls represent a win/win for both resident and owner, the demand for these options is rising as our senior population is also on the rise.

DiLouie: How should electrical distributors engage their customers to sell the most effective lighting solutions for senior living facilities?

Massa: Distributors need to be the lighting problem solvers. Education is one of the most important ways distributors can arm themselves when engaging customers. Become familiar with the market. Know the lighting problems these facility owners and managers face. Have lighting options available that can solve even the most challenging environments. Work closely with reps and customers to offer the correct lighting solutions to solve any problems. Offer exceptional customer service. The sale doesn’t end when the product is delivered.

DiLouie: If you could tell all electrical distributors just one thing about lighting for senior living facilities, what would it be?

Massa: The most important consideration in lighting a senior living facility is ensuring the safety of the residents. It’s important to understand the light level requirements for various areas of the facility so that residents feel confident in their ability to venture down a hall or leave their room. Because the lens of the eye becomes more transparent as we age, the footcandle, color rendering and color temperature requirements of lighting a senior living space become mission critical.

DiLouie: Is there anything else you’d like to add about this topic?

Massa: As our parents age, we’ll soon see what the future holds as we ourselves begin to stand a pretty good chance of being in some form of assisted living facility or nursing home… By 2025 40% of the population will be over 55. Our ability to serve this growing segment of our population is fast becoming a huge social issue, but also a practical matter, even an economical concern. The key is to bring attention to meeting the unique needs of the aging population and pushing the limits of innovation to ensure their safety, well-being, and comfort.