CP Electronics has helped to create a more-friendly and welcoming environment for staff and older people, including those living with dementia, at Stirling Health and Care Village.
The company was appointed to supply innovative lighting control systems to the housing scheme, which is a joint venture between Stirling Council, NHS Forth Valley and the Scottish Ambulance Service.
It delivers a wide range of health and social services together, offering a comfortable and homely environment for older people who require short-term care, assessment and rehabilitation. In addition, the site also provides support for patients with dementia and those who need palliative or end-of-life care.
Imperative to the project, lighting systems had to be dementia-friendly, in accordance to research published by The University of Stirling. It was, therefore, essential that all parties understood the specific requirements of the new health and care facilities and the importance of delivering the systems correctly.
The facility’s electrical contracting work was carried out by Stirling-based FES in a first-time project partnership with CP Electronics.
The bedroom corridors in the Bellfield Centre, one of the key new facilities on the site, were fitted with CP’s RAPID system. The installation followed the guidance of a specific lighting control strategy, as well-lit corridors are essential for clear visibility.
The RAPID system offers a centrally-controlled scene-setting solution that allows staff to manually control light levels in corridors.
At night time, staff are able to dim the lights to 50% of their full output However, all lights in the corridor can be switched to full power at the push of a button if an emergency occurs.
In the public corridors, energy saving was also a key consideration. The RAPID system within these areas made use of 81 Passive Infrared Sensors (PIRs) and central heads which dictate lighting to dim to 50% if there is no movement after 15 minutes.
If there is no activity for a further 15 minutes, the lux level is lowered further to 25% of its full capability. Once activity within the PIR’s 7m meter diameter zone is detected, the lights return to full power.
Non-dimmable PIRs were also used in toilets and store rooms to further minimise energy wastage.
The Bellfield Centre’s 116 bedrooms and en-suites are controlled by CP’s seven-channel lighting control system, Vitesse Plus.
Ideal for controlling energy costs without affecting user convenience’ the system’s built-in pre-set menu allows the installer to configure it quickly and intuitively.
Each bedroom and en-suite is fitted with absence detection sensors; but, at the hospital’s request, patients retain control of their own lighting preferences through switches from the door and bedhead. Absence detection, however, assists the hospital to reduce energy wasted on lights that have been left on accidentally.
For the facility’s consulting rooms, CP advised the use of its Vitesse Modular system. This makes good use of natural daylight during the consulting process while reducing energy wastage.
According to the Dementia Services Development Centre at Stirling University, uniformity of lighting levels is important, as people with sight loss can find it difficult to adapt to changing light conditions. Furthermore, people with dementia may misinterpret shadows.
Combining over 50 dimmable PIRs and a number of switches; the system is able to detect the amount of natural daylight entering the room and automatically adjust the lux levels emitted at the bank of lights nearest the window.
Brian Hedley, area sales manager at CP Electronics, said: “Balancing the wellbeing of patients and the needs of staff was key to this project.
“Together with the help of FES Limited, the lighting control systems installed at Stirling Health and Care Village succeeded by creating a comfortable and practical environment for all who use it.”