HOSPITALS & HEALTHCARE FACILITIES A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR HEALTHCARE
For FMs overseeing healthcare estates, lighting has evolved from a simple building utility into a sophisticated clinical tool. In an environment that never sleeps, the intersection of CIBSE LG2 (2019), HTM 06-01, and the newly implemented BS 5266-1:2025 standards defines the framework for all users of hospitals and clinical settings, explains Trojan Lighting.
Beyond illumination Healthcare lighting must support both patient recovery and staff performance. CIBSE LG2 (2019) emphasises that lighting design must also account for the non-visual effects of light on human biology. For staff on demanding and long shifts, static artificial light can lead to the disruption of circadian rhythm (the body’s internal clock), fatigue and increased errors.
Tunable white lighting, which mirrors the natural cycle of daylight, is now a primary recommendation for modern healthcare facilities. By adjusting colour temperature and intensity, FMs can support staff alertness during the day and facilitate better recovery. Furthermore, for an aging patient population, light levels must be more nuanced; a 75-year-old patient may require ten times the illuminance of a younger staff member to achieve the same visual clarity.
Clinical precision and visual comfort In clinical spaces, the quality of light is as important as the quantity. Clinicians rely on accurate colour representation (Colour Rendering Index of Ra90 or higher) to detect subtle physiological changes, such as cyanosis or the onset of a rash. However, this high performance must be balanced with patient comfort. LG2 specifies six different lighting ‘scenes’ forward areas, ranging from general nursing care (300 lux) to night-time 'watch lights' (15–20 lux). A critical oversight in many facilities is glare control for prone patients. FMs should ensure luminaires are offset from the bed centreline and utilise high-quality diffusers to prevent visual stress for those spending long periods looking at the ceiling.
Resilience and the compliance
landscape From an operational perspective, the resilience of these systems is governed by HTM 06-01. This standard categorises healthcare areas into Clinical Risk Categories (1-5). In critical zones like operating theatres (Category 5), lighting must be supported by Uninterruptible Power Supplies to provide ‘no-break’ power, ensuring surgical teams are never plunged into darkness during a mains failure.
Perhaps the most significant change for FMs in 2025 is the update to BS 5266-1:2025, which came into effect on October 31, 2025. The new standard mandates photometric verification every five years to ensure that emergency lighting still meets safety targets as components age. For overstretched estates teams, the
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traditional manual ‘flick test’ is no longer viable. Modern systems now utilise automated wireless monitoring to log compliance data directly to a central database, ensuring a robust audit trail while freeing staff for higher-value maintenance tasks.
These principles are already being applied in practice. Many hospital projects we have delivered, including Guys & St Thomas’, Lewisham and Peterborough, lighting upgrades across ward and clinical areas have combined general lighting, integrated emergency systems, and wireless controls. The work was often delivered in live environments, requiring careful coordination to maintain operations while improving performance and compliance.
In today’s healthcare environment, lighting is no longer just about visibility, it is a strategic asset for the FM. By aligning with the latest standards and embracing intelligent, human-centric design, estates managers can deliver a facility that is safe, resilient and optimised for both care and recovery.
https://trojan-lighting.co.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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