Healthcare lighting is one of the most challenging and interesting areas in commercial lighting. The stakes are higher—poor lighting can affect patient recovery, staff performance, and clinical outcomes.

Let me walk through what makes healthcare different and how to approach it.

The Standard: AS/NZS 1680.2.5

The primary Australian standard for healthcare lighting is AS/NZS 1680.2.5 “Interior lighting - Hospital and medical tasks.”

It specifies illumination levels for different healthcare spaces:

Area	Lux Level
General wards (ambient)	100
Examination (bedside)	300-500
Operating theatres (general)	500-1000
Surgical site	10,000-100,000
Corridors	100
Nurse stations	300
Pharmacy	500
Laboratories	500-750

These are minimum values. Many healthcare designers specify higher levels for patient comfort and staff accuracy.

Beyond Lux: Quality Matters

In healthcare, light quality is as important as quantity.

Colour Rendering

Clinical staff need to assess patient conditions accurately. Skin colour, wound appearance, and subtle changes are diagnostic information.

Requirement: CRI 90+ is standard for clinical areas. Some specifications call for R9 (strong red) values of 50 or higher, since skin tones and blood colours are particularly important.

Glare Control

Patients may be bedridden, looking at the ceiling for extended periods. Glaring fittings cause discomfort and anxiety.

Requirement: UGR limits vary by space. For patient rooms, low-glare or indirect lighting is preferred.

Flicker

Some patient populations are sensitive to flicker, including those with epilepsy, autism, or migraine conditions.

Requirement: High-quality drivers with minimal flicker. Products tested to IEEE PAR 1789 standards provide assurance.

Circadian Lighting in Healthcare

This is where healthcare lighting gets particularly interesting.

Research shows that exposure to appropriate light—bright and blue-enriched during the day, dim and warm in the evening—supports circadian rhythms. In hospitals, where patients are often disconnected from natural light cues, artificial lighting can help or hinder recovery.

Emerging practice:

• Tunable white lighting that shifts from cooler (5000K+) during the day to warmer (2700K) in the evening
• Intensity variation through the day, with brighter periods during morning/midday
• Individual patient control where possible
• Dimmed, warm lighting for night checks

The evidence base is growing. Studies in ICU settings, psychiatric units, and aged care have shown benefits including reduced delirium, improved sleep, and shorter stays.

Caution: This is an evolving area. Not all circadian lighting claims are well-supported. Work with designers who understand the research, not just the marketing.

Specific Healthcare Areas

Patient Rooms

Multiple lighting needs:

• Ambient lighting for general activities
• Reading/task lighting for patients
• Examination lighting for clinical staff
• Night lighting for staff checks without disturbing sleep

Modern patient room designs often include:

• Recessed ambient lighting with dimming
• Adjustable bedhead reading lights
• High-output examination lights (often swing-arm mounted)
• Low-level night lights (amber or warm white)

Operating Theatres

Surgical lighting is a specialist field. The main surgical lights are purpose-designed medical devices, not general LED products.

But the general theatre lighting (ambient, instrument tables, periphery) uses commercial LED technology. Requirements include:

• High CRI (95+) for accurate tissue colour
• Minimal flicker
• Cleanable, sealed fittings
• Emergency backup

Corridors and Circulation

These spaces need reliable, energy-efficient lighting. Wayfinding is important—people need to navigate under stress.

• Consistent light levels (no sudden dark spots)
• Clear sightlines to exits and nurse stations
• Emergency lighting integration
• Low maintenance (high ceilings are common)

Aged Care Facilities

Older eyes need more light. What’s adequate for a 30-year-old may be insufficient for an 80-year-old.

Considerations:

• Higher ambient levels (up to 300 lux in living areas)
• Excellent glare control (aged eyes are more sensitive to glare)
• Circadian lighting is particularly relevant for dementia care
• Night lighting for safe movement without full wake-up

Infection Control

In a healthcare context, fittings must be cleanable and shouldn’t harbor pathogens.

Requirements:

• Sealed fittings (IP54 minimum for clinical areas)
• Smooth surfaces without crevices
• Materials resistant to cleaning chemicals
• Easy maintenance access

Some facilities are exploring UV-C LED technology for disinfection, though this is a specialised application separate from general illumination.

Emergency Lighting

Healthcare facilities have stringent emergency lighting requirements. Under AS 2293, critical areas need maintained emergency lighting (always on, with battery backup) rather than non-maintained (only activates in emergency).

Operating theatres, ICU, and other critical areas may have specific requirements beyond standard commercial buildings.

Control Systems

Healthcare lighting controls are more sophisticated than typical commercial:

• Individual patient control: Patients should be able to adjust their immediate environment
• Staff override: Clinical needs override patient preferences
• Central monitoring: Facilities management can see system status
• Integration: May connect with nurse call systems, BMS, and clinical workflows

DALI-2 is common in healthcare because of its flexibility and reliability. Proprietary systems can work but create lock-in concerns.

The Energy Picture

Healthcare facilities operate 24/7, making them good candidates for LED efficiency improvements and rebate programs.

However, healthcare projects move slowly. Funding comes through health department capital works programs, often with multi-year planning horizons. Decision-making involves clinical staff, facilities, infection control, and finance.

If you’re approaching a healthcare facility with LED retrofit proposals, understand the approval pathway. It’s rarely a quick decision.

Working in Healthcare Environments

Installation in operational healthcare facilities requires extreme care:

• Infection control protocols (may require construction covers, sealed work areas)
• Coordination with clinical schedules
• Patient safety and comfort during works
• Documentation for regulatory compliance

This isn’t standard commercial work. Contractors need healthcare construction experience.

The Opportunity

Healthcare lighting done well improves patient outcomes, staff satisfaction, and operational efficiency. The research is increasingly clear that good lighting matters.

LED technology enables better healthcare lighting than was possible a decade ago—tunable spectra, high CRI, sophisticated controls, energy efficiency.

For facility managers and health services, lighting upgrades deserve attention. The benefits extend beyond energy savings to clinical quality.

That’s worth investing in.