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As a line of defense against these indoor health hazards, it is advisable to specify ceiling panels that are certified to GreenGuard Gold standards for low chemical emissions. This certification process ensures a product is suitable for environments that may impact sensitive individuals, such as children and the elderly in healthcare facilities.
How ceiling system specification impacts natural daylighting
Light is vital to human functioning and plays an important role both psychologically and physiologically. Beyond aiding vision, light has a very direct effect on the areas of the brain acting as a stimulant to keep people alert and be able to perform better cognitively.
In a study highlighting important trends within the building industry, Dodge Data & Analytics identified access to daylight as a key feature for healthier buildings. Of the survey’s respondents, 60 percent identified daylight as a feature that will remain on the healthy building agenda.
The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC’s) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v4 rating system recognizes the power of natural light as part of the Interior Lighting credit under Lighting Quality category, which allows designers to demonstrate compliance by identifying four specific strategies from a list of eight provided. Several of these strategies identify specific average surface reflectance levels of 85 percent for ceilings over 90 percent of the regularly occupied floor area.
Light reflectance
Light reflectance (LR) indicates the percentage of light ceilings reflect. Ceiling panels’ LR and the overall light reflected can have a profound impact on the well-being and mood of patients and staff. Too much light can cause eyestrain and make it hard to focus. Too little can lead to headaches, lack of focus, and drowsiness. For best results, it is advisable to specify ceiling panels and products with a smooth or lightly textured, homogenous surface, and an LR range of 0.83 to 0.86.
Direct light means an object is hit directly with the beam, whereas indirect light is the result of a reflection. Since the ceiling is the only surface in a room that is completely visible, select a high LR to make effective use of natural, artificial, and direct and indirect light sources.
Increasing energy efficiency
Those who operate and maintain healthcare facilities must consider operating costs. When ceiling panels with high LR are specified, often for mood enhancement and health-related purposes, energy efficiency also is enhanced. The better distribution of light means it is possible to lower the light loads and possibly reduce cooling costs. Maximizing the use of natural light also reduces the number of light fixtures required, which can translate into greater savings.
Color selection creates healthy, inviting spaces
Healthcare design professionals are moving away from harsh, institutional atmospheres to create more welcoming, home-like environments. Product lines with an extensive range of colors, textures, edges, and dimensions help the architect, interior designer, and specifier create comforting ceiling designs for their healthcare clients.
People experience a range of emotions in healthcare facilities. The right interior design and color can play an important role in soothing stressful emotions. For example, blue has been found to calm people in high-stress settings, while bright, strong colors like red and yellow stimulate and encourage activity.
Color also helps people orient themselves in a building. Color contrast can improve signage comprehension, particularly for those with visual impairments. A ceiling, with consideration for the choice of panel edges and dimensions, can bring structure, order, and clarity to a healthcare environment.
With color specification, a designer can:
- establish harmony, warmth, or comfort with earth tones of bronze, brown, cork, and gray ceiling panels; and
- communicate elegance using metal reflectance colors, including satin silver, iron glimmer, or copper metallic finishes.
