NEWH - November 2003 - (Page 21)

tips on specs... guestroom lighting Energy efficiency. Color rendition. Control. Lighting the hotel guestroom of the 21st century demands expertise on a variety of products and technologies. We asked lighting consultants and manufacturers to share knowledge on the basicsand beyond. For a hotel guestroom, lighting experts suggest specifying four to seven fixtures, among them an entryway fixture, a task light at the work surface, one light per bed occupant and a floorlamp or pendant in a seating area. Model rooms can serve as effective laboratories for exploring illumination levels in both daylight and dark conditions. Start with a walkthrough of the space mimicking a guest’s entry pattern, advise experts, and ask very basic questions. Where do you go first? Is there a light switch? Does the room feel comfortable? Can you see where you’re going? The art of the unique– Creating a unique statement with lighting is fine, say manufacturers, but not at the risk of improperly lighting a room. If you use unusual lampshades as the means for making signature statements, make certain you’ve tested their effects. Experts tell us very unique shades may work well in public spaces in conjunction with other light sources, but in a guestroom, the same shades may simply not emit adequate light levels to make the room bright and comfortable. (More on shade specifics in a moment.) Want a customized approach within a typically tight guestroom budget? Consider crafting a customized finish, texture or color on a quality, proven product rather than designing an entirely custom fixture, which may require extensive and pricey tooling. Controlling effects– Is it automatic for guests to fumble under shades for switches? Yes, say most manufacturers, who suggest limiting any switch placement that may make manipulation difficult (an added challenge for elderly guests and those with limited dexterity). In any guestroom, safe and convenient operation of lighting is essential. Keep switches simple, visible, and stable, say manufacturers. Lighted switches can direct guests to light an entryway quickly or clue guests to floor-based dimmer controls sometimes used on torchieres. (Foot-pad controls may make fixtures aesthetically sleek, but are inconvenient if improperly placed.) Specify a push-button control only when it’s physically compatible with a fixture style, say, a wall-mounted light. On decorative table lamps, push button controls should be positioned on stable, flat bases, so force on the controls is downward, not sideways, which may push a table lamp off the furniture. Rotary switches-among the most common lighting controls-provide durability on table and floor lamps. Made in the shade– For shades on guestroom fixtures, aim for reasonable translucency that will create ambient light. Dark-colored shades will, obviously, emit less light. Pure white shades, however, may make an off-white wall appear gray or dirty. Use white shades against bolder colors, patterns and textures; select a cream-colored shade against an off-white-colored wall. If you desire a unique shade effect (in metal or leather, for example), an opaque shade will create twice the lumens as a translucent shade, making it suitable for specific task lighting. A broad range of shade materialsplastic, parchment and other paper-allows more flexibility than ever in shade treatments. For fully-framed conventional lamp shades, check that top and bottom metal rings are parallel and that quality taping connects rim to both shade and lining. Mushroom-pleated-or shirred-effects may be more likely than plain shades to trap dirt or sand (a factor in coastal resort settings). Investigate the likelihood of delamination of shades, particularly in settings where guests may be draping wet swimwear over decorative lighting to dry it. Media solutions– Task lighting for desk or work surfaces in guestrooms can double as power sources and dataports for electronic components. A media lamp (with two female RJ45 jacks) may be connected at the wall source, allowing for greater spatial flexibility. (Want to change the guestroom configuration? Simply drop a cable under cove moulding and attach it to the media lamp.) For guests, media lamps offer convenience and complete accessibility provided you specify stable bases that include outlets on horizontal or angled surfaces that can accommodate large converters. Energy is the issue– The economics of energy consumption (as well as building code requirements) often dictate standards on lighting used in guestrooms. Consider that an 18watt compact fluorescent source delivers the same light level (nearly 1,800 lumens) as a 100-watt incandescent bulb requiring four times the energy. Fluorescent fixtures not only slash energy usage, they cut maintenance demands: a compact fluorescent lasts about 10,000 hours compared to 750 or 1,000 hours for an incandescent source. And today’s compact fluorescents have improved dramatically in color rendition over those initially introduced. Experts advise using 2,700 Kelvin (K) to 3,000 K fluorescent bulbs for warmest, most flattering light. (Those registering 3,500 K and 4,100 K appear too cool for residential-style hospitality spaces.) Fluorescent sources are dimmable, too, which creates additional potial energy savings. Hotel operators must weigh the return on investment of energy-saving lighting controls including key-card systems and motion sensors to activate lights. In many luxury hotels, a door jamb switch is standard to activate closet lighting automatically. Thanks to manufacturers and consultants who contributed information: Jonathan Larkin, national director of sales and marketing, Hospitality Lighting Management Division, Trinity Lighting; Christina Mazzawi, vice president of sales and marketing, Illuminating Experiences; Larz Raffaeli, national sales manager, Oxygen, Richard Shaver, executive vice president of research and development, Edison Price. Reprinted with permission copyright © Hospitality Design Magazine. 21

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - November 2003

NEWH - November 2003
Contents
Letter From the Editor
Hospitality News
On the Road Again... IHM&RS Show
Tips on Specs... Guestroom Lighting
Spotlight on the UK
Spotlight on Greater New York
Random Thoughts... Designing Today’s Boutique
Boutique Chain – Is It an Oxymoron?
Developing Boutique Hotels in Historic Structures
Unique Boutiques... The Story of Watertown
Approaching the Design of a Boutique Hotel
What Sets a Boutique Apart from the Rest?
Simplifying CEU’s
Small Business Advice
Industry Partner Education
Sources & Credits
Bios

NEWH - November 2003