Lighthouse Covid Testing Laboratory Estover, Plymouth

As part of Dextra Group’s work to support the fight against Covid 19, we were immensely proud to be able to be part of the most recent project working with the Plymouth-based contractor Totus and consultant Hoare Lea to deliver a Covid testing laboratory. This project saw an empty warehouse converted to laboratories for the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. To help the urgent need for more Covid testing laboratories and centres, it required a quick turnaround and from conception to completion, which was successful in only 12 weeks.

The Lighthouse Lab was a new £20m regional testing lab led by Plymouth Science Park creating 400 jobs locally. This was aiming to achieve the processing of up to 40,000 samples every single day, which will operate around the clock. Nationally nearly 3000 new recruits have joined the lab network since April 2020 and this addition will increase the vast workforce in the fight against Covid-19.

THE SOLUTION

As part of the project, Dextra upgraded all lighting to lithium iron batteries to offer improved warranties, as well as adhere to IP44 ratings which are required in lab environments such as this. The Dextra Lighting products chosen for this scheme included Typhon, which is an IP65 rated waterproof batten. This worked well within the double height areas, toilets and plant rooms where 119 were installed.

Typhon is made from high quality injection moulded glass reinforced polyester (GRP). It is suitable for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications where protection against water and dust ingress and light impact is critical. Typhon offers excellent chemical resistance, whilst the polycarbonate diffuser ensures resilience against accidental impacts. It is supplied complete with snap on mounting clips, providing both suspension and surface mounting points without the need to drill the luminaire housing, whilst the gear tray is mounted via spring release clips ensuring installation and ongoing maintenance can be undertaken quickly and simply.

Alongside this, Cornice LED’s were chosen as a perfect wall mount solution, due to the lack of suitable ceiling options in the corridor areas. The Cornice LED is suitable for both standalone and continuous run installation and is available in 1500mm lengths and a wide range of lumen outputs allowing it to meet the demands of a wide range of applications.

The Cornice LED is also available with DALI, Switch Dim, DSI and Analogue dimming and basic, self test and autotest variants. Integral microwave sensors can also be included where energy savings must be maximised including our wireless linked microwave sensor allowing grouped operating of luminaires without the additional expense of installing a wired system.

The store room at the laboratory required a simple stand alone fitting and the Ecopak LED provided the ideal solution with 62 supplied for this purpose. The Dextra Ecopak range of battens has offered quick and simple replacement of existing luminaires with energy efficient sources for many years and has enjoyed a great deal of success with several of the company’s blue chip clients. The Ecopak LED offers increased energy efficiency and low maintenance, giving even greater return on investment.

“I had previously specified Dextra for the Lighting solution at Nightingale Hospitals and they met all expectations in terms of initial design, accelerated delivery dates and quality of products. Building on this faith in Dextra they were the obvious choice when selecting luminaires for Lighthouse Lab. The project required a quality LED lighting solution in a phenomenally short programme and Dextra came through yet again delivering all of the products inside 2 weeks from order. This enabled Totus to complete the project within the 11 week programme set by the NHS and allowed them to meet the governments requirements to increase the Test and Trace abilities in the fight against COVID 19”

Bob Corne
Contract Manager, Totus

In the laboratory areas there was a need for both IP44 and UGR19 ratings which was overcome by the installation of 206 Modled Surface / Suspended UGR’s. This product provides a minimalist flat panel appearance with a homogenous lit diffuser, the highly efficient back lit design gives superior energy efficiency and extended LED lifetime. The high transmission microprism optic provides excellent efficiency whilst also ensuring compliance with the glare requirements of BSEN 12464. The combination of energy efficiency, flexibility and attractive minimalist design makes the MODLED Surface / Suspended an excellent choice for installations where the client demands an appealing aesthetic with premium performance.

To support this, the Modled Slim UGR was also used in the lab areas as well as the offices.

In the toilets, Protec LED’s downlights were used, offering the required IP44 ratings. A high quality recessed LED downlight, the Protec uses the highest quality components with cutting edge optic design and a modern aesthetic.

Elsewhere, AME LED’s were installed to the external emergency doors on the building. These IP65 LED Self-Contained Polycarbonate bulkheads are manufactured to BS EN 60598 and supplied with a hinged gear tray for ease of installation and maintenance.

To illuminate the exit routes, Dextra’s EXI2’s were used on the exit doors and Hydra LED’s in the circulation areas within the toilets.

THE PRODUCTS

TYPHON

Overview: A robust and durable IP65 luminaire with GRP housing for excellent chemical resistance.

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CORNICE

Overview: Ideally suited to corridors in academia and health care, however equally useful in any area where luminaires can only be mounted into the cornice.

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ECOPAK

Overview: The Ecopak offers increased energy efficiency and low maintenance of an LED source giving greater return on investment.

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MOD UGR SURFACE

Overview: The MOD UGR Surface / Suspended provides a minimalist flat panel appearance with a homogenous lit diffuser.

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MOD UGR

Overview: The MOD UGR is a traditional flat panel luminaire with a microprism diffuser offering glare compliance to BSEN 12646 in all lumen outputs.

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PTECD SSR WH

PROTEC

Overview: The Protec is the most versatile downlight in the range with a selection of attachments allowing the product to be personalised to suit most applications.

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(+44) 01747 858100
(+44) 01747 858100