LEEK LIBRARY

Future-proof performance and efficiency combine with elegant classic design as Dextra Lighting’s CAPO LED illuminates the newly refurbished Leek Library in the historic Nicholson Institute.

Client – Staffordshire County Council
Consultants – Entrust Property Services
Electrical Installers – Cripwell
Manufacturer – Dextra Lighting

Once again, Entrust property consultants have partnered with Dextra Lighting to provide “safe, inspiring and sustainable learning places” for communities around the UK.

Entrust adopts a multi-disciplinary approach to support councils looking to update public educational facilities, guiding them from the initial design all the way through to maintenance and energy management. Over the years, its has relied on Dextra Lighting’s fast, flexible and reliable service, to bring a large number of projects to fruition. The most recent of these collaborations was the refurbishment of Leek Library, situated on the lower floor of one of the town’s most historic buildings – the Nicholson Institute.

Dextra Lighting was selected for the project not only for its commitment to total service but for its wide and diverse range of precision-engineered LED products and bespoke capabilities, allowing designers to cater for Stafford County Council’s specific demands.

Well-designed solutions using high-quality LED products can help make notable improvements to learning environments by offering superior task-specific light quality and premium performance, whilst cutting down energy bills by over 60% compared to HID alternatives.

As most of Dextra Lighting’s LED products use only the latest LM80-verified 3535 Lumileds LED sources, offering 90% lumen maintenance over the first 60,000 hours of operation, local authorities can also expect to drastically improve their ROIs by slashing long-term maintenance costs. The new LED installation would therefore, eliminate the need to frequently replace both failed or rapidly depreciating lamps, making it far simpler and cheaper to run compared to fluorescent or HID lighting.

Another important issue in lighting upgrades is compliance. Not only does this reassure clients about the standard and safety of their new system: it also opens up opportunities for returns on investment. For this reason, the majority of Dextra Lighting’s LED products are included in the ETL list of energy-efficient technology, satisfying a range of performance criteria. Products listed are eligible for the ECA (Enhanced Capital Allowance) scheme and qualify for full tax relief upon purchase. Furthermore, by investing in eco-friendly LED systems, local authorities can expect to benefit financially by improving their performance in the government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment league table.

High-efficiency LED lighting units are also favoured by government-sponsored funding programmes that allow the initial capital costs to be paid back with the energy savings that follow. LED upgrades can allow for fast payback periods ranging between 1.5 to 3 years depending on the application.

THE BRIEF

The library’s existing lighting consisted of a combination of 150W SON and metal halide fittings that were not only inefficient and expensive to run, but also had a negative effect on user experience due to uneven illumination levels and contrasting colour temperatures. The challenge, therefore, was to rectify these issues by achieving uniformity and task-appropriate lux levels in all areas at a reduced electrical load.

Due to high ceilings at various locations at the site and restricted access to connection points, the aim was to minimise the cost of both installation and ongoing maintenance. Thanks to the durability and longevity of LED, the new system would automatically require less servicing. For installation, however, further provisions were to be made where possible.

Since the Nicholson Institute is a Grade II listed building, consideration of the surrounding Victorian architecture would also influence the choice in luminaire design. A decorative and architectural approach was taken in the selection of suitable products.

Emergency lighting was to be provided in compliance with the latest BS 5266 safety regulations.

THE SOLUTION

CAPO LED & CAPO XL – General and Ambient Lighting

Combining Efficiency with Form

The CAPO family of LED pendant luminaires emulates the design of the classic highbay commonly seen in retail outlets, manufacturing spaces and warehouses. Its anodised spun aluminium rear housing, coloured translucent collar and opal refractor, however, breathe new life into the luminaire, with its newly acquired character and elegance making it ideal for a variety of applications and corporate themes.

The luminaires harmonised well with the restored Victorian interior décor, giving a subtle nod to the past with its curved pendant design complementing the rounded edges of the ornate window and door frames.

Manufactured using highly-efficient Tridonic (CAPO LED) and Osram (CAPO XL) chip-on-board sources, the CAPO LED and CAPO XL are available in a range of output packages, making them perfect replacements for 70W to 400W HID fittings.

Due to its higher band of outputs, the CAPO XL LED was installed using long suspension cables from the stairwells’ high ceilings and the arched tower above the back office and sorting areas for ambient lighting. A 6513 luminaire-lumens (Llm) version was used to increase light levels and offer greater coverage.

The CAPO LED on the other hand, was installed in a 3847llm capacity in the lower ceiling areas of the library and surrounding corridors.

All luminaires were provided in a C84 (4000k) cool-white colour temperature to offer both clarity and comfort for users. Colour temperatures between 3000k are 4000k are usually recommended for library applications.

As HID fittings generally offer a very low colour rendering index (CRI), the CAPO LED and CAPO XL delivered vast improvements in light quality with a CRI of 80 revealing colours far more closely to how they would appear in daylight.

With all emergency and dimming control gear neatly housed within the luminaire itself, the CAPO XL and CAPO LED helped preserve the integrity of the architecture and decor. The added advantage of this unobtrusive design is that no remote packs or ceiling housings need to be installed, allowing for a more straightforward and cost-effective installation. 3m suspension kits were also supplied to facilitate installation further.

The CAPO LED and XL are compatible with a wide selection of digital and analogue dimming functions, which can be combined with standalone presence and daylight sensors from Dexsor’s Reacta range to maximise energy savings. Integral 3-hour maintained emergency pack is also available with versions of these products with either of self-test or auto-test monitoring options (check availability).

“As most of Dextra Lighting’s LED products use only the latest LM80-verified 3535 Lumileds LED sources, offering 90% lumen maintenance over the first 60,000 hours of operation, local authorities can also expect to drastically improve their ROIs by slashing long-term maintenance costs.”

Graduate LED – Back Offices / Sorting & Circulation Areas

The Graduate LED’s continued success across various sectors such as academia and healthcare is owed to its versatility, high standard of energy efficiency and attractive design. To minimise the time and cost of installation, the luminaires were delivered on site fully assembled.

By combining the latest Lumileds LEDs with Dextra’s high-efficiency opal polycarbonate diffusers, the Graduate range of luminaires is able to offer high light output ratios whilst ensuring excellent diffusion of the source.

Its steel housing and robust diffuser with screw-retained end caps provide increased protection and easy access whilst an integral gear tray conceals components when lit and simplifies both installation and maintenance.

The Graduate LED offers versatility in every respect making it ideal for retrofit applications. Available in output packages from 1918llm to as high as 11,734llm across four body sizes, the right version was easily selected to replace the old HID and fluorescent fittings without resorting to bespoke alterations. A 5493llm output variant in a 1500mm length was finally specified in order to achieve the required lux levels and uniformity ratios in the given area, with C84 sources blending in with the rest of the installation. At this output, the fitting’s luminaire efficiency measures as high as 130 llm per circuit watt.

The luminaire offers flexibility at the point of installation, with surface mount or suspended formats available to suit the ceiling type. Other options include IP40-rated gaskets for environments requiring added protection and BSEN 12464 3000 candela glare limit compliant optics for areas where monitors are in use.

The Graduate LED can also be customised using a range of sensor control options, with integral Reacta 25 microwave sensors offering presence detection and bright-out control to reduce carbon emissions and significantly improve ROIs. Alternatively, standalone sensors from Dexsor’s Reacta range can offer additional functions such as fully dimmable daylight regulation and remote control programming.

Compatibility to all mainstream digital and analogue dimming functions help reinforce the effectiveness of the Graduate LED range, allowing it to cater for the specific performance requirements. Integral emergency options are available in standard, self-test and auto-test to suit building safety requirements. By incorporating sensor and dimming control into lighting designs, clients can expect to add an average of 30% to the energy savings already provided by LED systems, making it a wise investment for projects with a strong commitment to energy management.

All products featured in the project are ECA compliant, abide with the latest safety regulations and are offered with Dextra Group’s 5-year warranty for additional peace of mind.

dextra-group-wht
(+44) 01747 858100
(+44) 01747 858100