Helvar takes control of transformed lighting system at Bluewater

Helvar, lighting control

A lighting upgrade for the Wintergarden food court at the Bluewater shopping and leisure centre in Kent has improved the atmosphere and reduced installed power density and operational power density. Designed by Lighting Design International, the new installation uses a Helvar lighting-control system to control light levels and set scenes.

The area has a vast glass front, but there had previously been no accounting for natural light, nor had effective lighting design been a major consideration.

Lighting contrasts were previously too large, with daylight contributing over 7000 lx in the atrium and patchy existing light levels ranging from 21 to 120 lx. The new scheme uses Xicato dark-light DAL downlighters to provide a minimum of 350 lx. Light across the space is now consistent in colour and has a high colour rendering and low glare; it is also efficient.

Featuring a Helvar 458 dimmer, the control system operates via photocell and timed control so that ambient lighting changes throughout the day.

Connected to a Helvar router, a number of LED dimmers react to feedback from the photocell sensor. During the day, the sensor will over-ride the system to deploy a lighting preset, depending on external light levels.

Master control is via a Helvar 924 touchscreen. Staff can select zones in the food court to set lighting scenes.

Installed power is now 9.6 W/m2. Operational power during the day is 7.2 W/m2 and 3.2 W/m2 in the evening.

For more information on this story, click here: August 2013, 123
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