Solarspot® Daylighting Systems were installed at Radcliffe Care Group's Highfield Court in Uttoxeter to ensure that the maximum amount of light is delivered to the en suite bathrooms.
Founded in 1989, the Radcliffe Care Group provide residential and rest bite care for wide variety of clients. With over 23 care facilities across the UK, the Rushcliffe Group invests in a continual programme of building maintenance and improvement. As part of this on-going commitment, the group is improving its facility at Highfield Court in Uttoxeter, a 23 bungalow village complex providing 59 learning disability placements.
Within the complex, the facility has a number of en suite bathrooms that are located in the centre of the building meaning that they have no access to natural light. Following a meeting with one of Highfield’s partners, the Moorland Charitable Trust, it was agreed that the bathrooms should be improved with the installation of a tubular daylight system.
The group contacted Andrew Booton at Norflo Services, the West Midlands installer for Solarspot® Daylighting Systems, who advised them the most appropriate units for the building. ‘The system, simply put, is just a highly reflect pipe that runs from the roof, through the attic and down to the windowless room below’ commented Andrew. ‘The Solarspot system has a series of clever, patented, technologies that ensure that the maximum amount of light is delivered to the room – guaranteeing more light than any equivalent sized system available’.
The Solarspot® systems installed in Highfield Court are around 2.5 meters long but still deliver natural light in abundance due to the superior RIR™ light capture technology and 99.7% reflectivity of the Vegalux® tubing.
Whilst there are obvious economic and environmental advantages to using a natural light source rather than relying solely on electric light, the biggest winners are the residents and staff. ‘The difference this has made to the bathrooms is incredible’ said Sue Emery, Highfield Court’s Care Manager. ‘The light levels are fantastic, even on an overcast day, and the residents have responded very positively to the changes’.