LED makeover driven by Europe-wide phase-out of fluorescent lighting will result in major electricity savings for the hospital
Oslo, Norway, 5 October 2023: Glamox, one of the world’s leading lighting companies, is partnering with GK, one of Norway’s premier technical installation contractors, to replace 34,000 fluorescent tube lights in the University Hospital of North Norway (UNN) in Tromsø. The hospital opened in 2001 and is the largest in Northern Norway. The retrofit lighting project will see the hospital’s fluorescent tube luminaires replaced by a variety of Glamox energy-efficient LED luminaires, which will reduce the amount of electricity used for lighting by as much as 69 percent. The key driver for the project was the phase-out starting this year of the most common forms of fluorescent lighting due to the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive.
“There are at least 10 million fluorescent tubes in Norway alone, all of which will need replacing over time. Under the EU directive, fluorescent lighting is being phased out as it contains mercury, a toxic substance potentially harmful to humans and animals if not disposed of safely,” said Astrid Simonsen Joos, Group CEO of Glamox.
“Having our luminaires selected for this project is extra special for me as I was born and raised in Tromsø. The UNN hospital is a pioneer in doing what’s right for its patients, staff, and the environment. I’m also pleased that the switch to our LED luminaires will enable the hospital to make significant electricity savings on lighting and reduce its carbon footprint,” said Simonsen Joos.
The lighting comprises LED linear luminaires, downlighters, as well as ‘LED kits’. The latter allows the existing luminaire housing to be reused. The new lighting will be installed in all areas of the hospital’s buildings, including wards, patient recovery rooms, staff rooms, toilets, offices, technical rooms, and accommodation for nurses. Some of the luminaires will be connected and controlled using a DALI-based control system.
GK will also install Glamox’s special cleanroom luminaires in operating theatres. These are luminaires made from materials that can withstand heavy cleaning regimes and tested at the Fraunhofer IPA facility for the testing of ultraclean technology in Stuttgart, Germany.
Many of the new LED luminaires in the hospital are ‘connect ready,’ meaning that, in the future, they can be connected to smart light management systems for monitoring and precise control.
GK will undertake the installation in phases and has a contract with the Hospital Purchasing Service (Sykehusinnkjøp HF) until July 2025, with the option for up to a two-year extension.
For more information please contact:
Neil Pattie, Corporate Communications, Glamox. Tel: +44 7784086530 Email: neil.pattie@glamox.com
Silje Grip, Marketing, GlamoxTel: +4771246339 Email: Silje.Kristin.Grip@glamox.com
About the phase-out of fluorescent lighting
On 25 February 2023, new compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and long-life tubes were phased out in the EU with few exceptions. From 25 August, the phase-out extended to the most popular linear fluorescent tubes.
EU timetable of restrictions on mercury lamps for general lighting:
Lighting Product Date of Restriction & Relevant Legislation
CFL – i 1 September 2021 – Ecodesign
CFL – ni 25 February 2023 – RoHS
Long-life CFL 25 August 2023 – RoHS
T2 1 September 2021 – Ecodesign
T5 25 August 2023 – RoHS
T8 25 August 2023 – RoHS
T12 1 September 2021 – Ecodesign
Long-life LFL 25 February 2023 – RoHS
Source: Lighting Europe
Click here for more detail on the RoHS directive in relation to fluorescent lights.
About GK
GK is one of Scandinavia’s leading end-to-end technical contractors and service partners. With around 3,000 employees and over 80 offices in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, we deliver smart and sustainable solutions for HVAC (heating, ventilation, and cooling), building automation, electrical installations, and plumbing. We supply and deliver project design, installation, service, and maintenance of technical systems in new and existing buildings. GK’s is headquartered in Oslo. The company was established in 1964 and is owned by the Karlsen family.
Our mission is to build sustainable societies for generations to come. www.GK.no
About Glamox AS
Glamox AS is a leading lighting company that provides quality energy-efficient lighting for professional buildings in Europe and for the world’s marine, offshore, and wind markets. Our mission is to provide sustainable lighting solutions that improve the performance and well-being of people. We are committed to achieving Net Zero operations by 2030.
Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Glamox AS is privately owned by Triton and Fondsavanse and is a subsidiary of GLX Holding AS. Glamox AS employs around 2,000 professionals with sales and production in Europe, Asia, and North America. In 2022, its annual revenues were NOK 3,772 million. It owns a range of quality lighting brands, including Glamox, Aqua Signal, ES-SYSTEM, Küttel, LINKSrechts, LiteIP, Luminell, Luxo, Luxonic, Norselight, and Wasco. For more information, please see www.glamox.com
