As the need for Covid testing has increased significantly over the last few months, so has the need for more testing centres across the country. Dextra was quick to respond for a request to support its client RD&E to help create a new testing centre for all NHS staff in Devon and parts of Somerset. The government has said priority testing should be given to all staff working on the front line to help aid the recovery against coronavirus.

Working with contractor, EX2 Electrical and Nevada Construction, Dextra Lighting was part of a collaborative team put together to deliver the centre in less than four weeks from design to completion. Dextra’s flexible approach and in-house logistics, as well as lighting operatives working over the Christmas period, enabled the project to be delivered in less time.

Speaking about Dextra’s work and the collaborative effort on the project, RD&E Project Manager, Nathan Hooper said:

“This is a great example of #teameffort. The task was set just before Christmas to create a standalone Staff COVID-19 testing/analysing facility in four weeks. With most modular options on a 8 – 12 week lead time, thank you to Pickerings for your answer to stitch four site cabins together to create one larger space. The architects KTA worked with the limited space and produced an achievable design in less than two weeks, whilst Currie & Brown coordinated the project and cost plan. The positive estates department at Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust (Nathan Hooper) gave immediate decisions which made the impossible possible.”

“The task was set just before Christmas to create a standalone Staff COVID-19 testing/analysing facility in 4 weeks”

THE SOLUTION

IP44 rating was an important consideration for this project and as a result, 25 MOD Surface Suspended UGR’s were chosen for the testing areas. It was important that all fittings could be wiped down frequently to help eradicate the virus.

The MOD Surface Suspended UGR combines energy efficiency, flexibility with an attractive minimalist design. The high transmission microprism optic provides excellent efficiency whilst also ensuring compliance with the glare requirements of BSEN 12464 allowing for installation in areas such as hospitals and schools.
This range is available in a wide range of lumen outputs, dimming and emergency variants, three housing sizes and can be either suspended or surface mounted.

In the cloakroom areas, two Ecopak LED’s were supplied. Dextra’s Ecopak range of battens offer increased energy efficiency and low maintenance of an LED source giving even greater return on investment. The Ecopak LED allows for quick and simple installation with one for one replacement of existing luminaires. The footprint matches that of a typical fluorescent T8 batten and installation is simplified with a two-part construction with rear spine and one-piece clip in gear tray and diffuser allowing the spine to be mounted before electrical connections are made and the gear tray is snapped into place.

Elsewhere, the Amenity Decorative LED was installed in the testing centre’s storeroom.

The Amenity Decorative is manufactured from injection moulded polycarbonate with an opal diffuser and comes with a range of optional coloured ring attachments and semi recessing kits. With 1500, 2000, 3000 and 4000 lumen output and light output ratios in excess of 80% this product range gives similar performance to traditional fluorescent sources. 1500 lumen offers similar output to 28W 2D and the 2000 lumen variant gives similar output to 38W 2D with the benefit of significantly lower energy consumption.

The Amenity Decorative can be offered with optional integral sensor, emergency, corridor mode or dimming options, all of which can be combined to tailor the luminaire to suit your application.