¹Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA

Correspondence: Dr MS Rea, Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 21 Union Street/3rd floor, Troy, NY 12180 USA. E-mail: ream@rpi.edu

Abstract

Recently, the Consensus Committee to Develop Recommended Standards for Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Design has developed recommended lighting standards for the NICU. One objective of these standards are to propose lighting standards that reflect the general principles of good lighting, and to chart new directions for lighted environments in the NICU that are consistent with the latest scientific literature. Rationales for the latest recommended standards in NICUs as they pertain to the ambient lighting in infant care areas, procedure lighting in infant care areas, illumination of support areas, daylighting and floor surfaces are discussed. This article is intended to serve as a bridge between health care and building professionals interested in quality lighting in the NICU environment.