Lighting conditions in physiotherapy centres: A comparative field study

Visual comfort plays a central role in building occupants’ comfort, well-being and productivity. It is therefore fundamental to meet the occupants’ visual and lighting needs, carefully accounting for the room layout, usage and activities. In this framework, physiotherapy centres constitute a peculiar case since they are occupied by therapists and patients from different age groups, engaged in various activities performed in different positions in the rooms, and affected by different health issues. Lighting quality and satisfaction were monitored in four physiotherapy centres in Northern Italy and Denmark. Subjective assessments were compared with objective illuminance measurements at the task areas, and the sites were also analysed in terms of window and architectural features. Moreover, the interaction between visual and other environmental perceptions was studied. The results revealed: (1) positive influence of daylight access on the satisfaction of occupants; (2) occupants’ complaints about low lighting levels associated with artificial lighting being unable to provide 300 lx and natural light not balancing this lack of illumination; and (3) lower satisfaction among therapists, who also showed the tendency to assess their environmental perception more globally, since correlations between light and daylight satisfaction and other stimuli were observed when comfort issues were present.