SUSTAINABLE, SAFE, BENEFICIAL WIBRE POOL LIGHTING

Author and photos:   www.wibre.de/en

Can pool lighting be sustainable?

Quite clearly, yes it can. But above all it should be. When it comes to light under water, the products used must be sustainable. Spotlights in the pool should not have to be replaced after two or three years because the materials no longer stand up to the high underwater demands or the lights only glimmer. If this is the case, the continuous replacement would be a far cry from sustainability.

What looks sustainable pool lighting like in practice?

As a manufacturer, it starts with the development. The key is 100 percent permanent impermeability. But the material used to protect the interior is just as important. The housing must be able to withstand the highest adversities in the long term. In our case, we use extremely high-quality stainless steel stabilised with titanium, which is used in shipbuilding, for example. In combination with LED light sources specially developed for swimming pools, such a luminaire can be used under water for a very long time. From the bath’s point of view, sustainable pool lighting starts with research. Think carefully about how the pool is to be lit. In principle, a high-quality product should be chosen to ensure long-term enjoyment of the illuminated pool.

What role does the safety factor play?

In large sports pools, lighting is an essential component of safety, as it is in public swimming halls or adventure pools. Illuminated water makes it possible to recognise dangers and possible accidents more quickly. But an illuminated pool also makes a significant contribution to safety in hotel wellness facilities and in the private sector, especially in the dark season.

What advice do you give to pool operators?

Use safe components. Our luminaires comply with all standards (e.g. swimming pool IEC 60598-2-18), undergo numerous tests and have a high impact resistance.

We would also recommend using spotlights with a very low cover height. Our current spotlights have a cover thickness of only 2 millimetres and do not have any corners or steps. This reduces the risk of collision to a minimum.

Light has an influence on health.

What does this look like in concrete terms?

Especially in wellness areas, we consider lighting to be the most important influence on physical and mental recovery. You only enter a dark pool with discomfort. Light stimulates our feelings immensely and has been proven to be a crucial factor in charging the mind and body. An area illuminated with cold white light tends to give us a cold feeling and activates our brain cells, whereas warm white light causes brain activity to slow down and significantly accelerates the recovery process.