Intelligent Lighting Controls for Hotels 
(11/08/2008)
Hotel operational lighting requirements include ‘front-of-house’, food-and-beverage, guest accommodation, entertainment venues, function / conference / seminar facilities, and architectural lighting. Multi-point programming/switching and the ability to operate with all types of standard and specialised lamps – as well as operational reliability, ease of maintenance and superb product support – are of paramount importance for any system controlling lighting for an industry which never closes and is expected to provide seamless 24-hour/365-day service to a discerning clientele.
The ‘quality hotel’ industry - there are many types of accommodation within the hotel industry, and their lighting needs vary, with specific requirements for different sectors.
The recommended solution for quality hotels is installation of a complete-building lighting control system for controlling lights in all public and commercial areas, augmented by stand-alone or networked dimmers in guest rooms. Futronix manufactures one of the world’s most advanced intelligent lighting control systems – the Futronix PFX System.
The PFX System, an unlimited channel lighting control & whole-building automation system, is a modular system of linked dimmer racks and switch panels installed throughout the hotel. Fully-digital PFX Systems of unlimited size and complexity are accurate, quiet in operation and highly reliable. They can interface with security and alarm systems, and can operate with other programmable building automation features – including curtains and shades. The PFX System features true ‘scene dimming’ in all rooms or areas, and a comprehensive list of features and options unrivalled by competing systems. A range of accessories adds functionality in specific areas.
Exterior hotel lighting will typically include exterior architectural and landscape lighting, water and garden features, exterior signage, and main entrance illumination, as well as parking, security and emergency lighting. With the PFX System, subtle variations of ambiance can be programmed with auto-sequencing to highlight specific features or areas. For switching heavy-duty exterior lighting Futronix supply the PFR unit, and the PFS unit is designed for controlling large-scale curtains, blinds and sunscreens in atriums and lobbies.
Interior lighting will usually include lighting for main lobby, atrium, corridors and guest lounges, guest room and suite lighting, plus specialised lighting for food & beverage outlets. Also standard is lighting for function and pre-function rooms, and ballrooms.
Fluorescent lighting is often specified for ceiling coffers or under counters in hotel lobbies, reception counters, restaurant and entertainment areas, and bathrooms. Industry standard fluorescent dimming is available with the Futronix 1-10v fluorescent dimming controller.
Restaurants, lounges, bars and clubs in a hotel can generally be lit – subtly or dramatically – with the PFX System plus accessories already mentioned, although discos and large bar/club venues are typically operated independently as leased areas, with only house lighting incorporated into hotel lighting control systems. A hotel-wide PFX System can control lamps of all kinds, and – using the same accessories – be programmed to light Fitness & Health clubs, spa, therapy rooms, poolside and other facilities.
Hotel ballrooms provide venues for a wide variety of events. Lighting requirements for ballrooms typically include pre-function lobby lighting, and lighting controls for dimming different lights for cocktail events, seated dining, theatrical and musical
entertainments and weddings, as well as conferences and seminars. With the appropriate accessories, sound systems and motorized elements such as curtains can be linked into PFX lighting control systems in various configurations to provide seamless control.
Spa Resorts – increasingly, Futronix top-of-range residential P400 and P800
dimmers are proving ideal for providing localized lighting control in such bungalow-style suites. These dimmer units have all control and dimming functions built into the one module, plus an integral timer. They offer 20 programmable scene settings, and provide multi-zone localised control with multi-point switching with the same ease and flexibility as the PFX or Enviroscene Systems installed in a resort’s main buildings.
The Futronix Enviroscene multi-channel controller is ideal for lighting control for restaurants, bars, conference and seminar rooms, and other light commercial applications typical to a smaller resort hotel or spa resort.
Switchpanel outstations are visually designed to complement each other in a range of styles and finishes, so PFX and stand-alone dimmers can be installed in the same hotel.
The Home-Icon Color Touch Screen controller offers an enhanced control option for hotels, allowing sophisticated remote control of PFX, Enviroscene and Hx dimmers and other automation systems. The Home-Icon TouchScreen links dimmers together, and can add multiple functions with one-touch macros programmed to run pre-set environments’ for hotel-wide ambient lighting control.
The Home Icon can also provide the hotel manager and engineer with master automation control for an entire hotel, with an in-built 365-day astronomical timer to program lighting for special events and holidays far in advance, and the ability to control AV equipment and security alarms. The Home-Icon commercial lighting controller features a full colour TFT touch-screen display, with graphics representing building layout, system components, performance circuit levels & other programmable settings in a clear and logical user-friendly format. The controller can reprogram lighting scenes, raise and lower lighting circuit levels and save system changes.
For large hotel installations, the touch screen display is usually located in the operational manager’s office or a separate control/distribution room. In bungalow or spa resorts where free-standing control is desired, Home-Icon Touch Screens are typically fitted by entrance doors, with switch panels in other rooms or areas to provide multi-point local switching control.
Partitioning for large spaces is of particular interest to hotel management for maximising the efficiency of ballrooms and function rooms by arranging scheduling and space utilisation of these costly rooms. Partitioning of large rooms allows various functions to take place simultaneously in one area divided into smaller function rooms, each with its’ own control room.
The PFX System’s X-BUS protocol allows all power and data to be sent down a single multi-stranded cable, daisy-chained to each control switch plate in turn. This useful feature for lighting control for large pillarless areas such as ballrooms requires significantly less cabling and installation, and provides greater reliability due to fewer components and connections, easier terminations and more robust cable.
Whether a hotel is located in a city or on a remote island, high-rise or low-rise, targeting primarily business travellers or leisure visitors . . . with appropriate intelligent lighting control systems installed, quality hotels of all types and sizes can enjoy the profitable benefits of more appealing lighting and ambiance combined with simplicity and reliability.
Related categories: Lighting control system Office and commercial
