Glamox partners with GK in LED retrofit project to replace 34,000 lights in the University Hospital of Tromsø

LED makeover driven by Europe-wide phase-out of fluorescent lighting will result in major electricity savings for the hospital

Glamox is partnering with GK, one of Norway’s premier technical installation contractors, to replace 34,000 fluorescent tube lights in the University Hospital of North Norway (UNN) in Tromsø. The hospital opened in 2001 and is the largest in Northern Norway. The retrofit lighting project will see the hospital’s fluorescent tube luminaires replaced by a variety of Glamox energy-efficient LED luminaires, which will reduce the amount of electricity used for lighting by as much as 69 percent. The key driver for the project was the phase-out starting this year of the most common forms of fluorescent lighting due to the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive.

“There are at least 10 million fluorescent tubes in Norway alone, all of which will need replacing over time. Under the EU directive, fluorescent lighting is being phased out as it contains mercury, a toxic substance potentially harmful to humans and animals if not disposed of safely,” said Astrid Simonsen Joos, Group CEO of Glamox.

Having our luminaires selected for this project is extra special for me as I was born and raised in Tromsø. The UNN hospital is a pioneer in doing what’s right for its patients, staff, and the environment. I’m also pleased that the switch to our LED luminaires will enable the hospital to make significant electricity savings on lighting and reduce its carbon footprint,” said Simonsen Joos.

The lighting comprises LED linear luminaires, downlighters, as well as ‘LED kits’. The latter allows the existing luminaire housing to be reused. The new lighting will be installed in all areas of the hospital’s buildings, including wards, patient recovery rooms, staff rooms, toilets, offices, technical rooms, and accommodation for nurses. Some of the luminaires will be connected and controlled using a DALI-based control system.

GK will also install Glamox’s special cleanroom luminaires in operating theatres. These are luminaires made from materials that can withstand heavy cleaning regimes and tested at the Fraunhofer IPA facility for the testing of ultraclean technology in Stuttgart, Germany.

Many of the new LED luminaires in the hospital are ‘connect ready,’ meaning that, in the future, they can be connected to smart light management systems for monitoring and precise control.

GK will undertake the installation in phases and has a contract with the Hospital Purchasing Service (Sykehusinnkjøp HF) until July 2025, with the option for up to a two-year extension.