A critical analysis of sunlight patches in patient rooms via simulation

Abstract

Recent research on patient recovery has indicated significant improvement in the conditions of patients treated in sunny rooms compared to those treated in shaded rooms. In this study, the amount of sunlight received in patient rooms with different orientations and opening positions was observed. Desktop Radiance 1.02 software was used to simulate the conditions in a typical double patient room. The area and location of sunlight patches on room surfaces were considered as analog indicators for the investigation. Seven orientations and three positions of standard window openings were studied on an hourly basis in different combinations at solstices and equinoxes from sunrise to sunset. Data were statistically analyzed for advantageous combinations of orientation and opening positions. Results indicated that rooms with right- and left-shifted openings receive direct sunlight more than rooms with centered openings, and these have sunlight mostly on walls, while those with centered openings have it mostly on floors. The study revealed that opening positions rather than orientation is crucial to the design of patient rooms regarding the penetration of sunlight. Orientation is effective only when the room surfaces are studied individually. The study enabled sun patches to be visualized in relation to patient beds, which is a significant determinant that can affect the location of the bed, and so patient in the room. The paper concludes with four proposals of an informal choice from these combinations that both admits sunlight and protects the patient from glare and excessive heat gain.