Rather than replacing bespoke luminaires that had reached the end of their fluorescent life, Lloyd’s Register chose to retain and upgrade the existing fittings, dramatically reducing energy consumption while extending their service life.
The project focused on the core staircases at the company’s London headquarters, where 80 bespoke linear direct/indirect luminaires had operated continuously, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
The fittings used 36W fluorescent lamps and, because of their bespoke construction, replacing failed lamps and control gear required the luminaires to be dismantled, creating an ongoing maintenance burden.
Instead of replacing the luminaires, Smart Systems UK developed a bespoke LED gear tray that fitted directly onto the original mounting points. The retrofit retained the existing luminaire bodies while replacing the fluorescent components with LED technology and intelligent controls.
The new gear trays reduced the connected load of each luminaire from 41W to 21W, cutting the total installed load from 3.28kW to 1.68kW. Additional savings are achieved through Bluetooth-connected controls, DALI drivers and PIR occupancy sensors.
When the staircases are unoccupied, the luminaires automatically dim to 20 per cent output. As soon as movement is detected, the lights immediately return to full output, while fittings on the floor above and below are also illuminated in anticipation of occupants moving through the building. If no movement is detected for an hour, the luminaires switch off completely.
The Bluetooth-enabled system can be commissioned and reconfigured using a smartphone app, allowing facilities managers to adjust lighting strategies without rewiring or replacing hardware.
By upgrading rather than replacing the luminaires, the project retained the embodied carbon in the existing fittings while significantly reducing operational energy use and maintenance costs.
The new LED gear trays and drivers are backed by a five-year manufacturer’s warranty, providing a longer service life than the original fluorescent components and demonstrating how thoughtful refurbishment can deliver many of the benefits of a new lighting installation with a fraction of the material consumption.
• Learn more sustainable lighting at Circular Lighting Live 2026, Recolight’s flagship conference and exhibition, which takes place on Thursday 8 October 2026 at the Minster Building in the City of London. Free to specifiers, Circular Lighting Live 2025 will feature leading experts, specifiers and policy makers who will share their insights into forthcoming standards and legislation, emerging technologies and new business models. More info: www.circularlighting.live
Pic: WikiMedia Commons 2024
