Windows and glazing play a crucial role in healthcare facilities, contributing to patient well-being, staff efficiency, and overall building performance. The right window and glazing solutions help create a healing environment by maximizing natural light, improving air quality, and maintaining thermal comfort.
All rooms occupied by patients or staff on a regular basis shall have glazed windows or doors to achieve external views and/or make use of direct or borrowed natural light, where practical.
All Patient Bedrooms shall have external windows overlooking external areas. An external area is defined as the perimeter space around a building as well as naturally ventilated and lit atriums and courtyards.
Note 1:
It is also a requirement of these guidelines that all overnight Patient Bedrooms must have an external window. This however does not apply to the Operating Unit, Emergency Unit, ICU and similar areas.
Note 2:
For the purpose of this clause, an internal atrium with artificial ventilation will be accepted if the area is more than 220 m2 with a minimum dimension of 14 m and suitable permanent landscaping.
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1) The Role of Natural Light in Healthcare Facilities
Natural light is a vital element in healthcare design, significantly impacting patient recovery, staff productivity, and infection control. Optimizing window and glazing solutions ensures that hospitals and medical centers provide a healthier, more efficient, and safer environment.
i) How Natural Light Improves Patient Recovery and Well-being
Numerous studies have shown that exposure to natural daylight accelerates the healing process.
Key benefits include:
- Faster Recovery Times – Patients with access to natural light have shorter hospital stays and require less pain medication.
- Better Sleep Cycles – Sunlight helps regulate circadian rhythms, reducing sleep disturbances common in hospitals.
- Enhanced Mood and Mental Health – Sunlight increases serotonin levels, reducing anxiety and depression, which is especially beneficial for long-term patients.
ii) Impact on Staff Productivity and Mental Health
Healthcare workers spend long hours in high-stress environments, making natural light crucial for their well-being and efficiency:
- Increased Focus and Reduced Fatigue – Proper daylight exposure helps staff stay alert, reducing burnout and errors.
- Improved Job Satisfaction – A well-lit, visually comfortable workspace enhances morale and reduces absenteeism.
- Health Benefits – Reduced exposure to artificial lighting lowers eye strain and headaches among medical professionals.
iii) Role in Infection Prevention and Hygiene Control
Natural light and advanced glazing solutions also contribute to infection control in medical environments:
- UV Light Benefits – Sunlight has natural antimicrobial properties that help reduce bacterial growth on surfaces.
- Low-Maintenance Glazing – Specialized coatings, such as anti-bacterial and self-cleaning glass, minimize contamination risks.
- Improved Ventilation – Well-placed windows support natural airflow, reducing the spread of airborne pathogens.
By integrating strategic window placement and high-performance glazing, healthcare facilities can harness the benefits of natural light while ensuring energy efficiency, patient comfort, and safety.
2) Types of Windows Used in Healthcare Facilities
Selecting the right type of windows for healthcare facilities is crucial for ensuring patient comfort, safety, energy efficiency, and infection control. Hospitals, clinics, and medical centers require a mix of window types to meet different functional and regulatory needs.
In multi-level hospitals with ducted air-conditioning systems, or in buildings in cyclone prone areas, it is not always possible to include an operable window component. In these circumstances, fixed windows are acceptable, although access for external window cleaning should be considered.
Operable windows should have provision to restrict the degree of opening. Locks should be heavy duty, affixed to both sides of hopper windows and fixed securely through the frame with tamper proof fixings.
Hopper windows should not be used in multi-storey buildings because they can act as smoke/heat scoops from fires in storeys below.
Note: Hopper windows are also known as ‘awning’ windows. These refer to windows hinged from the top.
Below are the most commonly used window types in healthcare environments:
3) Size of Window and Glazing
Each required external window and/or external glazed door shall have a net glazed area of not less than 10 percent of the floor area of the room concerned.
An opening component not less than five percent of the floor area of that same room is considered highly desirable but not mandatory. These requirements together will ensure natural light and ventilation in the event of an electrical or air handling system failure.
If it is considered undesirable to allow patients to open windows, for reasons such as avoiding potential problems with the central air-conditioning, then the opening section of the windows should be operated with a lock or Allen key held by the staff.
Note 1: Any opening section of the window or door as described above shall be provided with a fly screen.
Note 2: The provision of opening windows also facilitates energy management and conservation as artificial lighting and air-conditioning systems may not be necessary at certain times of the day and year.
4) Cleaning of Window and Glazing
Window cleaning shall be considered and appropriate provisions made. The following options are provided for information:
- Inward opening windows allow for the cleaning of the outside surface in a safe manner while standing inside the building.
- With alternate outside opening windows it is possible to open one window to reach and clean the next window; however this type of window will require secure harness anchor points for the cleaner.
- A window cleaning ledge or balcony may be provided only for window cleaning with no patient access. If no hand rail is provided, a continuous harness system shall be provided with a harness cable or rail that must reach a safe access point.
- A window cleaning cradle that typically descends from the roof may be used. Cradles must be accessible from a safe position on the roof and comply with all safety legislation.
- Extension arms may be used to clean windows that are one level above the ground or accessible terrace.
- Hospital management may enter into a window cleaning contract with a contractor who uses a mobile Cherry Pickers or similar lifting device.
Note: For safety reasons cleaning windows using a ladder is not recommended.
5) Conclusion
Windows and glazing are essential components of modern healthcare facility design, directly influencing patient recovery, staff efficiency, energy performance, and overall safety. Optimized glazing solutions provide natural light for healing, energy efficiency for cost savings, enhanced infection control, and improved security—all crucial factors in creating a comfortable and functional medical environment.
To fully leverage these benefits, healthcare facility managers and architects should work with professional glazing contractors to ensure compliance with regulations, select high-performance materials, and implement innovative glazing technologies.
Investing in smart, energy-efficient, and safety-focused glazing not only enhances the healthcare experience but also future-proofs medical facilities for evolving industry standards. Now is the time to upgrade and embrace cutting-edge glazing solutions to build safer, healthier, and more efficient healthcare spaces.