Special Producers of skirting boards with integrated LED lights

ALL SKIRTING BOARDS CAN GIVE LIGHT

TO SEE OR TO BE SEEN - THAT’S THE QUESTION

Photo –FN Neuhofer

Skirting board and profile manufacturers are collectively playing the ‘illuminated skirting board’ card. This has been going on for a few years and anyone who faithfully attends Domotex each year could hardly have missed it this time. Some things are the result of the technical possibilities offered by LED technology, which, for instance, makes it possible to integrate lights into the skirting board with little mounting height. Those who don’t produce illuminated skirting boards find an excellent alternative in the much discussed LED strips, which can be fitted to just about all skirting boards or profiles.

Safety or design? It often happens that techniques, products, or systems are developed for a practical/technical purpose, but they gradually attract the attention of designers and architects due to their decorative look. Actually, that applies just as well to ‘cross-cut wooden floors’, which are covered extensively elsewhere in this edition. They, too, were designed initially as workhouse floors, but now they are part of the world of top class design. With LED, lots of developments started in the area of ‘safety’.

Evacuation lighting: MILS The MILS system has been developed as ‘low location evacuation lighting’, as required on cruise ships and in air travel. In this application the MILS strip is put on the floor in gangways, for instance. The system offers an advanced solution for the creation of evacuation direction lighting in tunnels and buildings. When the lights are switched on, they indicate the evacuation route and by means of a running light they give the recommended direction to the fire exit or exits. This system consists of a flexible strap of about 22 x 2mm with integrated LED lights at average intervals of 40mm, with good visibility. The MILS strip can be supplied from two sides to guarantee functionality in the event of a power failure. A smart power management means that the direction to be followed is indicated for each strip segment. This can even be adapted, depending on the place of the disaster. It can also be combined with emergency lighting and fire exit lights for full management of evacuation routes.

Built-in sphere lights By now, we are well aware of the safety aspect of illuminated skirting boards and staircase steps. An extra benefit is the fact that such lights can also provide sphere and solemnity. Staircases can be fitted step by step with sidelights and even floorboards (both indoors and on terraces) can be illuminated with built-in fixtures. That possibility exists because the relevant fixtures are extremely thin, so you don’t need much built-in depth. In this way illuminated skirting boards are sold by a number of skirting board manufacturers with built-in fixtures, but the job doesn’t require any particularly special skills, so parquet fitters could fit the lights themselves.

LED strips – it’s all possible! An alternative to built-in spots (or spots to be built in) can be found in the LED strips which have emerged recently on the market. A major argument which pleads for these strips is the fact that they can be applied universally. These strips with the accompanying diffusers provide an even light beam in white or colour (RGB). Since everything

operates on low voltage, anyone can install these strips. It is advisable to fit an aluminium strip first. This provides good heat discharge and extends the lifespan of the LED lights considerably. After that, the LED strip is attached to the wall at the height of the underside of the floor so that the skirting board is always 5mm higher. There are some handy connectors to link the strips to each other. When everything is ready, a synthetic finish strip is added to make the bright LED light diffuse and pleasant. The system can be extended with an accompanying dimmer and a remote control.

Three specialists

FN Neuhofer

Skirtings with LED lights are trendy and can ensure safety too. They are used to generate special moods in a room or to spend small light on your nightly way to the bathroom The FN LED-track is placed near the floor so it will highlight the wood grain in brushed floors. The FN LED light system offers a combination of fixing rail and LED ducting. Any Neuhofer skirting up to 90 mm in height and fitted with a clip groove may be plugged on. You find many solutions on the market, for stairs and for skirtings. But the main application will be the skirting. On stairnoses it`s a little complicated to get the electricity to each stairnose. Therefore you need a little more than common DIYskills. But the application in the skirting is very easy, so most people use it there. The floorboard thickness does not have an effect on the type of LED-light. The installation is easy, so floor fitters can fit this skirtings by themselves. Such LED-lights are normally connected to the electricity circuit with a transformator because they are powered by low Voltage energy (12V or 24V).

Prinz

Especially as emergency lighting or for orientation, LED skirting boards are ideal because they primarily illuminate the floor area. By using different colored LED strips or warm color tones decorative use is just as popular. Staircases are more likely to be illuminated by stair nosings like Prinz's profiles no. 218 / 219, which suit perfectly to illuminate the step below. Mainly LED skirtings are used along the wall. Thanks to its indirect lighting, the universally applicable Prinz skirting board no. 358 can be installed along the ceiling, thus it can function as a modern wall lamp, a ceiling washer or illuminated ceiling strip. The illumination has no influence on the floorboard thickness because the skirting boards are mounted on top of the flooring. For particularly large expansion joints, for example, when stronger parquet is laid floatingly, the PRINZ LED channel “LUXline” with a floor covering width of 22 mm can be used. “LUX-line” can be installed either individually or with skirting board on top. The Prinz LED skirting boards are basically installed like any other skirting board.

Progress Profiles

Skirting boards with LED lights are a real trend representing a creative solution to decorate spaces in a way far beyond traditional lamps and lights. The reason for using them depends on the space in which they have to be used. In hotel’s hallways, for example, Proskirting GILED or Proskirting LED are suitable to show the way in the dark, giving at the same time great aesthetic value. Otherwise, in hospitals and public spaces, these skirting boards can be installed down the hall and in rooms to light up and reassure patients. Skirting boards with LED lights can be installed everywhere and our Proskirting GILED can also be fitted along the ceiling as contemporary fitting-out or to decorate walls; Prostair LED, instead, is a non-slip stair-nosing profiles with an integrated LED lighting system. Progress Profiles skirting boards with lighting system are connected to the electricity circuit.