Effective cove lighting can provide subtle yet powerful illumination in commercial and healthcare interiors, ensuring spaces feel welcoming and well-defined. Cove lighting is primarily used to light ceilings or walls. The Z Cove from Inter-Lux is designed to make that happen, offering a seamless and reliable way to integrate indirect lighting into various projects.
The Importance of Vertical Illumination
Lighting perimeter walls is a way to define space, setting off the walls from the ceiling and giving a space light a conference room more depth. In healthcare environments, this is a way to make a space feel more airy and natural versus harsher, more purely functional lighting solutions. In the best of our spaces, light blends with architecture; the two don't feel like separate gestures but a unified aesthetic.
What is Z Cove?
The Z Cove is a linear LED system built explicitly for vertical cove lighting applications (see: walls). It delivers smooth, even light with excellent color consistency. Smooth blending and color over angle makes the light feel natural. Whether you're working on a hospital corridor, an office space, or a conference room, this system is designed to blend into architectural elements while enhancing the overall environment.
Why Architects Use Z Cove Versus Tape Light
If you've done cove lighting before, you might have employed a contractor-built cove pocket using tape and extrusion. Tape light certainly has its place for some cove applications, but Z cove has some advantages when it comes to consistently grazing a wall.
1. Consistent performance - no misaligned extrusions or poorly installed lensing.
2. Integral drivers - no need to locate and run wires to remote drivers.
3. Optics designed for the purpose.
4. Easy installation: the dimensions of the cove pocket and lighting element are determined and pre-built, not improvised on site.
Designed for Easy Integration
With a sleek 3.5" by 3.5" profile, the Z Cove creates its own pocket allowing for clean, uninterrupted lines of light. It mounts to 5/8" drywall or ACT ceilings, making it adaptable for different ceiling types.
Smooth, Uniform Lighting & Flexible Configuration
Z Cove directs light gently upward and downward out of the cove pocket, softly illuminating walls without harsh glare. Customizable in-fill panels act as reflectors, ensuring the light is evenly diffused. The system can be specified in straight runs or designed into patterns with inside or outside corners, offering flexibility to suit different architectural needs.
Performance Tailored to the Space
With five power factor options, you can adjust brightness based on the needs of your space. The highest output delivers up to 1600 lumens per foot, making it capable of softly lighting walls up to 20 feet high.
Multiple Color Temperatures & Dimming
Available in 2700K, 3000K, 3500K, and 4000K, Z Cove allows for color consistency across projects. Additional tunable white and warm dimming options provide even more control over the atmosphere.
Where Z Cove Works Best
Healthcare Interiors: Creates soft, indirect lighting in hallways and patient areas, reducing glare and eliminating the harsh strobing of corridor troffers or downlights.
Corporate Spaces: Provides subtle perimeter lighting in conference rooms and common areas.
Commercial Environments: Ensures clean, consistent lighting that complements modern design aesthetics.
Hospitality Spaces: With warm dimming options, cast a soft glow around the perimeter walls of a dining room.
Z Cove is a Solid Vertical Illumination Tool
Z Cove is a practical, adaptable solution for architects working on commercial and healthcare interiors that delivers seamless, indirect lighting without visual distractions. Its flexibility in configuration, range of power options, and color control make it a useful tool for various projects. If you're looking for a way to integrate cove lighting smoothly into your next project, Z Cove is worth a closer look.
At SDA, we have Z cove sample kits ready to go. Contact Us or email your SDA rep to learn more.
