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Know The Newest Lighting Code

ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1!2010 Has A Variety Of Lighting And
Controls Changes. The Goal Of The Newest Version Was To Create A
Standard That Could Be Used To Produce Buildings That Are 30% More
Efficient Than Those Designed With The 2004 Standards.
Justin Schultz, PE, and Michael Chow, PE, Metro CD Engineering LLC, Dublin, Ohio
08/16/2011

Lighting accounts for a major portion of the energy usage in commercial buildings and is, in fac
the largest consumer of electricity. As such, reductions in lighting energy usage alone can have
major impact in electricity consumption.

Last fall, the 2010 version of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1 was released. The goal of the 2010 versio
was to create a standard that could be used to produce buildings that are 30% more efficient t
those designed with the 2004 standards. Lighting plays an important part in working toward th
goal, and although there are more strict requirements on lighting power densities (LPD), the m
focus for lighting changes is in controls, which presents the largest opportunity to save energy.
article summarizes the major lighting changes between the 90.182007 and the 90.1
Meeting the requirements

Criteria for meeting the lighting alterations exception (such that ASHRAE 90.1 LPD requirement
not apply) have become more stringent. As a result, many more alteration projects must now m
some of the requirements of ASHRAE 90.182010.

The 2007 version granted exception for alterations that replace less than 50% of the
space, provided that such alterations do not increase the installed interior lighting power. The 2
version grants exception only for alterations that involve less than 10% of the connected lightin
load in a space or area, provided that such alterations do not increase the installed interior
Alterations of more than 10% of the lighting load in a space or area must comply with LPD and
automatic lighting shut8off requirements on 90.182010.

New text has been added to account for ballasts that have adjustable ballast factors, allowing t
lighting power to be based upon the ballast factor that will be used in the design, provided that
ballast factor is not user changeable. Additional text has also been added granting exemption t

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parking garage transition lighting (for a transition zone up to 66 ft deep and 50 ft wide). Transi
zones are the covered entry/exit areas to parking garages which may require increased lighting
levels to allow for drivers eyes to adjust between very bright outdoor daylight and much more
dimly lit parking garages.

Standard 90.182007 included mandatory provisions for automatic lighting shutoff, space contro
exterior lighting control, and additional control. 90.182010 expands the mandatory provisions b
requiring parking garage lighting control, automatic daylighting controls for primary sidelighted
areas, and automatic daylighting controls for toplighting.

Automatic control devices (i.e. occupancy sensors) are required to be either manual on (comm
called vacancy sensors) or shall only turn lighting on to 50% power or less. The spaces exem
from this requirement include public corridors and stairwells, restrooms, primary building entra
areas and lobbies, and areas where manual8on operation would cause safety or security concer
Furthermore, 90.182007 required automatic lighting shutoff in buildings larger than 5000 sq
2010 version does not limit this requirement to only buildings larger than 5000 sq ft.
Space control

Standard 90.182007 required at least one control device (e.g. light switch, dimmer, or occupan
sensor) for each space enclosed by ceiling8height partitions to control that spaces general
90.182010 adds that this controlled lighting shall have at least one control step of 30% to 70%
the full lighting power. Rather than require a firm 50% control step, this range allows flexibility
different applications and allows scenarios such as using inboard8outboard switching on 3
fixtures or continuous dimming. Exceptions to this requirement include the following:

Lighting in corridors, electrical/mechanical rooms, public lobbies, restrooms, stairways, a

storage rooms
Spaces with only one luminaire with rated input power less than 100 W
Space types with lighting power allowance of less than 0.6 W/sq ft.

90.182007 required control devices that are programmed to turn lighting off within 30
occupants vacating the space in classrooms, conference/meeting rooms, and employee lunch/b
rooms. 90.182010 requires those devices (e.g.. occupancy sensors or timer switches) in the
following spaces that were not included in 90.182007: lecture halls, training rooms, storage/sup
rooms of 50 to 1000 sq ft, copy/print rooms, office spaces up to 250 sq ft, restrooms, and
dressing/locker/fitting rooms. Shop/laboratory classrooms are exempt as are spaces that have
8scene control systems. A space that requires lighting for 248hour operation or for safety or sec
of its occupants is exempt from the lighting shutoff requirement.

Devices that are capable of overriding time8of8day scheduled shutoffs were limited to four hour
duration by the 2007 standard. In the 2010 standard, this override is limited to no more than
hours.

Parking lot lighting will need to be divided into zones no larger than 3600 sq ft for the applicati
required controls which shall have their lighting power reduced by at least 30% after 30 minute
inactivity. HID fixtures of 150 W or less are exempt from this requirement. Daylight transition
are also exempt. Instead, daylight transition zones shall be controlled separately to turn on dur
the day and turn off at sunset.

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When sufficient daylight exists, lighting fixtures within 20 ft of a perimeter wall shall have power
reduced provided that the perimeter wall has no exterior obstructions within 20 ft and has a net
opening to wall ratio of at least 40%. Daylight transition zones are exempt from this requirement.

Daylighting controls are a new requirement in 90.182010, provided that certain daylighting criteria
are met. If an enclosed space has a primary sidelighting area of 250 sq ft or greater, then the
general lighting in that area shall be controlled by multilevel photocontrol. The photocontrol shall be
capable of at least one control step of 50% to 70% lighting power as well as another control step of
0% to 35% lighting power. Adjustments to calibrate the light sensor must be readily accessible and
must be remote from the light sensor location. Retail spaces are the only defined space type exempt
from this daylighting requirement. Other conditions for exemption include: (a) if the top of the
existing adjacent structures are at least twice as high above the windows as their distance away
from the windows or (b) if the sidelighting effective aperture is less than 10%. Refer to 90.182010
definitions for the formula to calculate sidelighting effective aperture. The primary sidelighted area
is illustrated in Figure 4. Refer to Standard 90.182010 definitions for more information on this
calculation.

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Similar requirements exist for toplighting in enclosed spaces. If the sum of the daylight area under
skylights and the daylight area under rooftop monitors is 900 sq ft or greater, then the general
lighting in that area shall be controlled by multilevel photocontrol. Again, the photocontrol shall be
capable of at least one control step of 50% to 70% lighting power as well as another control step of
0% to 35% lighting power. Adjustments to calibrate the light sensor must be readily accessible and
remote from the light sensor location.
Conditions for exemption include: (a) if existing adjacent structures/objects block direct sunlight for
more than 1500 hours per year between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., provided this is documented or (b) if
the skylight effective aperture is less than 0.6%. Refer to 90.182010 definitions for the formula to
calculate skylight effective aperture. Buildings in climate zone 8 with less than 1500 sq ft of daylight
areas in an enclosed space are also exempt.
90.182010 now includes a new requirement for skylights to be installed in buildings. A minimum
skylight fenestration area has been established for certain defined enclosed space types in buildings
that are four stories or less and at least 5000 sq ft. With the increased use of skylights comes the
required toplighting controls. The daylight area under skylights is illustrated in Figure 5. Refer to
Standard 90.182010 definitions for more information on this calculation as well as the calculation for
daylight area under rooftop monitors.

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Additional control
90.182010 now requires lighting controls in stairwells. Stairwells will be required to have one or
more control devices to automatically reduce lighting power in a controlled zone by at least 50%
within 30 minutes of all occupants leaving that controlled zone.
For exterior lighting controls, there are several updates:
Exterior lighting shall automatically be turned off when there is sufficient daylight.
Building faade and landscape lighting will be required to be shut off between the later of
midnight or business closing and the earlier of 6am or business opening.
Lighting that is neither building faade nor landscape lighting will be required to have the
lighting power automatically reduced by at least 30% either (a) between the later of midnight
or one hour after business closing and the earlier of 6am or business opening or (b) after no
longer than 15 minutes of inactivity.
All individual lighting power allowances for building exteriors are now based upon the
applicable lighting zone for the building site. These defined zones allow for differentiation

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between building sites to allow more lighting in well8lit zones and less lighting in dim8lit
zones. Exterior lighting zones are defined in Figure 5.

Testing of lighting control devices and control systems is now required in 90.182010 to ensure they
are functioning, calibrated, and programmed correctly. The individual(s) conducting and certifying
the testing shall not have been directly involved in the design or construction of the project.
Construction documents must now indicate the party responsible for the testing and certification of
performance.
Interior lighting power allowances have been modified for most building area types with some
remaining very close to previous values and others reduced. The overall weighted average reduction
in LPD across the mix of buildings in the United States is approximately 15% over 90.182007 (the
only building area type that whose LPD was not reduced is hospitals).
LPDs for building area and space8by8space
methods were not just reduced by a flat
percentage (and never have been). Rather,
each space or building type LPD was
individually altered based upon a number of
factors, including improved lamp efficacies
and product changes, the Illuminating
Engineering Society (IES) recommended
lighting levels, and actual modeling of
realistic spaces/buildings. IESNA has more information about the actual process used by the
IES/ASHRAE 90.1 lighting subcommittee to develop LPDs. LPD allowances using the space8by8space
method have been reduced for many space types, although LPDs for some space types have been
increased compared to the 2007 standard. The allowances for additional lighting power in retail
areas to highlight merchandise have been decreased. Table 1 summarizes the change between the
2007 and 2010 standards. One example of an effective way to comply with the new more stringent
requirements is to use ceramic metal halide (CMH) lamps rather than inefficient halogen and
incandescent lamps to highlight merchandise.
Increased lighting power allowances are now permitted for spaces that install advanced controls in
addition to mandatory control requirements. Based upon the space type and the control method
used, an additional 5% to 30% of the lighting power under control may be allowed. This additional
power can be used anywhere in the building.

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90.182010 incorporates a room cavity ratio (RCR) adjustment for unusual room geometry. If, for
example, the RCR for a space is greater than the RCR threshold listed in 90.182010 Table 9.6.1, a
20% increase in LPD is allowed. This allows for rooms with unusual geometry (such as a room with
a high ceiling) to use more light as needed. Corridors less than 8 ft wide also qualify for the 20%
LPD increase.
Per 90.182010, construction document drawings shall require that record drawings be provided to
the building owner or designated representative within 90 days of system acceptance. Operating
and maintenance manuals shall also be provided, including submittal data, narratives, and
recommended settings for all lighting equipment and controls.
Although indirectly related to lighting, the new requirement for automatic receptacle control should
be noted. The requirement in the 2010 standard is that a minimum of 50% of all 125 V, 15 A, and
20 A receptacles shall be controlled by an automatic control device for private offices, open offices,
and computer classrooms (this includes receptacles in modular partition walls). Control options
include time8of8day shutoffs or occupancy/vacancy sensor control.
Schultz is an electrical engineer with Metro CD Engineering and serves as education chairman for his
local Illuminating Engineering Society section (IES). He is a 2011 Consulting8Specifying Engineer 40
Under 40 winner. Chow is the founder and owner of Metro CD Engineering. He is a 2009 Consulting)
Specifying Engineer 40 Under 40 winner.
Case Study: Going beyond the code
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