IES DG-29-11

Design Guide for The Commissioning

Process Applied to
Lighting and
Control Systems
 IES DG-29-11

The Commissioning Process

Applied to Lighting and
Control Systems

Publication of this Design Guide

has been approved by IES.
Suggestions for revisions
should be directed to IES.

Prepared by:
The Lighting Commissioning Committee of the
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
IES DG-29-11

Copyright 2011 by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.

Approved by the IES Board of Directors, June 6, 2011, as a Transaction of the Illuminating Engineering Society
of North America.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, in any electronic retrieval system
or otherwise, without prior written permission of the IES.

Published by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, 120 Wall Street, New York, New York
10005.

IES Standards and Guides are developed through committee consensus and produced by the IES Office in
New York. Careful attention is given to style and accuracy. If any errors are noted in this document, please for-
ward them to Rita Harrold, Director Educational and Technical Development, at the above address for verifica-
tion and correction. The IES welcomes and urges feedback and comments.

Printed in the United States of America.

ISBN # 978-0-87995-255-6

DISCLAIMER

IES publications are developed through the consensus standards development process approved
by the American National Standards Institute. This process brings together volunteers represent-
ing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus on lighting recommendations. While the
IES administers the process and establishes policies and procedures to promote fairness in the
development of consensus, it makes no guaranty or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness
of any information published herein.

The IES disclaims liability for any injury to persons or property or other damages of any nature
whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly result-
ing from the publication, use of, or reliance on this document.

In issuing and making this document available, the IES is not undertaking to render professional
or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity. Nor is the IES undertaking to perform any
duty owed by any person or entity to someone else. Anyone using this document should rely on his
or her own independent judgment or, as appropriate, seek the advice of a competent professional
in determining the exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances.

The IES has no power, nor does it undertake, to police or enforce compliance with the contents of
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compliance with this document. Any certification or statement of compliance with the requirements
of this document shall not be attributable to the IES and is solely the responsibility of the certifier
or maker of the statement.
 IES DG-29-11

Prepared by the IES Lighting Commissioning Committee

G. Meshberg - Chair
C. DiLouie – Secretary

S. Andert M. Mehl
J. Deringer H. Ogle
J. Eberly J. Riley
P. Estok C. Samla
W. Grondzik D. Salinas
H. Kessler S. Segal
C. Knuffke X. Varghese
T. Larsen

Acknowledgments

Special thanks for Jill Klores, LC, Essential Light Design Studio and Ardra Zinkon, MIES, IALD Associate, Tec
Inc. for their contributions to this document.

Special thanks to Craig DiLouie, ZING Communications, Inc. for his writing and editing contributions to this
document.

Special thanks to the Lighting Controls Association and Seattle City Light for contributing detailed Construction
Checklists and Performance Testing procedures for popular lighting control systems.

Special thanks to Peerless Lighting, Énergie Lighting, Litecontrol Corp., a•light and Tivoli, LLC for contributing
to the Design Checklists and WattStopper for contributing to the occupancy sensor Construction Checklist.
IES DG-29-11
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Contents

1.0 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Commissioning and the Lighting Practitioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.3 About This Design Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2.0 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3.0 Pre-Design Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3.1 The Commissioning Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.2 The Commissioning Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.3 Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.4 Other Pre-Design Phase Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4.0 Design Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4.1. Basis of Design (BOD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.2 Project Phasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.3 Design Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
4.4 Other Design Phase Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

5.0 Construction Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

5.1 Construction Administration and Occupancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5.2 Performance Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5.3 Issues Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5.4 Systems Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

6.0 Occupancy And Operations Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

6.1 Ongoing Commissioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Annex A - Example of Basis of Design Related to Lighting and Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Annex B - Design Criteria for Lighting and Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

B.1 The Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
B.1.1 Volume of the Architectural Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
B.1.2 Programming Activities and Illuminance Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
B.1.3 Constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
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B.2 Lamps and Auxiliary Component Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

B.2.1 Lamp Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
B.3 Maintenance Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
B.4 Sustainability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
B.5 Luminaire Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
B.6 Additional Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
B.7 Specialty Luminaires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
B.8 Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
B.8.1 Occupancy Sensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
B.8.1.1 Sensor Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
B.8.1.2 Mounting Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
B.8.1.3 Sensor Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
B.8.1.4 Sensor Integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
B.8.1.5 Measurement and Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
B.8.1.6 Low-Voltage Relay Schedule Based Time Sweep Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
B.8.2 Daylight Harvesting Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Annex C - Construction Checklists for Lighting and Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

C.1 Luminaire/Ballast Verification Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
C.2 Lamp Verification Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
C.3 Controls Verification Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
C.4 Luminaire Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
C.5 Daylighting Design Materials Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
C.6 Lighting Controls Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
C.7 Occupancy Sensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
C.8 Low-Voltage Relay Schedule-Based Time Sweep Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
C.9 Daylight Harvesting Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
C.10 Architectural Dimming Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Annex D - Sample Performance Testing Procedures for

Daylighting And Lighting Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
D.1 Making the Building Ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
D.2 Occupancy Sensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
D.3 Low-Voltage Relay Schedule-Based Time Sweep Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
D.4 Daylight Harvesting Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
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g
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1

The Commissioning Process Applied to Lighting
and Control Systems
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The lighting design intent should be monitored through-
out the entire construction process, particularly in the
final installation. The correct luminaires, lamps, bal-
lasts and controls should be properly installed and
perform according to criteria that achieve user accep-
tance and satisfies the owner’s operational needs.
Commissioning describes a process undertaken to
achieve this goal for buildings and their systems,
including lighting. It is a quality assurance process
used to verify that buildings and their installed
systems satisfy owner and designer performance
criteria initially and throughout the life of the building.
To be more specific, the term “commissioning” in this
design guide is defined as the Commissioning Process
for buildings and systems as described within Guideline
0-2005, The Commissioning Process, published by
the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and
Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).1 The guideline
was also published by the National Institute of Building
Sciences (NIBS) as Guideline 0, The Total Building
Commissioning Process.
This overall building commissioning process is illus-
trated in Figure 1. As shown, commissioning occurs
throughout the delivery of the project. It begins at
project inception (during the pre-design phase),
proceeds through design and construction, and sub-
sequently continues for the life of the facility (through
the occupancy and operations phase). Emphasis is
placed upon documentation of the owner’s perfor-
mance criteria at the inception of the project and
proper transfer of this information from one party to
the next throughout the life of the project.
Note that while the process interacts within the design
and construction process to increase quality, it does
not interfere with the competency, authority or respon-
sibility of licensed professionals nor upon the obliga-
tions between owners, designers or contractors con-
tained in contract forms or project-specific contracts.
1.1 Benefits
Potential benefits of the Commissioning Process
include:
• reduced energy consumption and operating
costs
IES DG-29-11
• user acceptance and satisfaction
• enhanced marketability and value of
commercial property
• full accountability by project participants for
the quality of their work (and reduced risk
exposure across the project team)
• verification that a building and its systems
generally perform as intended
These benefits can apply to existing as well as new
buildings. In existing buildings, commissioning may
correct unaddressed design and installation errors
while calibrating the building to address the inevi-
table fact of building systems falling out of alignment
with the design intent and owner’s operational needs
over time.
While engaging the Commissioning Process may
produce significant benefits for a building and its
owner and occupants, avoiding commissioning, or
implementing commissioning incorrectly, may pres-
ent significant risks that performance problems go
unaddressed.
Besides the obvious overriding benefit of owners
being able to “get what they pay for,” the economic
benefits of correcting energy-related problems alone
can produce satisfactory owner return for investing in
commissioning. A study conducted by the California
Energy Commission involving new and existing
commercial buildings found that commissioning pro-
duced 13 percent median whole-building energy
savings in new buildings, at a median cost of $1.16/
sq.ft., or 0.4 percent of the total construction cost,
and 16 percent energy savings in existing buildings,
at a median cost of $0.30/sq.ft. Calculated payback
projections were 4.2 and 1.1 years, respectively.2
1.2 Commissioning and lighting design
Lighting is the most visible area of electrical system
design and affects all users. As a result, commis-
sioning can make a significant difference between
acceptance or rejection of more advanced lighting
strategies such as automatic lighting controls or
newer energy-efficient lighting technologies.
In the lighting industry, when one talks about commis-
sioning a lighting system, he or she is often referring
specifically to lighting controls used to enact strate-
gies such as automatic shutoff and daylight harvest-
ing. This is not surprising, as the Ninth Edition of the
IES Lighting Handbook defined commissioning as “a
systematic process that ensures that all elements of
the lighting control system perform interactively and
continuously according to documented design intent
and the needs of the building owner.”
1
IES DG-29-11

Figure 1. General Commissioning process flowchart. (Chart courtesy of ASHRAE Guideline 0 – 2005 The
Commissioning Process. ©American Society of Heating, Refridgerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
www.ashrae.org)

2
 IES DG-29-11

SIDEBAR 1:
The IES 10th Edition Lighting Handbook describes lighting design as, “A complete lighting design is typified
by some degree of inspiration, a determined review of lighting factors, virtual trials and errors (of design
calculations and schemes, and the exploration of ideas with other team members.”

Some important factors that should or must shape lighting designs are: spatial, psychological, physiological,
task, systems, and prescribed (such as codes, safety standards, ordinances, federal mandates, and certifica-
tion programs that affect lighting.

Lighting designers, that is to say, those whose main profession is lighting design, not manufacturing, dis-
tributing, nor sales representation, may be sub-contractors to architects and/or engineers. There may also
be instances where the lighting designer is hired directly by the Owner/Client. However, in terms of a work-
ing process, a lighting designer usually functions as a sub-consultant to the architect. A lighting designer's
scope should ideally be in concert with the primary consultant's scope: Programming - Schematic Design-
Design Development - Contract Documents - Construction Administration/Punch List. Herewith this Design
Guide promotes the importance of contractual inclusion of the lighting designer into the Commissioning
Process - post construction.

Lighting designers may produce a set of contractual deliverables, which may include but not be limited to:
BOD report, schematic lighting layouts, proposed fixture cuts and control schemes, daylighting analysis
renderings, illumination calculations (with supporting data), fixture schedules and specifications, control
intent diagrams or narratives, illumination calculations created in accordance with best practices and IES
standards, control design intent diagrams and/or narratives, shop drawing reviews, evaluation of custom
fixtures or architectural lighting mock-ups, and supporting data.

Further, the term “commissioning” may be used syn-
onymously, but erroneously, with manufacturer start-
up services and, in some cases, performance testing.
The Commissioning Process, as it has evolved,
goes beyond controls, however, by applying to the
entire lighting design process, including daylight-
ing devices (such as shades). It also goes beyond
manufacturer start-up and performance testing (usu-
ally outlined separately in lighting specifications) by
requiring additional tasks be completed throughout
the delivery of the project from its inception to a fin-
ished, occupied building.
The Commissioning Process for lighting requires
that the lighting designer—who may be an expe-
rienced lighting designer, architect, or electrical
engineer—work with the Commissioning Authority
(CxA)—the entity responsible for coordinating imple-
mentation of the Commissioning Process—to incor-
porate applicable Commissioning Process activities
into their project specifications. These activities
may involve Construction Checklists, Performance
Testing of related integral systems (e.g. HVAC or
daylight dimming), documentation of start-up and
testing, Systems Manual, Training Plan and others.
The lighting designer may also be required to review
the Commissioning Plan during the Commissioning
Process and deliver design documentation in a
specified format. They may find it beneficial to work
closely with the Commissioning Authority, as this
entity may not have in-depth lighting knowledge but
will nevertheless be responsible for coordinating the
commissioning efforts related to lighting systems.
Besides working with the Commissioning Authority
on building projects where such an entity is engaged,
lighting designers may find it beneficial to apply ele-
ments of the Commissioning Process to all of the
lighting and control systems they design as an inde-
pendent quality assurance process engaged by the
owner or other decision maker.
In addition to lighting designers other lighting prac-
titioners—such as installers, sellers, manufacturers
and users of lighting and control systems—may
also find it beneficial to understand lighting’s role in
the Commissioning Process. Lighting and control
systems are steadily becoming more sophisticated,
with design and installation risks ascending along
with capabilities and benefits, due to increasing
requirements from energy and green building codes,
green building rating systems such as LEED®,
and a general overriding emphasis on energy effi-
ciency. Lighting practitioners who understand the
Commissioning Process and how it applies to light-
ing and control systems may be able to not only
reduce risk exposure but build additional expertise
that can be leveraged for competitive advantage in
new construction and potential business opportuni-
ties in existing buildings.

3
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1.3 About this design guide
IES DG-29-11The Commissioning Process Applied
to Lighting and Control Systems, developed by The
Illuminating Engineering Society in association with
the Lighting Controls Association, describes the
technical requirements for commissioning lighting
and control systems to achieve owner performance
criteria in new construction. Retro-commissioning,
or application of the Commissioning Process to an
existing facility that has not previously been commis-
sioned, is not specifically addressed in this guide,
although the same basic process can be applied.
The procedures, methods and documentation
requirements in this guideline describe the applica-
tion of ASHRAE Guideline 0-2005 for lighting and
control systems, including documentation, test proce-
dures and checklists. As such, this guideline should
be considered a supplement to the Commissioning
Process detailed in ASHRAE Guideline 0-2005.
The Commissioning Process is summarized herein
for review and essential understanding by light-
ing designers; for additional information, refer to
ASHRAE Guideline 0-2005.
This Design Guide includes requirements for
lighting and control systems to fully support the
Commissioning Process documentation, verifica-
tion and acceptance activities during each phase of
the Commissioning Process, including a Systems
Manual and training for operations and maintenance
personnel and occupants. Note, however, that appro-
priate application of this guideline will depend upon
the owner’s specific performance criteria and how
the given project will be designed, built and operated.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
(ADAPTED FROM ASHRAE GUIDELINE 0-2005)
Acceptance: A formal action, taken by a person
with appropriate authority (which may or may not be
contractually defined) to declare that some aspect of
the project meets defined requirements, thus permit-
ting subsequent activities to proceed.
Basis of Design (BOD): A document that records
the concepts, illuminance criteria, decisions and gen-
eral design solutions used to meet the Owner’s Project
Requirements and to satisfy applicable regulatory
requirements, standards and guidelines. The document
may include both narrative descriptions and/or a com-
prehensive list of items that support the design process
and construction documents. The BOD does not sup-
plant or supersede lighting specifications or schedules.
4
Commissioning Authority: An entity identified by
the owner who leads, plans, schedules and coor-
dinates the commissioning team to implement the
Commissioning Process.
Commissioning Plan: A document that outlines the
organization, schedule, allocation of resources and
documentation requirements of the Commissioning
Process.
Commissioning Process: A quality-focused pro-
cess for enhancing the delivery of a project. The
process focuses upon verifying and documenting
that the facility and all of its systems and assem-
blies are planned, designed, installed, tested, oper-
ated and maintained to meet the Owner's Project
Requirements.
Commissioning Team: The individuals who through
coordinated actions are responsible for implement-
ing the Commissioning Process.
Construction Checklist: A form used by the con-
tractor to verify that appropriate components are
onsite, ready for installation, correctly installed and
functional.
Construction Documents: These include a wide
range of documents that will vary from project to
project and with the owner’s needs and with regula-
tions, laws and countries. Construction documents
usually include the project manual (specifications),
plans (drawings) and general terms and conditions
of the contract.
Design Intent: Written specification for the lighting
and control system providing the design criteria,
concept/strategies and other system requirements.
Issues Log: A formal and ongoing record of prob-
lems or concerns—and their resolution—that have
been raised by members of the Commissioning
Team during the course of the Commissioning
Process.
Lamp Seasoning: See “seasoning.”
Lighting and Control System: The components,
equipment and systems designed and installed in a
facility to deliver illumination to the intended users.
Lighting Design Process: Performed by a person
whose primary goal is to define the biological and
physiological requirements and solutions for vision
in working and living environments. Lighting design
creates visibility by addressing three main areas of
lighting quality:

1. Human needs (visibility, task performance,
visual comfort, social communication, mood
& atmosphere, health/safety/well-being, and
aesthetic judgment.
2. Architecture and other building related issues
(form, composition, style, codes & standards,
safety & security, daylighting).
3. Economics, energy efficiency, and the
environment (installation, maintenance,
operation, energy, environment).
Lighting Designer: is a reference to whichever
team member is responsible for lighting design on
a project.
Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR): A written
document that details the functional requirements of
a project and the expectations of how it will be used
and operated. These include project goals, mea-
surable performance criteria, cost considerations,
benchmarks, success criteria and supporting infor-
mation. (The term Project Intent is used by some
owners for their Commissioning Process Owner’s
Project Requirements.)
Performance Testing: The testing of a building
system to evaluate whether designated performance
criteria are met.
Retro-Commissioning: The Commissioning
Process applied to an existing facility that was not
previously commissioned. This guideline does not
specifically address retro-commissioning. However,
the same basic process needs to be followed
from pre-design through occupancy and opera-
tions to optimize the benefits of implementing the
Commissioning Process philosophy and practice.
Seasoning: Process of operating new fluorescent
and high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps continu-
ously at the ballast’s maximum light output setting
to eliminate flicker and other visual instabilities that
may be caused by residual impurities in the lamp left
over from the manufacturing process.
Systems Manual: A system-focused composite
document that includes the operation manual, main-
tenance manual and additional information of use
to the owner during the occupancy and operations
phase.
Test Procedure: A written protocol that defines
methods, personnel and expectations for tests con-
ducted on components, equipment, assemblies,
systems and interfaces among systems.
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Training Plan: A written document that details the
expectations, schedule, budget and deliverables of
Commissioning Process activities related to training
of project operating and maintenance personnel,
users and occupants.
Verification: The process by which specific docu-
ments, components, equipment, assemblies, sys-
tems and interfaces among systems are confirmed
to comply with the criteria described in the Owner’s
Project Requirements.
3.0 PRE-DESIGN PHASE
The construction process is defined as a sequence
of phases, including pre-design, design (schematic
design, design development, construction docu-
mentation), construction, and occupancy/operations.
During the pre-design phase, a Commissioning
Team will be formed, led by the Commissioning
Authority. This team may include the lighting design-
er during this or a later delivery phase of the project.
The Commissioning Team will be responsible for
creating a Commissioning Plan and budget (includ-
ing training issues), developing the Owner’s Project
Requirements, and identifying procedures neces-
sary to report and resolve system problems discov-
ered during the Commissioning Process.
3.1 The Commissioning Team
During the pre-design phase, a Commissioning Team
is created to implement the Commissioning Process
led by the Commissioning Authority, which may be
an independent third party. This team may change
over time to include different players based on which
project delivery phase is currently being completed.
The lighting designer should be required by the
owner via contract—with potential coordination with
the Commissioning Authority—to participate on the
Commissioning Team during the pre-design, design
and construction phases of the project.
The Commissioning Team has a number of respon-
sibilities during the pre-design phase of the project,
from writing the initial Commissioning Plan to devel-
oping the Owner’s Project Requirements to estab-
lishing problem reporting and resolution procedures.
3.2 The Commissioning Plan
The Commissioning Team will be responsible for
developing the project’s Commissioning Plan, which
outlines the process and procedures that will be
used to implement the Commissioning Process.
5
IES DG-29-11
SIDEBAR 2:
Sample of LEED Lighting
commissioning criteria
The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green
building rating system requires fundamental
commissioning of building energy systems, such
as lighting control systems, as a prerequisite
for earning project certification, and rewards
advanced commissioning with LEED points.
Third-party commissioning by an experienced
professional, reporting directly to the owner, is
required for projects 50,000 sq.ft. and larger in
size; the Commissioning Authority may other-
wise be a member of the design team.
LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major
Renovations, EA Prerequisite 1: Fundamental
Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems
requires commissioning of lighting, HVAC and
related controls as a prerequisite, specifically
requiring the Commissioning Authority to:
• r eview Owner’s Project Requirements and
Basis of Design; incorporate commissioning
into the construction documents
• create and implement a Commissioning Plan
• verify installation and performance of the
lighting control system
• complete a summary report.
EA Credit 3: Enhanced Commissioning, valued at
2 LEED points, builds on these activities and also
requires the Commissioning Authority to:
• r eview design and contractor submittals
applicable to the lighting control system
• develop a systems manual for facility
operating personnel
• ensure that facility operating personnel and
occupants are trained concerning the proper
operation and use of the lighting controls
• review the operation of the building with
facility operating staff and occupants within
10 months after substantial completion,
with a plan for resolving any outstanding
commissioning issues.
During the pre-design phase, the Commissioning
Plan should:
• clearly identify roles and responsibilities (with
complete contact information for each player)
• outline a schedule of Commissioning Process
activities (including major milestones, such as
shown in Figure 1 and the bulleted list below)
6
• establish the format of the Construction Checklists
• describe the process for integrating into the
design submittal process with the design team
• assist in resolving issues and sharing
documentation among the Commissioning
Team members
As with the Commissioning Team, the Commissioning
Plan will evolve over time to adapt to the needs of the
different phases of the project.
Some commissioning process activities related to
the lighting and control system, and which may be
included in the Commissioning Plan, includes:
• coordination with the lighting designer in
meetings, reviews, progress reports, and
documentation
• support of the development of the Owner’s
Project Requirements related to the lighting and
control system, if required (see Section 3.3)
• pre-installation mock-ups if required
• review of design submittals
• verification of installation to the Owner’s
Performance Requirements using Construction
Checklists
• verification of specified performance and
conformance to the Owner’s Performance
Requirements using Performance Testing
• contribution to the Issues Log, a formal,
ongoing record of commissioning- and
project-related problems and concerns and
subsequent solutions;
• development of a Training Plan for occupants
and operations and maintenance personnel on
the proper operation and maintenance of the
lighting and control system; and
• development of a Systems Manual, a composite
document including the lighting and control
system’s operations and maintenance manuals
The owner should formally accept the Commissioning
Plan, which includes the above lighting and control
system items, as part of the Commissioning Process
for the pre-design project delivery phase.
As the commissioning requirements are outlined,
the commissioning budget can be created. During
 IES DG-29-11

Figure 2. From ASHRAE GUIDELINE 0 – Informative Annex D Commissioning Process Documentation Matrix. It is
recommended that the project team include those responsible for the lighting design at the outset of the project,
continuing to completion, to ensure that lighting quality and integrity is maintained. (Chart courtesy of ASHRAE
Guideline 0 – 2005 The Commissioning Process. © American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers, Inc. www.ashrae.org)
Figure 2. continued on next page

7
IES DG-29-11

Figure 2. continued

8

the pre-design phase, this budget should include
all Commissioning Process activities related to the
lighting and control system.
3.3 Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR)
The Commissioning Team may be responsible for
facilitating the development and documentation of
the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR), and
subsequently reviewing pre-design phase docu-
ments for compliance with the OPR. The OPR may
be produced solely by the owner, a programming
specialist, or by the Commissioning Team itself. It
may be beneficial both to the owner and the develop-
ment team if a lighting designer is hired during OPR
development.
The lighting designer should be involved in devel-
oping the OPR during the pre-design phase if the
design team has been hired at this point. If the light-
ing designer is hired later, the OPR may be expand-
ed to include lighting requirements. If the OPR is
finished prior to the hiring of the lighting designer, he
or she may find it a valuable launching point for their
design. If OPR updates that impact lighting are made
by the Commissioning Team, these updates must be
communicated quickly to the lighting designer.
The OPR is a clear and concise document detailing
the owner’s functional requirements and expecta-
tions related to the project, developed at its incep-
tion, and covering items such as budgets, sched-
ules, limitations and owner directives as well as any
important supporting information. Ultimately, the
OPR will be used by the design team and opera-
tions and maintenance personnel to properly plan,
design, document, build, operate and maintain the
building and its systems, including the lighting and
control system.
As a clear expression of what the owner expects
from the project, it forms the foundation of the Basis
of Design, a narrative description of the design
concepts and decisions that will satisfy the OPR
and applicable codes, standards and regulations.
Both the OPR and Basis of Design may be updated
throughout the design process. The initial content
for the OPR can be developed through a variety of
approaches such as workshops, interviews and sur-
veys with the project stakeholders—owners, devel-
opers, banks, operators, tenants and so on. As an
example, an owner may survey company personnel
regarding use of the facility at night, or such issues
as personal lighting control or ambient or task light.
A list of elements that may be included in the OPR
is shown in Table 1. The OPR may be general or
specific in regards to the lighting and control sys-
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tem. The OPR for project illumination, for example,
is likely to be very general during the pre-design
phase—possibly only a placeholder as a flag for
future development—but should become highly
detailed in the design phase. Every OPR, however,
should satisfactorily describe the project parameters
if not the specific lighting design and control system
that is desired.
At a minimum, it should answer:
• What is the owner’s vision?
• What are the owner’s needs and wants?
• Who are the users of the space, how will they
use it, and what are their lighting needs?
• What outside requirements such as codes,
standards and regulations must be followed?
• What other limitations on the potential
design may be imposed by the building, site,
energy and green design goals, or space
characteristics?
The owner should formally accept the OPR, includ-
ing the lighting and control system items, as part
of the Commissioning Process for the pre-design
project delivery phase.
SIDEBAR 3
An example of an owner requirement for a light-
ing and control system in a fictitious office build-
ing in California:
“The project shall comply with the Title 24
building energy code. Because lighting
and control systems offer cost-effective
potential for saving energy, luminaires and/
or controls shall be selected to exceed
Title 24’s minimum efficiency requirements
by 10 percent or more.”
Here is another for the same building:
“The electric lighting must provide a main-
tained average illuminance of at least 45
footcandles utilizing both task and ambi-
ent illumination distributed across the
task surface (desktop in open-plan office).
Additionally, the lighting must be able to
provide a maintained average illuminance
of at least 30 footcandles across these task
surfaces from ambient luminaires without
the use of furniture-mounted task lighting.”
9
IES DG-29-11

Table 1. OPR elements—for space illumination and/or the lighting control system to be incorporated into the BOD from
the lighting designer.
General owner requirements
Owner requirements for Owner requirements for
that will establish the lighting
illumination of spaces lighting system
Basis of Design
General requirements Spaces and visual tasks General description of desired inte-
• Purpose of facility • Critical tasks rior lighting system
• Facility operating schedules • Surfaces to be lighted • Aesthetics
• Day one use, future expansion and • Special applications • Performance
desired flexibility • Ceiling and other architectural • Energy efficiency
• Maintenance issues constraints • Durability and quality of materials
• General policies • Distribution
• Project schedule • Sources|
• Site information (pre-existing • Glare control
conditions, project history, restrictions, • Mounting
goals) • Maintenance
• Budget(s) (construction, operating • Specific component requirements
costs) • Controllability
• Warranty requirements
Owner directives Visibility and visual comfort General description of desired
• Site accessibility • Illuminance levels exterior lighting system
• Safety • Color temperature/rendering • Aesthetics
• Community affairs concerns/ • Luminance levels • Performance
requirements • Glare control • Energy efficiency
• Preferred vendors • Task lighting • Durability and quality of materials
• Budgets • Distribution
• Health or hygiene issues • Sources
• Intersystem communication • Glare control
• Security requirements • Light trespass and “dark sky”
• Seismic requirements requirements
• Constructability issues • Mounting
• System training • Maintenance
• Maintenance requirements (such as • Specific component requirements
restricting lamp types, use of long-life • Controllability
lamps) • Warranty requirements
• Applicable building codes (public
assembly spaces, egress)
• Documentation requirements
(drawings phases, shop drawing
process, change order format)
• Commissioning process (scope,
budget)
• Other owner requirements (studies,
specific software applications, building
orientation, unique building features,
specific or unique landscaping)

3.4 Other pre-design phase activities
The Commissioning Team may begin identifying
needs for testing and defining what tests will need
to be performed, training requirements and what
will be included in the Systems Manual, such as
parts lists, troubleshooting needs, operations and
maintenance requirements, system description,
and level at which each set of material needs
to be written for clear understanding. Some of
these items will be sketchy or simple placehold-
ers until expanded in later project phases. The
Commissioning Authority will provide a list of spe-
cific items required from the lighting designer that
must be approved for acceptance of pre-design
phase commissioning (the production of these
“deliverable reports” should be included in the
lighting designer’s initial services contract (and not
as an afterthought), so the work is included in the
designers scope). An example of this may be the
Basis of Design (BOD) document or narrative, out-
lined in Section 4.1
4.0 DESIGN PHASE
The design phase sets the tone for the entire project
and enables it to be effectively commissioned. By this
point, the lighting design BOD (Basis of Design) will
be outlined and submitted to the client as a response
to the original OPR (Owner’s Project Requirements).

10

Table 1. continued
General owner requirements
that will establish the lighting
Basis of Design
Energy and sustainability goals
• Applicable energy code and method
of compliance
• Design criteria beyond energy code
(LEED, ENERGY STAR, utility
rebates, demand response)
• Additional energy systems related to
lighting (daylighting systems, external
louvers, natural ventilation)
• Clarification of energy consultant
roles
• Alternate energy sources if applicable
• Other sustainability goals (such as
lamp and ballast recycling)
Training and operations and
maintenance personnel expectations
• Operating condition description
• Warranty and maintenance
requirements (building occupants,
operating staff, service company,
owner staff, other)
• Training requirements (e.g.,
demonstration, instruction
documents, procedures, maintenance
expectations)
• Systems Manual requirements
(parts lists, system descriptions,
troubleshooting needs, operations
and maintenance requirements, level
at which each set of material needs
to be written for clear understanding)
Commissioning
• Designation of party responsible for
updating OPR
• Designation of party responsible for
informing lighting designer of OPR
changes
• Description of Commissioning
Process
Advanced lighting systems require more design at
the outset combined with carefully worded specifica-
tions to ensure the final product meets the intent. For
an easily verifiable system, the documentation and
design intent need to be clear and concise.
During the design phase, the Commissioning Team
will review the design team’s development of a Basis
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Owner requirements for Owner requirements for
illumination of spaces lighting system
Daylighting General description of desired
• Overall daylighting performance daylighting system
goals such as code or program • Aesthetics
requirements • Performance
• Daylight illumination objectives, • Views
including percent of each space in • Implementation (architectural
which ambient and/or task lighting will features, systems)
be provided mainly by daylighting • Coverage of space
• Variability of daylight expected • Thermal and glare control
diurnally or seasonally • User control/override
• Building form, orientation and • Specific component requirements
envelope • Warranty requirements
• Spaces in which occupants should
have access to daylight and/or views
• What daylighting performance metric
will be used—daylight factor or
illuminance level
• Envelope and glazing fenestration
criteria for toplighting and sidelighting,
including heat loss/gain objectives or
limits
• Interior materials criteria for
reflectance and redistribution of light
• Glare criteria and preferred control
devices for mitigation
Controllability General description of desired
• Code compliance lighting control system
• Degree of flexibility • System type(s)
• Degree of automation • Level of flexibility desired
• Integration of strategies • Sequence of operation
• Integration with other building • Zoning
systems • Level/Location of occupant control
• Degree of occupant control • Energy savings
• Ease of use • Programmability and special features
• Ease of use
• Integration between control strategies
• Integration between lighting control
and other building systems
• Maintenance
• Warranty requirements
Commissioning
• Operational tests needed to be
performed
• Acceptance criteria
of Design document, and verify that the system
designs do in fact satisfy the OPR. Additionally,
the Commissioning Team will draft Construction
Checklists—documents used by the contractor to
verify proper installation and functioning of vari-
ous components and systems in the building—and
update any documents created during the pre-design
project delivery phase based on new information.
11
IES DG-29-11
4.1 Basis of Design (BOD)
The Basis of Design (BOD) is a document that
translates the OPR into a clearly expressed design
direction, including descriptions of building systems
such as the lighting and control system. The BOD
documentation may include design assumptions that
underlie the concepts, calculations, design decisions
and product selections which satisfy the OPR and
meet lighting design best practices, codes, regulato-
ry standards and criteria, and other issues specially
identified as priorities. A list of elements that may be
included in the BOD is shown in Table 2.
The BOD can be expressed as a narrative descrip-
tion of the lighting and control system. For example,
suppose the OPR related to daylight harvesting
control states:
“Daylight harvesting control systems offer cost-
effective potential for saving energy. To harvest
the daylight and save energy, the ambient
electric lighting will be dimmed automatically in
response to daylight levels with minimum dis-
traction (maximum transparency) to occupants.
All daylighted interior control zones should
have photosensor control.”
The BOD for a compatible daylight harvesting control
strategy may state:
“All luminaires within 15 ft. of windows shall
be separately controlled from the rest of the
general lighting in the space unless there will
be inadequate daylight conditions. These lumi-
naires shall be controlled using automatic day-
light harvesting controls. Luminaire-mounted
Figure 3. Conceptual sketch of relationship of glass selection and daylight illuminance potential.
12
photosensors sensitive to reflected light shall
be used. The daylight harvesting controls shall
provide smooth and continuous dimming in
areas with occupied workstations. Dimming
shall be initiated when total illumination (com-
bined daylight and electric lighting) reaches
150 percent of the maintained design illumi-
nance provided by electric lighting only.”
4.2 Project phasing
The lighting design process can be made up of three
to five phases, according to the OPR, project budget
and services agreed upon. These phases frequently
parallel those of the primary consultants on the team
such as the architect and engineers. The contractual
phases may be categorized as:
• schematic design
• design development
• construction documentation,
• construction administration
• final punch list
During the schematic design step of the design
phase, lighting and control system options are out-
lined for performance in relation to the OPR to identify
those that best fulfill all criteria, and presented to the
owner for review. The schematic design should include
a description of how the designer intends to meet the
lighting and control-related OPR, and the type of light-
ing and control systems that will be specified, includ-
ing reasoning behind their selection and a sequence
of operations for any lighting controls. The first discus-
sions during this step should focus on how lighting will
facilitate the primary task activities, how the space will
look, control system options, adherence to applicable
 IES DG-29-11

Table 2. Elements of the BOD for a lighting and control system.

Lighting and control

Project design objectives system description System benchmarks
(interior & exterior)
Description of lighting system Interior Lighting System Warranty, training and operation
functions Design Direction and maintenance criteria
• Purpose • Direct/Indirect—air return • Building occupants
• Operation schedules requirements, performance, visual • Operating staff
• Maintenance issues comfort, cost • Service company
• System desired durability and quality • Illumination criteria—vertical and • Owner staff
of materials horizontal light levels, work surfaces, • Other
• Environmental requirements ambient, cutoff criteria, surface
brightness.
• Color rendering and color tempera-
ture—for each type of source
• Assumed architectural finishes—
surface reflectance
• Decorative lighting
Project schedule Custom luminaire allowances System tolerances
Site information Light sources Commissioning Process
• Latitude/Longitude • CRI and color temperatures • Review of documents (certain design
• Pre-existing conditions • Lamp varieties phases, as-built conditions)
• Project history • “Attic stock” (spares) requirements • Site inspections
• Restrictions • «Plan for replacement of LED • Final report
• Lighting Zone location sources (scheduled timeframe and/or • Future commissioning requirements
• Safety requirements measurement of output)
Budget(s) Special component requirements Energy compliance path and
• Construction • «Ballast types (ES, dimming, step- involved parties
• Operating costs dim, tandem-wired)
• Voltages
Energy performance and Additional lighting requirements Other design requirements
sustainability goals • Video display requirements
• Method of compliance • Visually impaired issues
• Clarify energy consultant roles • Monitoring equipment/Light sensitive
equipment
Design criteria beyond energy code Interior finishes
• LEED • Walls
• ENERGY STAR • Ceilings
• Utility rebates • Floors
Additional energy systems relating Electrical service/Wiring/Supply
to lighting voltage issues
• External louvers
• Daylighting systems
• Natural ventilation
Applicable building codes Emergency/Egress Lighting Plan
• Guidelines
• Public assembly and egress
Sustainability goals Mounting requirements
• Baseline energy measures
• Additional energy efficiency
measures
Commissioning criteria Daylighting System:
• Process Available lighting conditions
• Scope • Vertical and horizontal
• Budget • Interior and exterior
Toplighting/Sidelighting description
• Fenestration/Transmittance—clear or
diffuse materials
• Interior partitions
• Architecture conditions—schematic
layouts
• Additional lighting requirements—
reflected water glare, adjacent
structures

13
IES DG-29-11

Table 2. continued

Lighting and control

Project design objectives system description System benchmarks
(interior & exterior)
Additional design elements
• Finishes—sidewalks, walls,
adjacencies, rooftop for setback
clerestories
• Interior/exterior obstructions—walls,
ceilings, floors
Shading systems
• Shading material
• Operational requirements
Curtain wall design
Mounting and power constraints
Interoperability with HVAC system
Exterior Lighting System:
General system type description
Light levels
Light conditions
• Building landscaping
• Sidewalks
• Grounds
Roadway requirements
Mounting requirements
• Pole bases
• Building mountings
• Allowances
Exterior Environmental Lighting
Requirements
• Applicable goals and ordinances
• Light trespass
• Skyglow
Electrical services
• Voltage
• Source location
Security requirements
• Camera mountings
• Light constraints
• Monitoring equipment
Lighting Control System
• Zoning requirements
• Occupancy schedules and operating
hours
• Occupancy sensing
• Time clocks
• Local controls
• Dimming systems
• Interoperation with other building
systems/protocols
• Daylight sensing/Photocontrols
• Perimeter shading system
• Non-standard—multimode controls
for assembly spaces, personal
controls
• Other owner requirements—e.g.,
natural ventilation, operable
windows, exterior operable louvers,
daylight, views

14

Figure 4. Concept sketch of light shelf (left) and photo (right) of completed project. (Image courtesy of Walter Grondzik.)
codes, and energy constraints, rather than specific
luminaire choices and control devices. Limiting the
dialogue to general strategies such as direct/indirect
ambient solutions, daylighting, downlighting, accent
lighting, general lighting, automatic shutoff or daylight
harvesting may be useful at the outset.
The schematic lighting design must include coor-
dination with other schematic design ideas. For
example, an indirect lighting solution will depend
upon a ceiling design that will provide appropriate
reflective characteristics such that the ceiling can
adequately interact with the reflected lighting for the
task required. Many daylighting lighting systems may
require close coordination between architect and
lighting designer.
The BOD should reinforce and affirm a design solu-
tion that will comply with codes, standards, guide-
lines, regulations and other references that influ-
enced the design of the lighting and control system.
If the OPR does not include design requirements
related to illuminance, luminance, glare, energy
consumption, visual comfort conditions and control
strategies, these should be listed in the BOD as
well. Analysis of conceptual solutions should include
impact of interrelated systems. It may become
apparent that it is not possible to meet all criteria
due to cost, technical difficulty, owner changes, and
these should be clearly noted in the BOD.
During the design development step, detailed
drawings and other documentation are developed
in support of the selected solution. Specifications
and drawings also offer a basis for determination by
IES DG-29-11
the Commissioning Authority that the lighting design
will satisfy the OPR, and provide a roadmap to the
owner of what is in the building. Up-to-date docu-
ments are therefore essential. Commissioning pro-
cedures based on the BOD will also be incorporated
into the construction documents. For example, these
documents should ensure that the building is made
ready and that all equipment required for commis-
sioning is on-site ready for use.
During the construction documentation step, the
lighting designer continues to develop and refine the
lighting and control system designs and coordinates
them with other systems as needed. Specifications
are developed that indicate the scope of work,
required level of quality, and all other administra-
tive and procedural requirements for the contractor.
Construction documents must also include require-
ments for the contractor to implement commission-
ing activities, including operational tests and any
special instrumentation they are to provide.
With each phase progression, the Commissioning
Authority may review 10-20 percent of the lighting
and control system design documents using ran-
dom sampling to verify conformance with the OPR
and ensure Commissioning Plan requirements are
being met. The design team will reply formally to
comments provided by the Commissioning Authority,
addressing any corrections that may be made to the
BOD, The Commissioning Authority may meet with
the design team to discuss and resolve any issues.
See ANNEX A for a more detailed example of the
Basis of Design for a lighting and control system.
15
IES DG-29-11
Figure 5. Schematic/Design development concepts will help to inform the commissioning agent or team of the owner’s
criteria and the designer’s proposed basis of design solutions. (Figure courtesy of Glumac, Inc. Irvine California Tenant
Improvement sketch.)
4.3 Design criteria
The lighting and control system and its components
should be designed according to best practices, the
Owner’s Project Requirements and the Basis of Design.
Design Criteria Checklists can aid in ensuring that all
appropriate design considerations are incorporated
into the design intent and finished design for the lighting
and control system, promoting quality and minimizing
error prior to installation and Performance Testing.
Recommended Design Criteria for popular types of
lighting designs and control systems are provided in
ANNEX B. (Ref. IES DG-18-08 Light + Design for
additional information.)
4.4 Other design phase activities
The Commissioning Team will identify or update
needs for:
• reviewing documents
• coordinating items provided by others
• key milestones
• composition of the Commissioning Team
16
• items that must be included in the construction
documents
• Performance Testing and what tests will need
to be performed
• items to be included in the Systems Manual.
5.0 CONSTRUCTION PHASE
The lighting and control system and its components
should be installed according to approved design
submittals and specifications. All specified compo-
nents should be procured faithfully, with substitutions
only allowed with approval by the lighting designer,
and with the impact of such substitutions recorded in
updates to the BOD, if necessary.
The Commissioning Team is responsible for develop-
ing and updating Construction Checklists during this
phase, including checklists applicable to selected
lighting and control systems. These documents will
be used by the electrical contractor to verify that all
of the correct components are ready to be installed,
are correctly installed and are properly functioning.
 IES DG-29-11

SIDEBAR 4:
Hospital Project Illustrates Importance
of Communicating Expectations
On a previous expansion of a children’s hospital NICU department, the administration requested dimming for
the lighting in and around the NICU suites. A fluorescent system was provided that dimmed the lumen output
to 10 percent. (This was not a formal OPR or BOD process, so the exact expectations of the administration/
staff were not known by the design team.)

The staff was extremely dissatisfied with the performance of the installed system as they could not dim the
level low enough for nighttime settings in the NICU. This extreme dissatisfaction was expressed to the facili-
ties department so that the problem could be fixed. The facilities department tried using 1 percent dimming
ballasts, but in addition to extra wires needing to be pulled (which was not possible in certain critical areas),
at first the energy-saving lamps that were installed were not compatible with this technology. Needless to say,
they went through a lot of trouble and still had a dissatisfied staff.

When it came time to build the next expansion project on this campus, the facilities staff was adamant that
dimming of fluorescent lamps would not be allowed at all on the new project. Even if the current design team
explained how new technology could assist and that compatibility would be assured and that a combination
of switching and dimming could very successfully meet the user expectations, it was not allowed because
previous experience had been so trying. —Jill Klores, LC, Essential Light Design Studio

SIDEBAR 5:
Commissioning in Action: Cleveland Public Library - Rice Branch
Our design approach to this 14,000-sq.ft. open library space included runs of continuous linear fluorescent
throughout differing task areas, which included stacks, soft seating and computer workstations. The open
architectural design of the space meshed well with the flexible capabilities of a digitally addressable control
system. With the system selected, we could control luminaires independently of their circuiting (due to the
addressable ballasts) and take full advantage of energy savings by creating minimum light levels for each
area and avoid ‘overlighting.’
During the design development phase of this project, care was taken to document minimum acceptable light
levels for each area type. We listed 30 fc for soft seating, 50 fc for computer work-stations, and 15 fc vertically
at 30 in. above finished floor in the stack areas. Lighting calculations were run using different ballast factors
to simulate the ballast’s high-end trim. This allowed
us to provide the system start-up programmer with
detailed ballast tuning requirements for each bal-
last, and to meet the light levels in each of the task
areas (again) without overlighting.

Additionally, the minimum light levels were used

as setpoints for daylight harvesting on this project.

The complexity of the lighting controls system

required careful documentation to ensure the build-
ing system start-up went seamlessly. Working the
detailed ballast factors and minimum light levels
out during the design development phase kept
the project on track and the building was awarded
Figure 6: Lighting Design: Tec Inc. Engineering &
LEED Silver Certification.
Design. Architect: Bostwick Design Partnership.
—Ardra Zinkon, MIES, IALD Associate, Tec Inc. Photographer: David Joseph Photography.

17
IES DG-29-11

SIDEBAR 6:
Lessons Learned: Educational Facility
The project was a higher education building. Dual-circuit wall switch vacancy sensors were specified for
all small offices and individual study spaces. When the lighting equipment submittals were provided to the
lighting designer, they were presented with luminaire types only. Submittals for lamps and control devices
were requested. Subsequently the lamps and building control system submittals were provided for review.

The local control devices—of which only the vacancy sensors were specified by the lighting designer, with
standard switches and timers to be provided by the contractor—were discussed at a meeting but never for-
mally submitted. Unfortunately, the wrong type of
sensor ended up on the job in all small offices and
individual study areas (more than 100 locations).
The installed types provided only automatic OFF/
automatic ON operation, and not the specified auto-
matic OFF/manual ON. Due to several factors and
negotiation between the owner and the contractor,
only the sensors located in offices/study spaces
with windows were replaced with automatic OFF/
manual ON sensors.

Lesson learned: If all items were formally submitted

and design criteria followed, the proper equipment
would have had a much better chance of being
installed on the job.
Figure 7: Higher Education Project Demonstrates
—Jill Klores, LC, Essential Light Design Studio Importance of Formal Submittals. © Craig Kuhner

Recommended Construction Checklists for popular
types of lighting and control systems are provided in
ANNEX C.
5.1 Construction administration and
occupancy
The Training Plan should include measurable learn-
ing objectives and describe the knowledge that each
participant is expected to acquire. A form describing
the training topics, list of participants, participant
signatures, total training time and date should be
provided to the design team.

During the design phase, the Commissioning Team
will update and expand a Training Plan. Upon the
turnover of the building and its systems to its owner,
facility operators and occupants should understand
the functionality of the building systems. As part of
this, facility personnel should receive live or pre-
recorded training on the proper operation and main-
tenance of the lighting and control system.
The training program may include procedures for
keeping critical lighting systems operational during
emergencies, procedures for normal operation, how to
adjust the building systems, maintenance and inspec-
tion, and troubleshooting and repair. Specific training
topics may include luminaire lamp and ballast mainte-
nance, maintenance assumptions used in the design
(to calculate light loss factor), control programming and
local control capability such as overrides and personal
dimming. Be sure to include a specific maintenance
plan for LED systems (i.e., periodically measure output
at specific locations/orientations to track lumen depre-
ciation over time, and initiate replacement of LED
devices once target threshold is reached).
During the end of construction phase, all installed sys-
tems will be inspected and tested to ensure satisfac-
tion of the Owner’s Project Requirements before being
accepted into service. Major Commissioning Process
activities occurring during this project delivery phase
include thorough review of design submittals (shop
drawings or mockups) implementing field testing pro-
cedures, verifying that installation satisfies the OPR/
BOD, developing the Systems Manual, and provision-
ing of training in accordance with the Training Plan.
5.2 Performance Testing
Performance Testing is a critical quality assurance
step that ensures that installed equipment satisfies
the Owner’s Project Requirements.
The Commissioning Team will identify the tests nec-
essary for the project, which may include manufac-
turer testing (functionality and UL), photometric labo-
ratory testing of custom or modified systems, testing
of mockups and sample construction, inspection,
verification of design submittals and field testing.

18
 IES DG-29-11

Figure 8: Design development control plan. (Image courtesy of Glumac, Inc. Irvine California Tenant Improvement.)

Step-by-step test procedures should be identified for Sample Performance Testing procedures for popular
components, systems and points of interaction between types of lighting control systems are provided in
building systems. Once approved, deviations from ANNEX D.
these procedures must be documented. The test pro-
cedures must describe what observations and mea-
surements must be recorded, under what conditions,
and with what criteria for acceptance. Attention should
also be given to personnel safety, equipment protection,
manufacturer recommendations for protecting the valid-
ity of warranties, and other important issues.

For each test, a list of instruments, tools and sup-

plies needed must be developed. The participants
must also be determined. For lighting and control
systems, this may involve an owner’s representative,
designers, electrical contractor, other specialists
such as control system integrators, manufacturers,
operators, the local authority having jurisdiction, and Figure 9. A lighting manufacturer’s representative
equipment manufacturers and their representatives. explains the programming of a newly installed low-
voltage control system to a member of the owner’s
The Commissioning Process requires that the owner operations and maintenance staff. Photo courtesy of
accept all test reports. Schneider Electric.

19
IES DG-29-11

SIDEBAR 7:
Office Building Project Illustrates Daylight Harvesting Done Right
This utilities office building desired LEED Gold rating and placed high priority on daylight accessibility for a
majority of the occupants.

The small offices use direct/indirect (30/70) luminaires with built-in daylight and occupancy sensors and dim-
ming ballasts. Daylight design includes trellised overhangs to mitigate glare. Open offices use direct/indirect
(70/30) luminaires with surface-mounted daylight harvesting and occupancy sensors. Daylight design includes
the higher visible light transmittance glazing at the
clerestory, a shift of some mechanical equipment
from the higher clerestory side to the lower side, and
high reflectance panels at the ceiling plane.

The submittal process included a review of the

glazing material, paint color and finish for the ceil-
ing panels, as well as luminaire and control specif-
ics (daylight/occupancy sensor integration and/or
placement) lamping, ballasts and dimming controls
compatibility. On-site coordination included sus-
pension lengths for all luminaires and troubleshoot-
ing luminaire optics materials. Post-installation set-
tings included optimization of illumination thresh-
olds for daylight harvesting.
Figure 10: Commissioned daylight harvesting system.
—Jill Klores, LC, Essential Light Design Studio © Craig Kuhner.

5.3 Issues Log
During the pre-design phase, the Commissioning
Team established Issues Log procedures to report
and resolve discovered variances with the OPR and
BOD. During the construction phase, these proce-
dures are used to report deficiencies discovered dur-
ing testing. These issues may include installation and
operational issues, as well as latent design issues
not discovered during the design process.
To report a problem, the Issues Log may include an
identifier for the issue, when it was discovered, what
it is, where it is, how it is going to be fixed, who will
do that, and when this is expected to be done.
To report a resolution, the Issues Log may describe
the resolution to the issue, who provided it and when
and whether the system needs to be retested (or
otherwise if the resolution is final).
The Commissioning Authority should be primar-
ily responsible for maintaining the Issues Log. All
information pertaining to resolution of the Issues Log
should be provided to the Commissioning Authority
in writing so that there is a documented history of the
resolution. The updated Issues Log should be distrib-
uted periodically to the Commissioning Team so that
everybody is operating with the same information.
The Issues Log is included in the Systems Manual
that will ultimately be turned over to the owner (see
Section 5.4 below). It may also be required to be
summarized for regular reports by the Commissioning
Team.
5.4 Systems Manual
During project turnover, the Commissioning Team
or other responsible entity will submit a Systems
Manual to the owner for formal acceptance as part
of project turnover. The Systems Manual (sometimes
called O&M Operations & Maintenance manuals)
is a composite document that provides detailed
information about operations and maintenance of a
building’s systems, including its lighting and control
system, for the owner to use during the occupancy
and operations phase of the project. Delivery of the
Systems Manual and occupant and operations and
maintenance personnel training is sometimes called
“owner notification.”
The Systems Manual should include test procedures
and reports, Training Plan and training records, latest
design submittals (shop drawings) as-built drawings
and submittal reviews, installation and troubleshoot-
ing guides, operations and maintenance manuals,
OPR, BOD, Commissioning Plan, Issues Log and
Commissioning Process progress reports.

20

Regarding the project’s lighting and control system,
the Systems Manual should include:
• performance benchmarks for lighting and
control system (as designed and verified);
• maintenance assumptions that informed the
design (e.g., light loss factors);
• complete installed luminaire schedule;
• lamp and ballast (or LED device details);
• delivery of spares—including overages for
lamps, ballasts (or LED devices) and lenses
and baffles—as required by the specifications;
• specialty lamps and ballasts or luminaires if
used;
• final aiming settings for adjustable angle
luminaires;
• emergency lighting design and intent;
• final programming, schedules and calibration
settings for the lighting controls; and
• warranties, manufacturers and distributors for
each component used in the system.
These and other lighting items will provide the
owner with a final record for normal and emergen-
cy operation as well as future maintenance. The
Systems Manual (or O&M) should be reviewed
and approved by the appropriate members of the
design team.
IES DG-29-11
6.0 OCCUPANCY AND OPERATIONS PHASE
The occupancy and operations phase begins when
the project has achieved substantial completion. The
primary goal of Commissioning Process activities
during this phase is to coordinate contractor call-
backs with the construction manager, provide ongo-
ing guidance to operations and maintenance person-
nel, and ensure continued performance via periodic
testing. Specific activities include completion of any
deferred testing and training, verifying training and
periodic testing and evaluation of building systems
such as the lighting and control system, ongoing
training, and maintaining the Systems Manual. The
Commissioning Team may also be required to con-
vene one or more lessons-learned workshops and
may produce a final Commissioning Process report.
During this phase, the Commissioning Authority can
help maximize warranty effectiveness and value by
helping the owner’s operations and maintenance
staff to complete warranty items and documentation.
6.1 Ongoing commissioning
The Commissioning Process may extend well into
the occupancy and operations phase to verify that
the project meets the initial OPR /BOD on an ongoing
basis. This involves ongoing training, periodic system
testing, and maintaining the Systems Manual. The
comprehensive list is provided as a template for
initial commissioning by can be used as the basis
for on-going maintenance surveys or, if required, a
POE (post occupancy evaluation) document. (Refer
to Section 3.4 Systems Manual (mentioning test pro-
cedures & reports, training plan & records, as-builts,
trouble-shooting guides, operations manuals).
21
IES DG-29-11
ANNEX A - EXAMPLE OF BASIS OF DESIGN RELATED TO LIGHTING AND CONTROL
Table A1. Sample BOD template for lighting design.
ANNEX B - DESIGN CRITERIA FOR LIGHTING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
The lighting and control system and its components
should be designed according to best practices, the
Owner’s Project Requirements and the Basis of Design.
Design Checklists can aid in ensuring that appropriate
design considerations are incorporated into the design.
Depending on the application, however, some aspects
of one checklist may apply more than others. While not
specifically used to commission the lighting and control
system, ensuring good design practices can ensure
that lighting and control systems are easier to commis-
sion and provide intended performance.
B.1 The space
Proper analysis of the three-dimensional environ-
ment is of paramount importance to identifying
appropriate lighting criteria. Illuminance criteria are
based not only on visual tasks but also on the inter-
relationship of light within the space. Considerations
such as the following list of examples (by no means
comprehensive) will inform the design team of the
elements that make up a quality lighting design.
(For additional reading, see IES DG-18-08 Light +
22
Design: A Guide to Designing Quality Lighting
for People and Buildings.)
Each consideration should be weighted according
to the project type and unique requirements after
analyzing the OPR as well as current lighting best
practices. A discussion with the architect, owner or
owner’s representative will provide a perspective on
which elements are essential, practical, and desir-
able. This discussion and review will help to inform
the designer’s BOD (see Table A1).
B.1.1 Volume of the architectural space
• Larger spaces with higher ceilings may indicate
higher wattage and luminaire efficiencies, both
in terms of lumens delivered and maintenance
needs. Higher ceilings may also warrant
larger decorative treatments and structural
coordination, or controls to raise and lower
chandeliers. Spatial definition is critical to
orientation which in turn, facilitates task activity
efficiency, as well as perceptions of safety.

• Room dimensions, including ceiling heights
and any obstructions or special forms should
be noted in the BOD, as this information will
help to support the lighting design solution.
• Early in a project, the design team may have
only a general idea of finish selection, and
every effort should be made to impress upon
the team how important it is for the lighting
practitioner to understand the reflective
value of the finishes. Generally, the lighter
the finish, the more reflective; this could be
a good strategy for any project with energy
constraints. Accent colors, either in paint or
wood should be kept to a minimum on selected
surfaces. The degree of matte or shiny finish
on a surface or task will direct the appropriate
lighting source and direction.
• As code-imposed lighting power densities are
reduced, the relationship between lighting
and finish reflection becomes critical. Room
and furniture finishes should be noted in the
BOD, as final illuminance calculations will, in
part, determine the subjective perception of
brightness.
B.1.2 Programming activities and illuminance
criteria
A clear interview with the architect, owner and/or
owner’s representative (and occasionally a survey)
will reveal the anticipated task activities and how
people live and work in the space. Clear identifica-
tion of as many tasks as possible will inform the
team of the recommended illuminance criteria for
horizontal and vertical surfaces. Visibility has been
noted to be a combination of:
• Task performance: industrial, medical, office,
educational, hospitality, media, merchandise,
exterior and sports all have a myriad of
discreet and overlapping lighting needs.
Identify the primary task for:
° Building type
° Space activity
° Individual task needs;
• Mood and atmosphere: percentage of ambient,
task, focal, sparkle and decorative lighting
that complements the architectural and
interior design style. Consideration of color
temperature as well as color rendering will
identify the quality level of lamp source type
and impact on surfaces, including skin tones;
IES DG-29-11
• Social communication: the interaction between
people within a given task environment;
• Health, safety and well-being: eyestrain,
headaches, degree of comfort and ability to
navigate are some considerations;
• Aesthetic judgement: helps to identify the
environment, such as “big box retail” or
“high-end corporate”, and “environmentally
sensitive”; and
• Visual comfort: appropriate visual comfort
promotes task efficiency. Glare sources,
discussions regarding the density and
operation of window shades, physical
orientation of luminaries (parallel or
perpendicular), wall wash or wall grazing,
all combine towards a lighting solution
that integrates well with people and their
environment.
References to IES standard illuminance criteria (IES
Lighting Handbook, 10th Edition) will provide sup-
port and information to the design team, as well as
best practices of the lighting practitioner. A detailed
outline in the BOD of the proposed space and activi-
ties will justify the design solution.
B.1.3 Constraints
The best lighting design is not worth much unless it
can be balanced with practical considerations such as
energy code limits (lighting power density), emergen-
cy egress requirements, sustainability goals, safety
needs, appropriate manufacturer warranties, electri-
cal safety requirements, maintenance needs and non-
lighting equipment solutions, and budget restrictions.
All of these elements need to be thought out at the
outset of a project preferably during the schematic
design phase. These constraints may include:
• Energy: codes, sustainability goals such as
LEED, rebates.
• Safety: urban environment, age-related
activities such as senior living or elementary
schools/daycare, steps, roadway types.
• Economics: analysis of the owner’s budget and
financing options will help to inform the team of
strategies such as capital cost versus simple
payback, rebate values for energy saving
equipment.
• Maintenance: level of expertise of operations
personnel, need to be upgraded or trained, lamp
replacement schedules, “attic stock” or spares.
23
IES DG-29-11
• Sustainability, light pollution, lighting zones: addi-
tional lighting practitioner services such as for
LEED projects, illuminance calculations for exteri-
or environments within designated lighting zones.
• Structural: application of luminaires to the
structure may require coordination with
structural and/or civil engineers.
B.2 Lamps and Auxiliary Component Criteria
B.2.1 Lamp performance
Appropriate lamp selection is at the core of decision
making for lighting visibility needs and will inform
luminaire selection, style, layout and controls. Choices
here will impact the electrical engineering decisions
as well as energy, lighting power density and mainte-
nance needs. Interoperability between luminaire types
and control systems will hinge on lamp type selection.
Controls are discussed in great detail below.
• Lamp color temperature and color rendering:
Uniformity of color temperature or conscious
choices of variations (by design or by lamp
type limitation) should be identified in the BOD.
These choices will allow the creation of a much
simpler maintenance lamp list. Color rendering
should always be as high as possible. Although
identification of surface finish color may not be
deemed essential, human beings inhabit them
and color identification promotes task activity
expediency, feelings of safety and well-being.
• Lamp wattage and voltage: In addition to these
two identifiers, consider the lamp-ballast/power
supply-control as another mini-system that
must be compatible. Control considerations,
particularly where lighting power density
credits may be given, may inform the use of a
particular lamp/ballast system.
• Ballast type and ballast factor: Any lamp
source that requires a ballast may be part
of a luminaire “system”. Particularly with
fluorescents, varying combinations of energy
savings, dimming, step-dim, dual switching
combinations, low power factor ballasts may
all play a part in lighting power density and
illuminance calculations. Maintenance and
control functionality will depend on accurate
specification, bidding, installation and control
calibration of ballast types listed in the BOD.
• Lamp “seasoning”: This term describes the
process of operating a new lamp at full output
for a fixed period of time. Seasoning varies
by lamp and ballast type and should be noted
24
within the lighting specifications according to
the specific manufacturer’s recommendations.
Lack of seasoning may affect dimming
capability and lumen output.
B.3 Maintenance considerations
• Lamp replacement schedule and timetable:
Consider using lamps with long service life
ratings in hard-to-reach areas.
• Spot or group relamping: Limit different lamp
varieties (where appropriate) to simplify
maintenance.
• Lamp/luminaire cleaning schedule: This refers
to illumination calculation data input such as
light loss factors, luminaire dirt depreciation,
lamp lumen depreciation.
B.4 Sustainability
LEED-specific measures may drive the lighting
design solution from the BOD towards newer tech-
nology (such as LEDs, OLEDs, lamp/ballast com-
binations and controls for daylight harvesting, occu-
pancy-based controls, and financial considerations
based on future payback and equipment rebates.
A thorough discussion of the owner’s expectations
regarding the lighting practitioner’s role may incur
a division of services: one for basic lighting design
services, and one for additional application efforts
such as LEED projects.
Interfacing with a commissioning agent is not strictly
for LEED-based projects. Commissioning is based
on the fundamental desire for a quality installation.
However, the level of coordination and degree of
complexity in working with a commissioning agent
should be discussed and identified to comprehend
contractual obligations between lighting practitioner,
engineering team members, contractors and any
specialty sub-consultants.
B.5 Luminaire Selection
• Performance (energy efficiency, lumen
distribution, optical control).
• Architectural integration and style (surface-
mounted or architecturally integrated into coves).
• Task application (medical, industrial, office,
education).
• Budget (equipment “packages” or competitive
alternates, cost in installation or maintenance,

sophistication of control), and environment
(outdoor/corrosive, dirt/insect accumulation).
• Safety (UL, IP ratings).
Notations within the BOD may help to inform the
design team as well as any bidding contractors (in
addition to the construction document specifications)
and the Commissioning Authority about the logic and
rationale behind the lighting design solution. A design
solution that is too heavily based on any one criterion
will ultimately not stand up during the construction
process and through occupancy/commissioning.
B.6 Additional Considerations
These may come into play when analyzing alter-
nates or new fixtures:
• Mechanical construction.
• Finish options.
• Electrical, thermal and acoustic considerations.
•S
• Availability of spare parts.
• Modifications, which may involve mounting
conditions, optical control, lamping, finish
colors, and ballast options.
• Controllability—dimmer to ballast/power supply
compatibility (particularly important with LED
devices and dimmers), and lamp type to
dimmer type matching are a few examples.
B.7 Specialty Luminaires
•C
 ustom Luminaires
Custom function or decorative luminaires
require a different set of design/coordination
exercises. Mockups in the factory or on-site
may be required, shop drawing submittals
require lengthy review, and mounting
requirements must be communicated with
engineers and contractors. Shipping and
storage at the site are important as well
as labor and materials for installation.
Verification of finishes, lamp types, dimming
or non-dimming ballasts, involve additional
coordination with the design team.
•P
 erformance Luminaires
Design and selection of other types of
specialty luminaires such as those for live
performance may also warrant additional time
IES DG-29-11
and coordination with the design team as well
as with a performance systems integration
team. This team may be a special distributor
of performance luminaires and the complex
controls systems that operate them, such as
automated, computer-driven moving lights.
The dimming and control system for
performance lighting is a unique and separate
function, with the exception of simple interfaces
to the architectural control devices for public
area lighting control (such as in lobbies or
auditorium house lights).
A systems integration specialist will represent
the performance equipment manufacturers.
There may be several different performance
manufacturers, and the entire package will
have to function as one overall system. The
control integration necessary is overseen by
the systems integrator team, working with the
lighting practitioner, engineer, construction crew
and ultimately, the operations staff.
 olid-State Luminaires
First, the BOD should clearly indicate the
choice of solid-state or conventional luminaires.
The SSL industry is very fluid in terms of the
quality, stability and warranties associated with
the components.
Solid-state luminaires should carry all safety
ratings, such as UL, IP, CSA, as would any
other lighting source.
Mockups of solid-state luminaires may be
necessary, whether at the informal studio level
or more labor intensive mock-ups that would
involve the contractor’s time and materials.
Quality standards should be noted both in the
BOD as well as the specifications. These may
include color temperature, color rendering, color
consistency, lumen maintenance/electrical drive
current and photometric measurement testing
(according to IES LM-79-08 and LM-80-08).
Manufacturer warranties should include
availability of LED modules, related
luminaire components for thermal control,
clear information regarding power supplies
and dimming compatibility. Replacement
of components should be reviewed and
demonstrated prior to specification so that the
design team, construction team and operations
staffs have a clear understanding of the
requirements.
25
IES DG-29-11
Solid-state technology may not always have
comparable, acceptable alternates between
manufacturers. Replacement parts and
requirements should be a part of the fixture
specification.
Solid-state luminaire choices should be
included in illuminance calculations for
emergency egress lighting, as well as
demonstrable effectiveness with emergency
power and control systems.
B.8 Control
Generally, the more defined the control zone area,
the more energy savings will be realized. The lighting
practitioner and/or electrical engineer ideally will work
together to bring to fruition the owner’s needs with best
practices and also take into consideration all applicable
energy codes and sustainable goals such as LEED.
• The control concept may be illustrated by the
lighting practitioner, after discussion with the
owner, architect, and interior designer. This
conceptual exercise will serve the lighting
layout as well as the appropriateness and
extent of strategies such as daylight harvesting,
bi-level switching for varying occupancies, and
occupancy sensors.
• The lighting practitioner may also create
a zone schedule, accompanied by control
station type and location. Notes in the
BOD and specifications should indicate
functionality between dimmer and load type.
A prime example could be dimmers that
minimize incandescent lamp filament noise for
acoustically sensitive environments.
• The design team as well as the contractor should
take into consideration that dimmer cabinets
should have enough ventilation and are generally
acoustically isolated. Audio visual projections,
teleconferencing, shade controls, overrides and
time-clock synchronization should be outlined in
the BOD and detailed in the specifications.
• The following descriptions of some common
control options identify suggestions that will
affect the control intent, often expressed
in a “one-line diagram” or schematic. As
with performance luminaires and systems,
architectural control systems may need
to integrate with various manufacturer’s
equipment and protocols. A clear outline in
the BOD/specifications regarding testing
procedures and responsibilities will aid the
team towards a satisfied occupancy.
26
B.8.1 Occupancy Sensors
B.8.1.1 Sensor Technology
• Occupancy sensors are usually passive
infrared (PIR), ultrasonic, or dual technology.
Careful documentation within the BOD will help
to clarify the use of each on an area-by-area
basis. Mounting location within the unique
three dimensional environment and capability
of each type will direct the control design.
• A lighting practitioner may help to translate the
occupancy level and activity to an electrical
engineer; a good working relationship will help
to balance aesthetic and human needs with
energy and budget constraints.
B.8.1.2 Mounting Guidelines
• Examine the line of sight between sensor and
task area(s).
• Sensors should be mounted farther than 6-8 ft.
from HVAC air diffusers or other heat sources.
• Sensor mounting height varies by manufacturer
(alternates may be noted in the BOD)
• Sensors in applications such as warehouses
with aisles may need careful mounting location
and tuning adjustments.
• In larger areas, a sufficient quantity of sensors
should be selected and placed to ensure
overlapping coverage, taking into consideration
furniture layout or partitions.
• Sensors should be located close to the task
area.
B.8.1.3 Sensor Sensitivity
• Time-delay settings should be noted in the
BOD as well as the specifications. A minimum
of 10-15 minute time-delay is recommended for
fluorescent lamp life considerations. LED’s can
have a much lower time-delay setting.
• Sensitivity needs include the type of motion
“small” (hands) or “large” (entire body). Time delay
may also integrate with time-of-day settings.
• If Performance Testing will be undertaken,
the contractor should be instructed to install
with the sensitivity for each sensor set to its
midpoint and the time delay set to zero (“test”
setting), so as to facilitate testing.

• Testing in the actual building space may
necessitate sensor re-location. Additional
flexible wiring capability should be noted in the
BOD as well as specified clearly.
• The sensor field of view should be specified
and may need to be adjusted in the field.
B.8.1.4 Sensor Integration
• A narrative or graphic notating how each
sensor type and functionality will operate in the
architectural space will inform both the design and
construction team about the conceptual design
process that goes into the wiring diagrams.
• Discreet requirements for sensors for
integrating with other architectural controls as
well as with any building management controls
should be clearly outlined in both the BOD and
specifications.
B.8.1.5 Measurement and Verification
• Self-calibrating sensors and digital control
systems, with remote, toolless and ladderless
calibration capability, can facilitate system
activation, calibration and Performance
Testing, and is required b some state codes.
Performance Testing procedures should
be outlined in the BOD and included in the
specifications, allowing appropriate time for
contractor installation obligations as well as
for the Commissioning Agent to coordinate
occupancy testing and balancing.
• The installer should have a step-by-step
procedure outlined, based on the unique
combination of sensors, lighting design layout
and energy control requirements of each
space. Performance testing and procedure
should be included in contractor bids.
B.8.1.6 Low-voltage Relay Schedule Based Time
Sweep Control
As with occupancy sensors, the control intent nar-
rative or graphic should clearly indicate how vari-
ous groups of luminaires relate to controllers such
as relays and override switches. Minimally, control
zones should be sized in compliance with applicable
energy codes, as well as functionality based on task
activities.
• The sizing of the control zones can determine
whether a centralized system (throughout
building floors) or a distributed scheme
(discreet areas such as conference rooms,
IES DG-29-11
auditoriums, and factory assembly spaces.)
should be used.
• The layout graphic should be supported by a
zone schedule in the specifications.
• Programming and zoning will need to comply
with any applicable energy codes. Riser
diagrams, device types and quantities, will be
required as a shop drawing submittal.
• Local switching/dimming as well as centralized
processor based controls should have remote
controls, or be located so that the user can
see the luminaires being controlled. A systems
integrator or contractor may be needed to
oversee testing and integration with any building
management control systems that control HVAC.
• Coordination of construction personnel and
time of testing should be discussed with
the contractors, commissioning, design and
operations/management teams.
B.8.2 Daylight Harvesting Control Systems
• Circuiting layout, providing additional control for
luminaires near fenestration, should be driven
by daylight illumination calculation studies as
well as photosensor type and function. The
BOD should describe an open-, closed- or
dual-loop system.
• The BOD should indicate the functionality of
system ballasts, whether dimmable (and to what
level), step-dim or bi-level switching. Analysis
of each type of system should be undertaken
based on the lighting practitioner’s scope of
services, as well as knowledge of best practices,
and utilization of current, reliable technology.
• Daylighting analysis of annual daylight/sunlight
penetration, toplighting and sidelighting
opportunities, building orientation, glazing
choices, may all be noted within the BOD. Here
a commissioning agent may be a powerful
advocate and assist in coordinating, with the
architect, the best possible design choices
based on the varying sub-consultant input.
Room reflectances and ceiling height criteria
may vary with light shelf design depth and
daily length of available daylight.
• Proper photosensor location, orientation and
sensitivity (paralleling the human vision function)
is critical. Mockups may be the only route to
success in new construction and should be
incorporated into the BOD and specifications.
27
IES DG-29-11

ANNEX C - CONSTRUCTION CHECKLISTS FOR LIGHTING AND CONTROL SYSTEMS

Construction Checklists are documents used by
contractors and the Commissioning Team to verify
that all of the components in the building are correct,
ready to be installed, installed and properly function-
ing. Below is a series of checklists covering lighting
and control systems. These checklists are provided
for general educational purposes. While they can
be used in whole or in part in the field, they should
not supersede specific manufacturer instructions for
their equipment. The contractor should follow manu-
facturer installation instructions completely.
C.1 Luminaire / Ballast verification checklist
As the luminaires arrive on site, a random sampling
of each type should be opened to confirm that they
comply with the specifications and/or approved sub-
mittals. A similar process should be undertaken at
project turnover to ensure that any delivered spare
components, such as baffles and lenses, comply
with the specifications.

Luminaire Type A1 Luminaire A2 Luminaire A3

Percentage of luminaires/ballasts checked?
Luminaire manufacturer?
Luminaire type?
Is manufacturer and type as specified?
Is equipment undamaged and are all
components present?
Ballast manufacturer?
Ballast type?
Is manufacturer and type as specified,
including starting method?
Dimming ballast?
Ballast compatible with dimming controls?
Note any other special characteristics such
as reduced wattage or remote mounting.

C.2 Lamp verification checklist luminaires are installed. A similar process should
be undertaken to ensure that any spares, delivered
Lamp confirmation follows the same process as at the conclusion of the project, comply with the
ballast confirmation above, but occurs after the specifications.

Luminaire Type A1 Luminaire A2 Luminaire A3

Percentage of lamps checked?
Lamp manufacturer?
Lamp type?
Specialty lamp?
Is manufacturer and type as specified,
including starting method and voltage?
CRI rating?
Correlated color temperature rating?
Note any other special characteristics such
as cold temperature, seasoning required.

28
 IES DG-29-11

C.3 Controls verification checklist

Controls A1 Controls A2 Controls A3
Percentage of lighting controls checked?
Location (space or zone)?
Control manufacturer?
Control type?
Is manufacturer and type as specified?
Dimming ballast/driver?
Ballast compatible with dimming controls?
Note any other special characteristics

C.4 Luminaire checklist Luminaire installation can be verified in either all

Luminaire installation errors may include improper wir-
ing or lamping, luminaires out of alignment or out of
balance, decreased functionality for aiming luminaires,
differing or wrong color temperature lamps, poor qual-
ity of canopies or cover plates, energized luminaire
housings, non-operational luminaires, inadequate sup-
port, and excess cabling hanging from the luminaires.
Below is a sample checklist example for luminaires
organized by control zone locations Zones can be
control dimming zones, switches, circuit breakers – a
way to break out large groups of luminaires. Groupings
of luminaires can be assigned to zones based on pri-
mary task function, luminaire type or physical location.
or a sampling of control zones. If a sampling is
used, zones may be selected from different areas
of each floor, and from different floors. For each
question and zone below, write “Y” for yes, “N” for
no, “NA” for not applicable, or some other answer
as required.
The ideal criterion for acceptance is that all items
require an answer of “Y.” If a sampling is used and
if there is failure in any of the checks for more than
20 percent of the sampled zones, then the entire
installation shall be considered to be “not in confor-
mance”. In this case, the installing contractor should
test all luminaires prior to calling for a retest under
this procedure.

Control Zone #
Description
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1. Do the luminaires have the correct type of lamp as required in the specifications and
shop drawings?
Installation
2. Do the luminaires have labelling, and components with labelling, that satisfy the
specifications, indicating specified lamp type and color, and are concealed from
occupant view? For ballasts, spot check one ballast in each type of luminaire per zone.
3. Are the luminaires mounted in the proper location? Refer to latest drawings and/or
the lighting designer’s final punch list.
4. Are the luminaires mounted at the proper height? (Verify the luminaire is mounted at
a height that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if ADA applies.)
5. Are the luminaires properly aligned, with all joints aligned?
6. Are the luminaires installed with canopies flush, and in such a way that the canopy or
luminaire flange or trim covers any holes in the wall or ceiling?
7. Are the luminaires supported by the structure? Alternately, if a ceiling-mounted
luminaire, note whether all corners of the ceiling grid are supported.
8. Are the luminaires clean and new*, with no fingerprints, scratches, dents or other
blemishes or damage?
9. Are the luminaires installed without exposed wires?
*Components of the lighting system may be subject to use and wear during the construction phase. Thus the owner should consider, prior
to construction, the extent to which the Owner Contractor Agreement specifies that the lighting and control system perform at the level
of ‘new’ equipment at the time of substantial completion. This may involve installation of new lamps, prior to opening, as well as other
accessories, if needed.
Table continues next page

29
IES DG-29-11

Control Zone #
Description
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Special luminaire types
10. If adjustable, have the luminaires been pre-aimed by the contractor according to pre-
aiming diagrams, locked into aiming position, and with aiming angles documented (if
possible)?
11. Are all luminaires requiring consistent aiming properly aimed to a specified plan or
standard?
12. If suspended pendants in continuous rows, are the rows aligned evenly?
13. If pendants, are there light shields in place above the luminaire if the luminaire is
located 12 in. or closer to the ceiling?
14. If pendants, are stems, cables and power feeds installed in the proper location per
the shop drawings?
15. If square luminaires, are the luminaires mounted parallel to the walls, tiles or other
reference point?
16. If wall washers, are the luminaires oriented so that the light distribution is focused
towards the correct wall?
Functionality
17. Are the luminaires functional with no lamp flicker, burnouts or end blackening, and no
ballast hum or noise after 12-24 hours of continuous uncontrolled operation?
18. Are luminaires functioning without light leakage?
19. Are the lamp sockets properly seated, with the lamps fitting well in the sockets?
Design illumination
20. Is initial illuminance on horizontal tasks at the specified level enabling the average
maintained design illuminance to be achieved based on calculations involving
assumed light loss factors and finish reflectance assumptions?
21. Is initial illuminance on vertical tasks at the specified level enabling the average
maintained design illuminance to be achieved based on calculations involving
assumed light loss factors and finish reflectance assumptions?
*Components of the lighting system may be subject to use and wear during the construction phase. Thus the owner should consider, prior
to construction, the extent to which the Owner Contractor Agreement specifies that the lighting and control system perform at the level
of ‘new’ equipment at the time of substantial completion. This may involve installation of new lamps, prior to opening, as well as other
accessories, if needed.

30
 IES DG-29-11

C.5 Daylighting design materials checklist
Daylighting is a broad subject encompassing
numerous types of approaches and devices used
to capture, distribute and control daylight availability
in buildings. Below is a sample verification checklist
for several types of daylighting components. For
more information about commissioning daylight-
ing, consult the manufacturer of components being
considered for a given project. Note that materials
and reflectances may become changed as the
design progresses and during construction. As
those authorizing these changes may be unaware
that the lighting/daylighting performance may be
affected, the lighting designer l may not be informed.
This is an area where commissioning may benefit
the project by maintaining a record of changes in
design decisions and assumptions.

Space A1 Space A2 Space A3

If light shelves are specified, are they …
The correct dimension?
Installed at the correct height?
Of the correct material and specified
reflectance?
Not interfering with any interior shade/blind
control?
Not providing any gaps where glare may
be introduced due to increased proximity
from glazing or limitation of shade/blind
extension?
Repeat the above list for shading devices such as overhangs, eaves, trellises, fins.
Do interior reflectances match the design
documents?
Do exterior materials match the design
documents?
Do exterior reflectances match the design
documents?

C.6 Lighting controls checklist
Below are checklist templates for popular lighting
control devices and systems. A control zone is
defined as a group of luminaires controlled by a
single controller such as an occupancy sensor or
output on a low-voltage relay control panel. Note:
A single group of luminaires may be assigned to
multiple control zones depending on the control
system.
Lighting control installation may be verified by
the Commissioning Authority in a sampling of
control zones for each control type—10 percent of
total number of zones, or eight zones, whichever
is greater (or as specified in the construction
documents). Zones should be selected from different
areas of each floor, and from different floors. For
each question and zone below, write “Y” for yes, “N”
for no, “NA” for not applicable, or some other answer
as required.
The criteria for acceptance is that all items require an
answer of “Y” except where other criteria are noted,
in which case acceptance is based on conformance
with approved submittals. If there is failure in any of
the checks for more than 20 percent of the sampled
zones (or two zones, whichever is more), then the
entire control installation shall be considered to be
not in conformance. In this case, the installing con-
tractor should evaluate all zones and make correc-
tions as needed prior to Performance Testing.

31
IES DG-29-11

C.7 Occupancy sensors

Control Zone #
Description
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Panel #
Circuit #
Relay # (if applicable)
Sensor type
1. Passive infrared (PIR), ultrasonic (US) or dual-technology (DT) (PIR/ultrasonic or PIR/
acoustic)? Acceptance: per approved submittals.
2. Function: auto or manual ON? Acceptance: per approved submittals.
Sensor placement
3. Mounting height in feet? Acceptance: per approved submittals.
4. Per drawings?
5. If ultrasonic, is sensor mounted 6 ft. or more from the nearest air diffuser?
6. If PIR, is sensor mounted 6 ft. or more from nearest heat source (e.g., HVAC grille)?
7. If PIR, is sensor mounted with unobstructed line of sight to critical task areas?
Sensor aiming
8. Per drawings?
9. Does aiming support photocontrol operation without problems?
Sensor sensitivity setting
10. Per specifications?
Record the settings.
If not, indicate settings.
11. Is sensor sensitivity proper to application?
Sensor time delay setting
12. Per specifications?
Record the settings.
If not, indicate settings.
13. Is sensor time delay proper to application?
Field of view
14. Has the field of view been properly adjusted, if required (PIR sensing only)?
Motion detection activity
Maintained detection for ...
15. Walking motion?
16. Arm motion?
17. Hand motion?

32
 IES DG-29-11

C.8 Low-voltage relay schedule-based time sweep control systems

Zone #
Description
General 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1. Are lighting schedules programmable with a microprocessor-based central
processing unit (CPU)?
2. Does CPU allow separate weekday, weekend and holiday schedules, per
popular energy code standards?
3. Does the CPU feature power failure (non-volatile) memory, per popular
energy code standards?
4. Is each independent program limited to controlling lights in a maximum
25,000-sq.ft. area or a single floor, per popular energy code standards, or
within specifications if less?
5. If an interior lighting control zone, is zone less than _______ sq.ft. in area?
(see energy code)
6. System provides warning to occupants before lights are swept OFF?
7. Do users have easy access to control that can override schedule?
8. What is the override method? Acceptance: per approved submittals.
9. Override control located so that user can see controlled lights from
control location, or clearly annunciated if remotely located for safety/security
reasons?
10. Override method compatible with CPU?
11. Override time period in minutes. Acceptance: < _____ minutes. (see
energy code) Acceptance: In compliance with code and specifications.
12. Schedule and override time period are reasonable for occupancy pattern?
(Answer in “General” column only if a single schedule and override period
applies to all zones; otherwise, answer for each zone.)
13. Occupants have been or will be explained the intent and operation of the
time sweep system?

33
IES DG-29-11

C.9 Daylight harvesting control systems
Installation verification for daylight harvesting control
systems involves two possible template types of
checklists, one based on the specific design installed
and the other based on a sampling of control zones.
The criterion for acceptance for the first checklist is
that the installed characteristics must be in accor-
dance with submittals as approved by the designer,
or as noted otherwise. Answers marked “N” to
questions marked with a ø shall also be considered
deficiencies.

Response
(Note: If different control zones have different
Description responses to these questions, respond specifically to
each group of zones and define which zones lie within
each group. Add sheets as necessary.)
1. Luminaire control (dimming or switching)?
2. If luminaire control is dimming, what is setpoint for
minimum % of full light output?
3. Design illuminance setpoint (footcandles at
workplane)?
4. Workplane for application (e.g., desk level, 10 feet from
windows)?
5. Is there at least one lighting control zone for each
perimeter exposure on each floor, or one per skylight
(or designated grouping of skylights)?
6. Were controls calibrated as part of system start-up? (If
not, do not proceed with this procedure until calibration
is complete.)
7. Was calibration done with finishes and furniture in place,
and lamps “seasoned” according to lamp manufacturer
recommendations?
8. Daylight harvesting control type (closed-loop or open-
loop; or describe other control sequence)?
9. Describe any special system features (e.g., light
shelves, skylights, fins, louvers, sloped ceilings, special
glazing, tracking mirrors, automatic window aperture
controls, or sun trackers.)
10. Have occupants been explained or is it scheduled for
occupants to be explained the intent and operation of
the control system?
11. Describe any other ways in which the installed system
differs from the design intent and/or approved submittals.

34
 IES DG-29-11

The criteria for acceptance for the second checklist is other criteria are noted, in which case acceptance
that all items require an answer of “Y” except where is based on conformance with approved submittals.

Zone #
Description
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1. Does photosensor placement match the drawings?
If not, indicate placement.
2. Placement problems or concerns? (e.g., closed-loop sensor receiving direct sunlight?
sensor mounted above indirect lighting with view of luminaires?)
3. Does photosensor orientation (aiming) match the drawings?
If not, indicate aiming
4. Placement problems or concerns?
5. Does the control zone generally correlate with area of daylight availability?
6. Is there separate control of luminaires close to and far from windows?
7. Are interior finishes and workspace location consistent with efficient use of
daylighting?
8. Are skylights and other toplighting glazing clean, if present?
9. If lamp dimming is used, do all lamps in control zone dim to approximately the same
level?
10. Does the control system’s applicable settings (e.g., sensitivity, time delay, deadband,
gain, fade rate) match the specifications, and are these settings unlikely to cause
problems?
11. Are any special daylighting features (light shelves, louvers, sun tracking systems,
glazing) properly installed and operational?
12. Describe anything that interferes with the system’s ability to deliver the OPR.
Examples include storage or dirt on light shelves, dark interior surfaces, blinds
that are closed all the time, exterior obstructions, glare, solar gain problems, or
objectionable changes to light level.

C.10 Architectural dimming control systems

Response
(Note: If different control zones have different
Description responses to these questions, respond specifically to
each group of zones and define which zones lie within
each group. Add sheets as necessary.)
1. Do the master control station and remote station(s)
placement and orientation match construction drawings
and/or specifications?
2. All specified dimming System functions and features,
including channel/zone functionality, preset lighting
scenes and fade rate time shall be programmed into
the control station(s) and match design specification.
Were controls programmed as part of system start-up?
3. Does the dimming system include integration with
sensors, time scheduling, and/or room partitioning
control? If so, describe scope and intent.
4. What are the setpoints for minimum % of full light
output?
5. All testing shall be done with all luminaires installed
and lamp(s) installed in each luminaire. For each
dimmed fluorescent zone, were the lamps operated
(“seasoned”) for a minimum of 10 hours? (Ref. IES
LM-40-01)

35
IES DG-29-11
ANNEX D - SAMPLE PERFORMANCE TESTING PROCEDURES FOR
DAYLIGHTING AND LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEMS
Performance Testing procedures are documents and
forms identifying various types of tests required for a
component or system to be accepted, instructions for
completing these tests, who is required to participate
in the tests, and criteria for acceptance. Performance
Testing involves ensuring the installed system meets
the design intent under the designed operating con-
ditions for each unique project.
Below is a series of sample test procedures for popu-
lar lighting control systems. These sample procedures
are provided as a template or initial basis; they do not
supersede specific manufacturer instructions for their
equipment. The contractor should follow manufacturer
installation, activation, calibration and programming
instructions to the letter. Further, it is the commission-
ing authority’s responsibility to write project-specific
procedures consistent with the installed components
and systems for that project. Procedures should be
reviewed by the Commissioning Team with regard to
the project specifications, installing contractors and
equipment suppliers so as to verify that required tests
and anticipated results are consistent with equipment
capabilities.
The lighting control system may be tested in a
sampling of control zones for each control type—10
percent of total number of zones, or eight zones,
whichever is greater, as a minimum. Zones should
be selected from different areas of each floor, and
from different floors.
In review, a control zone is defined as a group of
luminaires controlled by a single controller such as
an occupancy sensor or output on a low-voltage
relay control panel. A single group of luminaires may
be assigned to multiple control zones depending on
the control system integration.
For each question and zone in the forms in this
appendix, write “Y” for yes, “N” for no, “NA” for
not applicable, or some other answer as required.
Explain any “no” answers in the comments section. If
other information is requested, write the appropriate
values. If a test cannot be completed, write “ND” for
“not done,” and explain in a comment.
The criteria for acceptance is that all items require an
answer of “Y” except where other criteria are noted,
36
in which case acceptance is based on conformance
with approved submittals. If there is failure in any of
the tests for more than 20 percent of the sampled
zones (or two zones, whichever is more), then the
entire control installation shall be considered to
be not in conformance. In this case, the installing
contractor should test all zones prior to calling for a
retest under this procedure.
D.1 Making the building ready
Prior to field testing, the site must be made ready.
The building should be enclosed and all windows
and outside doors installed and closed; all furniture
and ceiling tiles should be installed, and permanent
power supplied to all luminaires. Luminaires should
be clean and any protective plastic or packing mate-
rial removed. In general, any components that may
affect the function or effectiveness of luminaires or
controls should be complete to ensure that testing
results are valid. Ensure there are no obstructions,
such as construction debris, inhibiting access to the
luminaires, control system and service breakers.
Further, the contract should also have been written
to ensure that all equipment needed for commis-
sioning, such as ladders or lift equipment, is on-site
ready for use. Note that controlling access to the
space being tested may be problematic because
there may still be construction activities taking place,
which can interfere with control system testing, par-
ticularly when sensors are involved. To mitigate this
issue, it may be necessary to conduct testing dur-
ing off-hours, such as at night, a decision that may
impact testing costs, require more coordination and
present its own risks to the testing results.
D.2 Occupancy sensors
The following form identifies a simple field
Performance Test intended to verify that occupancy
sensor controls operate as intended by the manufac-
turer and designer.
Walk test the space(s) and verify the LED indica-
tor light on the sensors detect properly. The lighting
system may be ON for this test. Verify that the occu-
pancy sensor detects motion as the occupant enters
the space, usually within three feet of a doorway and
usually eight feet of a warehouse aisle.
 IES DG-29-11

Zone #
Description
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Sensor LED activity: walk test

1. Do sensor LED lights function?

2. Do the lights activate within 3 ft. of entering the space (8 ft. in case of warehouse
aisle)?

Comments (add more sheets as needed):

ITEM # ZONE # COMMENT

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

37
IES DG-29-11

D.3 Low-voltage relay schedule-based time
sweep control systems
The following form identifies a series of field
Performance Tests intended to verify that the light-
ing time sweep controls operate as intended by the
manufacturer and designer.
Perform the following tests by monitoring and/or
observing each control zone under actual opera-
tion. If the actual control sequence differs from that
implied by the tests, attach a description of the con-
trol sequence, the tests that were done to verify the
sequence, and your conclusions. It is permissible
to adjust the programmed schedules and override
periods for easier testing. If this is done, reprogram
to the original schedules and override periods, or as
directed by the building operator, at the conclusion of
testing. Use of light loggers or current data loggers
over a one-week period to document operation is
recommended, though visual observation is accept-
able. Annotate any logger data and graphs so that it
is clear what the data are proving, and attach these
to this form. Energy Management System trend
logs of EMS outputs or schedule print-outs are not
acceptable as proof of operation.

Zone #
Description
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1. Lights in zone are turned OFF at scheduled time?
2. Lighting sweep is preceded by occupant warning (such as lights blinking)?
3. Override turns zone lights ON only?
4. Lights turned ON by override are turned OFF after programmed override period?
5. If space has split wiring, inboard and outboard lamps are properly sequenced?
6. If there is a keyed whole-floor switch (for cleaning staff) this is also swept OFF?
7. If HVAC terminal units are also controlled by the sweep, units go to unoccupied mode
when swept OFF and go to occupied mode by override?

Comments (add more sheets as needed):

ITEM # ZONE # COMMENT

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

38
 IES DG-29-11

D.4 Daylight harvesting control systems
The following form identifies a series of field
Performance Tests intended to verify that the day-
light harvesting controls operate as intended by the
manufacturer and designer.
Energy Management System outputs or schedule
print-outs are not acceptable as proof of operation.
Do daytime tests on a bright day, preferably between
10 AM and 2 PM. There should be no direct sunlight
shining on the work plane at the time of testing.

Perform the following tests by monitoring and/or
observing each control zone under actual opera-
tion. If the actual control sequence differs from that
implied by the tests, attach a description of the con-
trol sequence, the tests that were done to verify the
sequence, and your conclusions.
Use of current data loggers over a period of sev-
eral days to document operation is recommended,
though visual observation is acceptable. Annotate
any logger data and graphs so that it is clear what
the data are proving, and attach these to this form.
Attach sketch (or marked-up floor plan) showing
location of illuminance test points. Trend logs of
Criteria for acceptance: Footcandle readings dur-
ing night-time test should be within 10% of design
criteria illuminances. For day-time test #1, circuit
(or zone) amps must be at least 25% lower than
night-time test values. Footcandle values for both
day-time tests may not exceed design illuminance
by more than 10% unless amp readings indicate
circuit (or zone) is fully dimmed. If there is failure in
any of the following tests for more than 20% of the
sampled zones (or 2 zones, whichever is more), then
the entire daylighting control installation shall be
considered to be not in conformance. In this case,
the installing contractor should test all zones prior to
calling for a retest under this procedure.

Zone #
Description
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 Night-time test: Record workplane ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC
footcandles and lighting circuit amps ___A ___A ___A ___A ___A ___A ___A ___A
2 Daytime test #1: Record workplane ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC
footcandles and lighting circuit amps, with
blinds open ___A ___A ___A ___A ___A ___A ___A ___A

3 Daytime test #2: Record workplane

footcandles and lighting circuit amps with ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC ___FC
blinds 1/2 closed (not required for closed- ___A ___A ___A ___A ___A ___A ___A ___A
loop control zones)
4 Observe zone during daytime under normal
operation, 3 times in a 12-hour period,
at least 3 hours apart and for at least 5
minutes each time. Verify that there is no
unusual conditions such as “lighting level
hunting” or other problems.

Comments (add more sheets as needed):

ITEM # ZONE # COMMENT

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

__________ ___________ ______________________________________________________________________________

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IES DG-29-11
REFERENCES
1. Guideline 0-2005, The Commissioning Process.
ASHRAE, 2005.
2. Mills, Evan, PhD, “Building Commissioning: A
Golden Opportunity for Reducing Energy Costs
and Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” (Mills 2009)
3. Lighting Controls Association / National
Electrical Manufacturers Association, www.
aboutlightingcontrols.org
4. IES DG-18-08 Light + Design: A Guide to
Designing Quality Lighting for People and
Buildings. Illuminating Engineering Society of
North America, New York, NY 2008.
5. IES RP-36-03, IES Recommended Practice
for Planned Indoor Lighting Maintenance.
Illuminating Engineering Society of North
America, New York, NY 2003.
6. IES LM-40-01, IESNA Approved Method for
Life Testing of Fluorescent Lamps. Illuminating
Engineering Society of North America, New
York, NY 2001.
40
7. IESNA Lighting Handbook Reference and
Application – Ninth Edition. Illuminating
Engineering Society of North America, New
York, NY 2000.
8. Daylighting Metric Development Using Daylight
Autonomy Calculations in the Sensor Placement
Optimization Tool – Development Report and
Case Studies. Architectural Energy Corporation,
Boulder, CO 2006.
9. Whole Building Design Guide. National Institute
of Building Sciences, 2010.
10. ASHRAE Guideline 3-2006 Exterior Enclosure
Technical Requirements for the Commissioning
Process. National Institute of Building Sciences,
Whole Building Commissioning Guide, 2005.
11. Larsen, Trina, “Commissioning Advanced
Lighting Systems”, National Conference on
Building Commissioning, 2007.
12. IES Lighting Handbook, 10th Edition, 2011.
Illuminating Engineering Society of North
America, New York, NY 10005.
120 Wall Street, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10005
www.ies.org

$60.00 Order# IES DG-29-11 ISBN# 978-0-87995-255-6