Lighting and legislation
July 04th 2007

The Lighting Industry Federation gives a revue of the improved efficiency of lighting equipment and provides details of the requirements of the Building Regulations: 2006

Asubstantial proportion, if not the great majority, of existing lighting installations use inefficient lighting equipment.

Conversion of these inefficient installations to energy efficient types of lamps, control gear and luminaires could save up to 50% or more of the electricity consumed without reducing lighting quality – in many cases, lighting quality would be improved.

It is essential that all new lighting installations are designed properly to provide the required lighting result and incorporate the most energy efficient lighting equipment suitable for the application. The benefits of using energy efficient lighting can be greatly enhanced by using lighting controls to provide the right quantity of light as and when required and lighting scenes to suit the circadian rhythms of the building occupants.

One of the objectives of members of the Lighting Industry Federation is to reduce the carbon foot print of lighting installations. The Lighting Industry Federation provides assistance to Government departments and their agencies in matters relating to lighting and energy. For example, the Building Regulations, harmonised Application Standards and data for the Energy Technology List of the Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) scheme.

Energy Efficient Lighting Equipment

The continuous strengthening of the Building Regulations Approved Document L – Energy Conservation in Buildings puts increasing pressure on the related industries to improve the energy performance of their products.

The efficiency of a luminaire (lighting fitting) is dependant on the combination of lamp, control gear and optical efficiency - hence a significant investment in the development of these elements is invested by the Lighting Industry. These developments are necessary to meet the ever increasing pressures to reduce the carbon emissions of lighting installations.

Many new and improved lamp types have been introduced, including T5 linear fluorescent, compact fluorescent, high-pressure sodium, metal halide and CMH; each providing opportunities to reduce energy consumption by lighting in those applications for which they are best suited. High efficiency electronic ballasts have been developed to operate these lamps and new design techniques have been developed to maximise the optical efficiency of the luminaires.

The most efficient lamp types, associated control gear and luminaires for most interior and exterior lighting applications together with appropriate types of lighting controls are included in the Lighting Section of the Energy Technology List (ETL) www.eca.gov.uk

Building regulations

Part L2A, New Buildings other than dwellings The regulations apply to:All new buildings of over 100 sq m of floor area.Exceptions are Emergency escape lighting and specialist process lighting. For office, industrial and storage areas in new buildings, (other than dwellings) the revised Part L requires an improved average efficiency of not less than 45 luminaire lumens/circuit watt (up from 40). The first 500W of installed lighting load previously allowed has been removed. For lighting serving other types of space the average initial (100h) lamp circuit efficacy remains at not less than 50 lumens/circuit watt.

Part L2B, Existing Buildings other than dwellings The new requirement applies when existing buildings with a floor area over 100 sq m undergo major renovation. The lighting energy efficiency should be upgraded with an average lamp efficiency of less than 40 lamp- lumens/circuit watt by either a new luminaire or with improved lighting controls.When upgrading the requirements as for L2A (ie 45 luminaire lumens/circuit watt for offices, storage and individual areas or 50 lamp - lumens/circuit watt for other areas), there is a notable exception concerning lighting controls where control factors can be applied to the overall efficacy rating when an effective lighting control system is installed.However, the credits from these factors have been reduced i.e. 0.9 instead of 0.8 for photocells and PIRs and 0.85 against 0.75 for the use of both together.