This is set to change, and anyone involved in the installation of lighting should be ready for the introduction of more energy efficient schemes. Just as the industry is coming to terms with the ins and outs of the Climate Change Levy, in comes the revised Part L of the Building Regulations, which sets out the legal requirements for the conservation of fuel and power in buildings. The Approved Document L of the Building (Amendment) Regulations 2001 is now published and is due to come into effect on 1 April 2002.
The publication replaces the content of the 1995 edition, and is split into two parts: L1, which deals with dwellings; and L2, which covers buildings other than dwellings. But how has Part L changed and what difference will this really make to future lighting designs?
One of the major changes is the addition of legislation for dwellings. Reasonable provision, the guide states, should be made for residents to benefit from energy efficient lighting. One method of compliance is to fix outlets or complete luminaires that only accept lamps with a luminous efficacy of 40 lumens/circuit-watt or above in the most used locations, such as sitting rooms. To achieve this a change in domestic lighting is essential, with moves towards the use of compact fluorescent lamps and fluorescent tubes. "Reasonable provision" is given as a minimum of one such fitting for every three rooms. This is likely to have an effect on the design of energy efficient lamps as most current models are made to fit conventional fittings.
To further promote energy efficiency, the application of "appropriate controls" for external lighting is cited, so that they switch off when not needed and during daylight hours. If controls are not added, external fittings must only accept energy efficient lamps, although it is predicted that in future both methods will be required.
Part L1 also gives guidance on system commissioning and states the need to provide householders with sufficient information to operate the services effectively, whether in the form of a logbook or declarations of compliance from suitably qualified persons. Local authorities may now test buildings and their controlled services and fittings for compliance with Part L1.
Out of house
In Part L2, the standards for offices, industrial and storage buildings have been tightened and now includes luminaire performance. "You must now consider the efficiency of the fitting," advises Martin Lupton, design director of Pinniger & Partners, "you can't take a highly efficient lamp and put it into a black box." Hugh King of Thorn Lighting confirms: "These [requirements] include a new method of calculation, which includes the efficiency of the luminaire as well as that of the lamp and gear."
One way to meet the requirements is to provide lighting with an initial average efficacy over the building of at least 40 luminaire lumens/circuit-watt. By using an average figure, there will be greater design flexibility to vary the types of lamps and luminaire throughout a building; the first 500 W capacity is exempt from the calculations, giving further flexibility for the use of feature lighting. This will mean a shift from the use of standard fittings to more complex lighting schemes."The lighting solutions required by Part L will eliminate T12 and T8 halophosphate-type fluorescent tubes run off magnetic ballasts," predicts King. "New solutions are T8 triphosphor and T5 tubes running on high frequency electronic gear."
The method to calculate compliance is more difficult and Lupton states: "Manufacturers of light fittings must provide contractors with more information." King agrees: "Contractors will want to know the circuit-watt figures for luminaires." Thorn, among others, are producing new product data with this information. However, initially it is likely that details will only be available for the most popular products.
The elemental method of calculation includes the provision for trading items against each other and credits will be given for controls and limiting solar gain, although maximising daylight use is encouraged.
The definition of controlled service has expanded so any replacement work in existing buildings is now controlled. "If you do anything more than a clean and relamp, the system must be changed," advises Lupton.
The inclusion of display lighting in the code has caused some concern and effectively rules out the use of GLS and R80 reflector lamps for example. "Some designers and manufacturers are of the opinion that the new Part L will stifle creativity on retail and leisure projects," explains Darren Orrow, associate of Into Lighting Design, "but with clever integration of light sources with materials and custom lighting features, designers will still be able to produce highly creative, and in some cases, more innovative lighting schemes."
A summary of the main changes to Part L can be downloaded from www.safety.dtlr.gov.uk/bregs/brads.htm.
Part L updates
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
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