NC ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE CHAPTER 805 EXTERIOR LIGHTING CHANGE UPDATE

On January 1, 2007, the NC Building Code enacted some exterior lighting changes.  The changes effect both the lighting levels as well as the controls for light fixtures.  As far as controls for exterior lighting, you are now required to have either a photocell or an automatic controller with a battery back-up.  Both of these are good design practice and have been utilized for a long time, but they have never been a code requirement.  Since most interior spaces are now required to have a lighting control system as well, it usually will not cost any additional construction money to use the same system to control the exterior lighting.

There are several options when it comes to control systems for lighting: programmable panels, low voltage lighting systems, lighting contactors and stand alone controllers, etc.  Note that the code requires a battery back up for all such controllers, so it is still being debated in our office as to whether programmable panels will qualify (they have no battery, but retain their memory during a power outage).

Another change which occurred is the abolishment of incandescent lights for exterior lighting.  The only exception to this is low voltage landscape lighting, and lighting for security purposes (obviously this is a debatable item: but officer, I needed those 14 floodlights aimed at my building façade to keep thieves from breaking the windows!).  The code states that all exterior lamps must have a source efficiency of 45 lumens/watt.  This cannot be achieved by any incandescent source, so therefore incandescent lamps are not permitted.

i. For exterior lighting, must have an automatic timer with a programma
2. How does these changes tie into LEED
a. Dark Skies - Must meet IES RP 33 maximum lighting levels.  All fixtures over 1000 lumens must be shielded, all fixtures over 3500 lumens must have full cutoff.  Maximum candela ratings must be within property lines.  This implies that a photometric must be done to prove result