• • • COVER STORY • • •


New building regulations: how lighting controls can ensure Part L compliance


On 15th June 2022, new requirements outlined in the 2021 edition of Part L Building Regulations will come into effect in England, says Miguel Aguado, marketing and technology manager at Lutron


T


hese changes will affect engineers, electrical contractors, consultants, and lighting designers, and apply to all buildings that


aren’t a residence. So, whether you work with universities, schools, offices, or any type of non- domestic development, it’s critical to prepare now to guarantee your compliance. Many of the changes focus on making new


construction more sustainable. All non-domestic new builds must produce 27% fewer CO2 emissions than previous standards, while existing buildings need to install new controls that improve the efficiency of their heating and hot water boiler systems. However, a particularly complex amendment impacts the lighting inside non- domestic new builds.


Changes to lighting regulations and new requirements for


lighting controls In previous editions, there were no explicit requirements for lighting controls, meaning the use of high efficacy lighting was enough to comply. However, this was a missed opportunity. Using lighting controls will always enhance energy savings. With a systems approach, intelligent lighting


control can overlay multiple energy savings strategies, such as presence detection or daylight harvesting, with timers, and more importantly with


high end trim (that helps you define what the highest light level allowed in the space is). To compensate for lumen depreciation over time,


lighting is usually over specified, and spaces are over lit, causing issues beyond the obvious waste of energy. An over lit space can result in uncomfortable glare on computer screens, which can negatively impact productivity.


Further, as we have seen coming out of the


pandemic, the workplace environment will have to adapt to become collaboration hubs. Embracing wireless and digital technologies provides flexibility to both grow in scale and transform spaces for any use. Using the right lighting control system can not


only help comply with the new requirements, it can have a huge impact on costs. Wireless technology can reduce installation costs by up to 70%. Using a lighting control system that can calculate and share the energy usage removes the need to install a meter for each lighting circuit. Lutron offers a wide range of products, and no


matter what type of project, we have a solution. Vive, our simple wireless solution makes compliance very easy. It can scale from a single room to multiple sites which can be monitored remotely. Our Quantum solution is perfect for those


projects that demand absolute control over the visual environment. It combines the control of both electrical and natural light to create the perfect setting for any situation, capable of managing multiple campuses around the world, from anywhere in the world. This is the first time that UK building regulations


have incorporated lighting controls. And initially, these rules may prove tough to meet.So let us help you. We have over 60 years of experience installing lighting controls all over the world and across different cultures. We understand the total cost of ownership, and we pride ourselves on our reliability and service. Please visit the website below


Starting on June 15, the minimum lighting


efficacy will be raised to 80 luminaire lumens per circuit watt for display lighting and 95 luminaire lumens for general lighting. Spaces must not be over lit, and each lighting circuit must have a kw/h meter, unless a lighting control system that can calculate and share the energy usage be installed. Meanwhile, the tools used to verify compliance of a building (SBEM) will also expect the use of presence detection and daylight sensors. As energy demands continue to increase,


regulatory requirements will continue to push the adoption of energy saving technologies. 80% of the buildings that will be in use in 2050 already exist today. This means that future-proofing will be critical to make sure retrofits and renovations can also be made to comply.


10 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • MAY 2022 electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


www.lutron.com/UKBuildingRegulations for more information, including videos and Lutron's online training courses. You can also register for a free Lutron webinar by scanning the QR code below.


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