< Back to Index

Lighting Highlights from the 2002 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State

The Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York (ECCCNYS) addresses the design of energy-efficient building envelopes and the installation of energy-efficient mechanical, lighting and power systems through requirements emphasizing performance. This comprehensive code establishes minimum regulations for energy-efficient buildings using prescriptive and performance-related provisions. It makes possible the use of new materials and innovative techniques that conserve energy.

Residential Code "Recessed Lighting Fixtures must be 1) IC rated with no penetrations, or 2) IC rated in accordance with ASTM 283, or 3) installed inside an air-tight assembly with a 0.5 inch 912.76 mm) clearance from any combustible amterial and a 3 inch (76 mm) clearance from insulation material."

Commercial Code This section focuses on the building envelope including insulation and air leakage...

"Recessed Lighting Fixtures must be air-tight and rated for insulation (IC); i.e. rated for direct contact with insulation. A non-IC rated fixture is acceptable id installed in a sealed, airtight box and is not in direct contact with insulation according to code."

This section called "V. Lighting and Power Systems Compliance Guide" focuses on lighting...

Energy Code Lighting Provisions:

• Occupant space control: Manual or automatic controls or switches that allow occupants to dim lights and turn them on or off when appropriate
• Total connected loads for indoor lighting systems that do not exceed power allowances for the building
• energy-efficient exterior lighting
• Building & space control: Spaces greater than 250 sq. ft. in buildings larger than 5000 sq. ft. require an automatic control device to shut off lighting in those spaces.

Exceptions apply for the following:

• Lighting within dwelling units.
• Areas designated as security or emergency areas that must be continuously lighted
• Lighting in stairways or corridors that are elements of the means of egress.

Lighting Control and Switching Requirements

• Independent interior-lighting controls are required for each area enclosed by ceiling-height partitions. The switch must be located so that the occupant can see the area being controlled or the switch needs to indicate whether the lights are on or off in the controlled area if it is not visible from the switch location. Exceptions are made for areas that must be continuously illuminated for building security or emergency exits and for public areas such as building lobbies and retail stores. Accent and case lighting for retail must be separately switched to only be on during customer hours.
• Each area required to have a manual control shall have additional controls such as bi-level switching or automatic lighting shutoff. Guest rooms have their own special requirements. Exceptions are areas with just one luminaire, areas controlled by an occupancy sensor and corridors, storerooms, restrooms and public lobbies.
• Lighting within a space less that 250 sq. ft. must be switched (or dimmable) so that the occupant can reduce the lighting load by at least 50% in a reasonably uniform pattern.Exceptions to bi-level requirement are if the area only has one luminaire, has an occupancy sensor, is a guest room or a corridor, storage area, restroom or lobby.
• Spaces greater than 250 sq. ft. in buildings larger than 5000 sq. ft. require an automatic control device to shut off lighting in those spaces. The device can function on a scheduled basis that controls the interior lighting (not to exceed 25,000 sq. ft. and not more than one floor) or on an unscheduled basis by occupant intervention.
• Master switches are required at the entry door in hotel and motel guest rooms that control all permanently wired luminaires and receptacles. Bathrooms are exempt.
• Automatic controls are required for all exterior lights. A directional photocell, astronomical time switch or a building system with astronomical time switch must turn off exterior lighting when daylight is available. Parking garages, tunnels and other large covered areas that operate 24 hours are exempt from this requirement.
• Pendant or surface mounted fluorescent luminaires having one or three lamp ballasts and mounted in continuous rows and recess mounted luminaires located within 10 ft. of each other and served by the same switch must be tandem-wired unless they use electronic high frequency ballasts.

Interior Lighting Power Requirements
Interior Lighting must not exceed allowed power limits (using ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-1999). Interior lighting includes all permanently installed general and task lighting shown on the plans. A Lighting Application Worksheet is supplied that offers a method for calculating the entire building for watts per sq. ft. and another for calculating portions of a building (if the project only applies to a portion of the building).

Exterior Lighting Power Requirements

• All lighting supplied through the building electrical service must comply
• Energy-efficient lighting must be used when illuminating paths, walkways and parking areas.
• Lighting shall have a source efficacy of at least 45 lumens per watt

Exceptions include...

• Specialized signal, directional and marker lighting associated with air, rail, water and road transportation
• Lighting used to highlight features of registered historic landmark structures or buildings
• Lighting used for safety or security specifically designed to meet health or life safety requirements
• Low-voltage lighting used exclusively for landscaping

ECCC Worksheets and Manuals Both Residential and Commercial worksheets and manuals are available at the following hyperlink http://www.dos.state.ny.us/code/energycode/Worksheets.htm.

< Back to Index