Codes + Standards

The color quality of light sources is critical in a broad range of applications, from making colors pop in retail merchandise to promoting social interaction by properly rendering skin tones. To evaluate, predict and discuss color quality, the industry relies on two metrics, correlated color temperature (CCT) and the color rendering index (CRI). Varying these [...]

Twenty-three addenda to ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, are now open for public comment until October 4, 2015. Among the addenda open for public comment is addendum ch, which proposes a new set of interior lighting power densities (LPD) limits for both building area and space by space compliance [...]

The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) has announced the publication of IES Method for Evaluating Light Source Color Rendition (TM-30-15). Quantifying the color rendition characteristics of a light source is a complex problem. Many aspects of color rendition, such as color fidelity and color discrimination, should be simultaneously considered during the design and [...]

Yesterday, LightNOW published a guest blog post by Jim Brodrick, DOE’s SSL Program Manager, on a new IEEE recommended practice on LED flicker. As metrics, IEEE uses % flicker, operating frequency and flicker index. A graphic is provided that plots % flicker relative to the light source’s operating frequency. Color shading reveals safe and low-risk [...]

In November 2014, ASHRAE published ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings, Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings. This updates the 2011 version and covers energy efficiency, site sustainability, water use, indoor environmental quality and the building’s impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources.
 The standard allows states and other jurisdictions to regulate [...]

ENERGY STAR is a voluntary testing and labeling program that verifies that energy-efficient lighting products provide comparable performance as incumbent-technology products while saving energy. ENERGY STAR is used as a qualification for product rebates by a number of utilities. On June 1, the EPA released the new (final) Luminaires v2.0 spec, which will replace v1.2 [...]

Last November, ASHRAE published an updated version of its green building standard, ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings. My lighting column in the June issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR covers the lighting requirements of the standard. Check it out here.

If you live in Canada, Happy Canada Day! From my lighting column for the May issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR, on the topic of 2015 IECC: Last year, the International Code Council published the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), a model energy code that states and other jurisdictions can use in whole or part as [...]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the release of the final ENERGY STAR Luminaires V2.0 specification, which will replace V1.2 on June 1, 2016. Click here to learn more and download the specification.