Re: title 24 questions
jbarendsen;
Looks like you're in California too!
The information you are referring to is part of the California Energy Conservation standards.
Title 24, part 6 to be exact. (Title 24 is the California Building Codes)
The items involved with Compliance Standards are kind of indepth, but I can give you some simple examples.
To really get a grasp on the whole thing, check out the
2001 Non Residential Manual, available for free downloading at the California Energy Commission's website.
BTW: the homepage for the CEC website is:
http://www.energy.ca.gov/
and the "Title 24" homepage is:
http://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/
The Compliance Standards manuals are .PDF files, so you will need to have an installed version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader app' to view the files. Download this too if needed.
Now to address your Q's:
Fluorescent lighting has become more and more the primary lighting required in office buildings. My
question is when do the manufacturers of designer type lights get the picture that perhaps their
lights will need to conform to title 24 regulations as it is becoming more difficult for us electricians to
utilize them due to restrictions, when can we see changes in that industry?
Manufacturers will find out from loss of sales. If certain fixtures do not meet the criteria of the Compliancy Standards, they cannot be used (unless there are trade-offs which may be applied elsewhere). Efficiency, Efficacy, low losses and high lumens per watt are target design items for electrical lighting part of CEC.
Through the changes in the last 15 years - both in the Technology of Lighting Equipment and meeting minimum compliance, many Manufacturers were aware of the CEC defaults and designed their equipment to meet or exceed minimum compliance.
Best examples are "Slave-Master" Fluorescent Fixture controls, the use of Non-Magnetic (Linear Reactor based) Fluorescent Ballastry, and fully Electronic High HZ Ballastry driving T-8 Lamps.
Time clocks are also "CEC Compliant" items. So are EMS (Energy Management Systems).
There are so many design methods which can be used for designing a compliant lighting system in Non-Residential structures, it's difficult to list them!
After the rolling blackouts scenario, the compliance standards have become the most restrictive ever!
Another question is when is it OK to utilize both incandescent and fluorescent lamps in the same
rooms to create the desired effects as per designs etc.?
Look in the Standards Manual for a complete explanation on this question.
Basically, if you design a certain area or areas "Properly", these two types of Lighting will conform, and can therefore be used.
If you have a chance to read over an Electrical Planse,t for a medium to large sized Commercial project, read the pages which contain the "LTG-X" compliance forms, and also the Lighting Fixture Schedule(s), in great detail.
Apply what's described in these pages to the Lighting Plan, and also to square footage of rooms, areas, the entire building, and separate task areas.
On the Lighting Plan Page, take note of how the fixtures are controlled - by both switches (multiple switches) and a "Main Shutoff". Take note to how many Occupancy Detectors (Motion Detectors) are in the design + where they are located.
Lastly, take note of how various types of fixtures are placed within the building, plus where they are least common / most common.
All these items point towards achieving a sufficient, efficient and compliant Lighting Design.
Good luck!
Scott35
p.s. E calcs are also applied to the building's envelope, and to Mechanical designs (HVAC, etc.).
There are similar compliance standards for Residential projects too.
Let me know if you have more Qs.
