Lighting in the spotlight as Part L approved documents published

gazza — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

gazza Fri, 17/01/2014

Much anticipated amendments focussing on energy saving lighting solutions have been published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). DCLG has now published revised versions of Part L regulations alongside updated versions of the Domestic and Non- Domestic Building Services Compliance Guides.
The final approved documents have been published which confirms widely anticipated amendments. Part L of Building Regulations focuses on the Conservation of fuel and power, with changes expected to be implemented from April.
As part of an earlier consultation, a new energy efficiency metric was also being deliberated and has been introduced as a way of demonstrating compliance with lighting standards when the new regulations are introduced. LENI (The Lighting Energy Number Indicator) is a measure of the performance of lighting in relation to energy per square metre per year (1).
LENI has been previously supported from key lighting industry bodies including the Society of Light and Lighting and the Lighting Industry Association.
Non-domestic buildings have been in the spotlight, with the assumed luminaire efficacy rising from 55 to 60 lmr/lms/CW. The new documents also encourage the use of lighting controls and occupancy control.
The compliance guide states that lighting in both new and existing buildings ‘Should meet the recommended minimum standards of efficacy’ (2).
This comes after the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Baroness Hanham announced the amendments would be enforced in April to allows the lighting industry the time required to prepare for the changes.
Non-domestic buildings will be influenced by regulation changes, with new-build homes having to be 6 per cent more efficient than outlined by current regulations.
The energy efficiency standards in non-domestic buildings must increase to 9 per cent under the new changes, and will impact upon energy efficient office lighting, to industry lighting and energy efficient commercial lighting.
For more information about Part L Regulations, see Dextra Lighting’s earlier blog post: Spotlight on energy efficiency lighting standards.
References
1. HM Government, Non-domestic Building Services Compliance Guide, 2013: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/non_domestic_building_servic...
2. HM Government, Non-domestic Building Services Compliance Guide, 2013: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/non_domestic_building_servic...

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Part L Amendment