scope:

INTRODUCTION

Lighting controls play an essential role in all lighting systems, providing the functions of switching (ON/ OFF) and/or dimming (raise/lower). These functions are used to enact various control strategies to satisfy visual needs of users and energy management needs of owners.

These functions support visual needs (luminance, contrast, color difference, size, movement, and time - see IES DG-18-08 Light + Design A Guide to Designing Quality Lighting for People and Buildings) by allowing users to select illuminance, enabling mood setting and/ or task tuning to achieve optimal viewing and working conditions. They support energy management needs by reducing lighting system operating time and/or input power, with control typically being implemented by automatic control devices. Lighting energy management is the process of meeting lighting quality requirements as well as space, task and user needs with low energy consumption. Refer to the IES Lighting Handbook, 10th Edition - Chapter 17 and Annex A.

In recent years, automatic energy-saving lighting controls have steadily gained in importance in lighting design in nonresidential buildings due to energy codes and the sustainable design movement. These devices and systems automatically switch or dim designated loads in response to events such as time of day, daylight fluctuations, occupancy or energy demand reduction events. The current energy reference standard, ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1- 2010 Energy Efficiency Design of New Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, co-sponsored by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the IES, contains comprehensive mandatory control requirements, with advanced control strategies encouraged via lighting power adjustment credits.¹

This LEM document is intended to help designers, users, commissioning agents, and other interested parties understand energy-saving strategies, design considerations, equipment, the variety of communication protocols and the importance of commissioning for lighting control systems installed in both interior and exterior applications in all types of buildings (See also IES DG-29-11 Design Guide for The Commissioning Process Applied to Lighting and Control Systems).