Jan. 1, 2023, is the effective date for the new 2022 version of California’s Title 24 Energy Code, which brings updates to the Title 24, Part 6 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. Important changes related to lighting controls in the non-residential code:
- New mandatory requirements for demand management include a trigger for demand-responsive lighting controls based on lighting wattage, not floor area size. The new trigger wattage of > 4,000W of lighting is a major change from the previous trigger of 10,000 square feet in the 2019 code. Demand response signals must be capable of automatically reducing the general lighting loads per the state’s specification. In addition, the receptacles will need to be connected to the demand response system.
- New mandatory requirements also include occupant-sensing controls for lighting in office spaces greater than 250 square feet. Additional requirements for controls in these office spaces include specific control zone sizes no larger than 600 square feet but allows luminaires with integral occupant-sensing controls (luminaires integrated with luminaire level lighting controls / LLLC) to be considered their own control zone. This language will likely lead to wider adoption of luminaires containing LLLC by installers.
Emphasizing the advantages of LLLC to meet lighting controls code requirements, Chris Primous, vice president of Business Development and Sales with LiteTrace states: “The increasing complexity of lighting requirements such as the new mandatory controls specifications in the T24 2022 code will make it easier and less complex for installers to use luminaires with integrated controls to help simplify their project installation and commissioning.”
“The setup of these sensors, many of which combine occupant-sensing with daylight harvesting, can now be done quite easily with a computer or phone APP to set any particular buildings code’s shutoff time, dimming, or other requirements. Once the option of control is in most of the site’s luminaires, facility managers will also see important advantages in being able to configure and expand the controlled spaces with software instead of rewiring,” Primous adds.
To address the new Demand Response requirements in the latest T24 code, LiteTrace has released its CR04 Inter-op bridge which enables LiteTrace’s Bluetooth wireless Keilton control components to connect to third-party Open ADR systems for compliance with California’s new requirements.
LiteTrace also offers controllable receptacles and numerous sensors in their Keilton brand that can be used within luminaires, creating LLLC to easily meet the new occupancy sensor requirements. Luminaire manufacturers, installers, retrofitters, and contractors can learn more about these products ready to help projects in California meet Title 24 2022 by contacting [email protected] or visiting www.LiteTrace.com .