I have a project in Auburn, CA for the California Conservation Corp. The new building will have a stem mounted luminaire that will illuminate the building name. Since this luminiare does not have a BUG rating, are we allowed to exempt this luminiare from the BUG rating method since it provides illumination for building designation? How do we document this for the creidt review?
Thank you.
Bill Swanson
Sr. Electrical EngineerIntegrated Design Solutions
LEEDuser Expert
730 thumbs up
September 22, 2017 - 2:32 pm
I remember there being some official interpretation that if a luminaire is adjustable then for uplight calculations, assume the worst. I can't find it. I'm also not finding any information from the IES or DarkSky about BUG ratings of adjustable light fixtures. I will keep looking.
I don't think you can exempt it. Do you have a lighting file for the fixture? A BUG rating can be made from an IES file.
Gordon Wong
January 9, 2018 - 7:24 pm
Thanks Bill. I actually tried finding an IES file to input into the Acuity Brands Visual Photometric Tool but there isn't a file available. Do you have any other suggestions?
Bill Swanson
Sr. Electrical EngineerIntegrated Design Solutions
LEEDuser Expert
730 thumbs up
January 11, 2018 - 9:04 am
Is the light coming with the sign? Most commercial lighting manufacturers have some form of a photometric file. I can see a sign company not knowing and not caring. I can't even get total lumen output from a sign company. I don't know how to comply if there is no BUG rating or photometric file for a non-exempt light fixture.
Ideas.
1. Is there a similar fixture that an IES file is available for. Only difference is the wattage or color temp.
2. Contact the company or sales rep and ask them to test the fixture and provide you a BUG rating. I doubt the sign company will do this. The lighting companies are more likely. Paint manufacturers now supply VOC info after so many customers all started asking for it.
3. Change to an internally illuminated sign so that it is exempt. This would be easiest.
4. Specify a light fixture you can find information for. Is the sign ground mounted or wall mounted? Wall mounted is easier to find something that complies with this credit.