I am currently trying to get a lighting design to comply with SS Credit 1 Option 2 Path 6 and have a question. To get this credit there is a stipulation that the "After-hours override maybe provided by a manual or occupant-sensing device provided the override lasts no more than 30 minutes"
If i have a light fixture that falls under this credit and it is controlled by a occupancy sensor that turns on the lights after hours when someone eneters the room and then shuts off the lights 30 minutes after the occupant leaves I think would meet the credit criteria. However, a co-worker is trying to tell me that the light has to shut off after 30 minutes regardless if some one is in the room or not. So if it is after hours and a person enters the room the lights will go on but after 30 minutes they shut off ever if the person is still in there.
My Co-workers interpretation doesn't make a whole a lot of sense to me, has some one gotten this credit and can help me set my co-worker, or me, straight.
Thanks
Ben
Bill Swanson
Sr. Electrical EngineerIntegrated Design Solutions
LEEDuser Expert
731 thumbs up
July 28, 2010 - 9:03 am
Your fine. Your co-worker is being too literal in his reading of this. Think of manual override first. Turn the lights on and they have to have a timer or something to turn off after 30 minutes. If you need more light after that you push the button again and you get another 30 minutes. Now the occupancy sensor is like pushing the button for another 30 minutes everytime it sees your movement.
Also the Life Safety Code requires enough light (min 1 fc) for people to get out of the building any time it's occupied. Having lights shut off after 30 minutes regardless of people still being in the building would violate the law if it leaves the space in darkness.
Bill Swanson
Sr. Electrical EngineerIntegrated Design Solutions
LEEDuser Expert
731 thumbs up
July 28, 2010 - 9:21 am
I have been getting some really dumb responses from LEED reviewers lately. It would not surprise me if one tried to enforce it as your co-worker views it. The equipment and programming required to make this work is extensive. And then there's the whole Code violation thing.
Jody Pritchard
Principalh.e. banks + associates Lighting Design
6 thumbs up
August 14, 2010 - 10:17 pm
I agree with Bill's comments. FYI - check with your Client to determine if the 30 minute override will be acceptable. (Some find this incredibly annoying.) For some business that often have after-hours employees, you may want to consider using motorized blackout shades on a timer for the offending light fixtures. FYI, I'm a lighting designer and have met the credit this way on previous projects.
Raymond Loo
Senior Manager, Corporate ServicesMEA & Associates Limited (Hong Kong)
94 thumbs up
August 8, 2011 - 1:14 am
Can I ask for a clarification to Option 2 Path 6? Is this a requirement for the tenant space only or the total building. I am not sure because this is in the Sustainable Site area.
Thanks.
Susann Geithner
PrincipalEmerald Built Environments
1297 thumbs up
August 11, 2011 - 1:33 pm
It's the building, not just the project space, which you have to apply this to.
Raymond Loo
Senior Manager, Corporate ServicesMEA & Associates Limited (Hong Kong)
94 thumbs up
September 24, 2011 - 9:48 pm
Susann, thanks for your response.
I thought that would be the case since this is a SS credit. Unfortunately, this path is harder to achieve when the project is in a large and older building with multiple tenants.
Rubén M. R.
CodirectorCIVITA
106 thumbs up
February 14, 2013 - 1:44 pm
Hi,
Are the "non-business hours" of option 1 the same as the ones of option 2 (11pm to 5am)?
My project is in a large building with multiple tenants too, but I think is possible that the building is closed (and lights are off) at that times.