The Five Points Residential Mental Health Unit is a combination 60 inmate cell and treatment/therapy facility. We are interested in earning EQ Credit 6.1 Controllability of Systems: Lighting. The office support and administrative areas of the building will all have individual lighting controls to meet individual needs and preferences of occupants. Classrooms and group therapy rooms will minimally be provided with two levels of lighting to meet individual group needs. Our question in meeting the requirements of this credit is in reference to the inmate cell areas. Each individual cell, which houses one inmate, will have their own individual lighting controls for a ceiling fixture and a fixture over the hand washing sink. During the hours of 6:00am to 10:00pm, the inmates will have full control of the lighting in their cell. At approximately 10:00pm, an automatic control system will turn off all cell lighting except for a night light in each cell. The lights will be off until 6:00am. Eight of the sixty cells will be provided with 24 hour inmate controlled override controls. Inmates with special needs would be located in these cells to address specific medical issues. We are requesting an interpretation if this approach will meet the requirements of EQ Credit 6.1.
The applicant is requesting confirmation whether lighting controlled by an automatic timer for inmate cell areas is an acceptable means of satisfying the requirements of EQc6.1. It appears that the proposed approach satisfies the intent of the credit. Individual inmates are provided access to individual lighting controls in order to promote their comfort and well-being. While automatic lighting control is implemented from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, the lighting control may actually help mental health patients establish a regular schedule. Additionally, night lights are provided during the automatic light control period. The use of this CIR to demonstrate compliance may not be applicable to other project types and/or scenarios. The award of EQc6.1 will be based on the merits of the submitted documentation during the review. Applicable Internationally.