Insummary the new 6 star energy rating regulations will mean a changeto the way builders, architects and building designers conduct theirbusiness. To ensure a smooth transition, the integration of energyratings into your system needs to be thought out before it ismandatory.
May1st 2012 is when the minimum star rating required for residentialprojects will be increased to 6 stars.
Therehas been a lot of work going into investigating the effects this willhave on the building industry ,to ensure the changes required tobuilding processes can be met without disruption or excessive cost.
Howeverthere is more to complying with the new energy efficiency regulationsthan just getting a 6 star rating from the HouseEnergy Rating Software.TheBCA has included other clauses which must be complied with,in addition to the assessment performed by your energy ratingassessor.
In this article we will look atcomplying with the Artificial Lighting regulation - BCA Vol 23.12.5.5
In essence this regulation statesthat there is a maximum amount of lighting allowed for any specificarea.
Maximum Lighting Allowances
The maximum wattage allowed foreach area are:
5W/m in a Class 1 Building
4W/m on a verandah orbalcony attached to a class 1 building
3W/m in a class 10 Building.
Example:
Area Name
Area(m)
Maximum Wattage
Total Wattage
Main House
190
5
950 Watts
Alfresco
25
4
100 Watts
Balcony
5
4
20 Watts
Garage
36
3
108 Watts
These totals are not able to beaveraged over the house. So if you took a 50w light fitting you wouldonly be able to have 19 fittings for inside the house. 2 Fittings forthe Alfresco, 2 for the garage and a single 20w fitting for theBalcony.
Advice is still being sought fromThe Building Commission to clarify that the wattage of the globe canbe used as opposed to the maximum rating of the fitting.
Whenan EnergyRatingis done for you ensure the lighting calculations are included in theprocess.
This can be done by providing youwith a compliance report that nominates the maximum wattage allowableand removes the need to provide an electrical plan which may vary.This compliance report can be carried through to Pre-start meetingswith a calculation section included to ensure that the maximums arenot exceeded during the selection process.
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