IECC - 2009

The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), administered by the International Code Council, is used by some jurisdictions in the U.S. as an alternative to adopting ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1.  While there are some minor differences in their requirements, and the IECC generally has a reputation of being easier to use, the two methods have both gained acceptance.  The following section describes the lighting related requirements within the IECC-2009.

 Lighting Requirements – 2009

The lighting section (§505) covers lighting systems controls, the connection of ballasts, and the maximum lighting power for interior and exterior applications with the exception of lighting within dwelling units where 50% or more of the permanently installed luminaires are fitted with high-efficacy lamps.

 Lighting Controls (§505.2)

IECC provides for:

• (§505.2.1) Individual manual controls are required in each space enclosed by walls or ceiling-height partitions.  Such controls shall either be in the area of the controlled luminaires or by a remote switch that identifies the lights served and their status. Exceptions include:

  • Security or emergency areas that must be continuously lighted

  • Lighting in stairways or corridors that are part of a path of egress

• (§505.2.2.1) Controls are required that allow the occupant to reduce the connected lighting load by at least 50% while maintaining reasonable uniformity.  This may be done by controlling all lamps or by some reasonable switching technique.  

• (§505.2.2.2) Automatic lighting shutoff is required in buildings larger than 5,000 sq. ft. This device will function on either (a) a scheduled basis using a timer, (b) using an occupancy sensor that will turn off the lighting within 30 minutes, or (c) by a signal from another control or alarm system that indicates that the area is unoccupied.  Exceptions include sleeping units, lighting in spaces where patient care is rendered and spaces where such automatic shutoff would endanger occupant safety or security.

  • (§505.2.2.2.1) Such controls must have override capability that is (a) readily accessible, (b) located so the user can see the area being controlled or that area is so annunciated, (c) manually operated, (d) no more than a two hour override and (e) controlling an area not to exceed 5,000 sq. ft. In malls, arcades, auditoriums, single-tenant retail spaces, industrial facilities and arenas the override may exceed 2 hours and the area controlled may go up 20,000 sq. ft.

  • (§505.2.2.2.2) Holiday scheduling is required, (except for retail stores/malls, restaurants, grocery stores, places of worship and theaters) for such controls, that turns off the lighting load for at least 24 hours and then resumes the normal schedule.

• (§505.2.2.3) The lighting in daylight zones, as defined by this code, shall be controlled independent of the general area lighting.  Contiguous daylight zones that are adjacent to vertical fenestration may use a single control provides the zones face no more than two cardinal orientations (N,S,E,W).  The lighting in daylight zones under skylights more than 15' from the perimeter shall be controlled separately from daylight zones adjacent to vertical fenestration. Exception: Daylight spaces enclosed by walls or ceiling height partitions and containing less than three luminaires.

• (§505.2.3) Hotel and motel sleeping units shall have a master control device at the main room entry that controls all permanently installed luminaires and switched receptacles (except those in bathrooms).  Suites shall have a similar device at the entry to each room or at the primary entry that controls the entire suite.

• (§505.2.4) Automatic controls are required for exterior lighting.  Lighting for areas not designed for dusk-to-dawn operation shall use an astronomical time switch or a combination of a photosensor and a time switch while dusk-to-dawn areas may use either an astronomical time switch or a photosensor. Astronomical time switches must be capable of retaining programming and time settings during a loss of power of up to ten hours.

Tandem Wiring (§505.3)

Linear fluorescent luminaires using an odd number of lamps shall use two-lamp tandem-wired ballasts when two or more luminaires are in the same space and on the same control device. This includes recessed luminaires spaced less than or equal to 10 feet apart, center-to-center and surface or pendant mounted units spaced with one foot of each other, edge-to-edge. Exceptions include:

• Where high-frequency ballasts are used

• Luminaires on emergency circuits

• Luminaires with no available pair in the same area

Exit Signs (§505.4)

Internally illuminated exit signs shall not operate at greater than five watts per side.

Interior Lighting Power Requirements (§505.5)

The project will determine the allowance for interior lighting power using Table 505.5.2 of the standard. 

• Retail spaces are given an additional power allowance for display lighting based on the type of product on display and the area of the display.  See note b. at end of Table 505.5.2.

 Exterior Building Grounds Lighting (§505.6.1)

All exterior luminaries with lamps that operate at greater than 100 watts shall either have a minimum efficacy of 60 lumens per watt or shall be controlled by a motion sensor.  See exceptions listed in §505.6.2.

 Exterior Building Lighting Power (§505.6.2)

See Table 505.6.2 of the standard for the allowed LPDs and a description of the corresponding lighting zones.

Lighting Power Densities (LPDs) for exterior applications have been divided into two categories:

• Tradable and Non-tradable.

  • The tradable areas allow the project to use all or some of the wattage allowance from one area in another (e.g. watts from a parking lot may be used on a walkway instead).  However, wattage allowances in the non-tradable areas are “Use-it-or-lose-it.”  For example, if a particular façade is 50’ wide by 100’ tall, the project may use up to 1000 watts to illuminate that, and only that, surface.  Table 505.6.2 of the standard specifies the allowed LPD for each type of exterior area or surface. 

  • After the project adds up the wattage allowance for all tradable and non-tradable surfaces, the project may then use up to an additional 5% of that total on any exterior surface or area.

• Exceptions to §505.6.2

  • Specialized signal, directional and marker lighting associated with transportation

  • Lighting for advertising or directional signage

  • Lighting that is integral to equipment or instrumentation that is installed by the manufacturer

  • Lighting for theatrical purposes

  • Lighting for athletic playing fields

  • Temporary lighting

  • Lighting for industrial production, material handling, transportation sites and associated storage areas

  • Lighting for theme elements in theme/amusements parks

  • Lighting of historical structures or public monuments

 Electrical Energy Consumption (§505.7)

In buildings that have individual dwelling units, such as apartments, these individual units will be separately metered.