The Essential Design Element for Any Office Space

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Specifying for an adaptable fluorescent lighting control system

To ensure a reconfigurable lighting control system is included on a project, specify digital addressable ballasts, sensors that can be assigned to groups of fixtures, and wireless handheld programmers.

Specifications can also be made to ensure that the adaptable fluorescent lighting control system designed on a project is easy to install, easy to maintain, and easy to use.

Ease of installation

  • Specify for the absence of power packs and interfaces. Fewer system pieces mean lower installation costs and the ability for installers to get on and off the job more quickly.
  • Specify that control wiring accommodates the Class 1 or Class 2 preference of the installer. Dozens of studies confirm that installers prefer control wiring that can be run in the conduit with the power wiring (Class 1)—eliminating the need for extra conduit or wiring time. Modular cable (all-in-one prefabricated cable) can be used to quickly connect fixtures and drastically reduce wiring time in new construction. If desired, Class 2 control wiring is wired in a cable tray or with other harmless communication wiring.
  • Control wiring can also be specified to be both topology-free and polarity-free. Topology-free control wiring allows the system to be wired in any format that the
    installer selects, such as daisy chain, star method or T-tap. With polarity-free control wiring, the digital addressable ballasts will work even if the wires are reversed.

 

Daisy chain
Star Method
T-tap

 

Ease of maintenance

  • Specifying that the sensors and wallstations connect to the system via Class 2 wiring allows sensors and wallstations to be installed and relocated without calling an electrician, which also helps during installation.

Ease of use

  • Some adaptable fluorescent lighting control systems generate instant reports of lamp and ballast information. These reports clearly communicate where failed ballasts or lamps exist throughout the facility, so an employee does not have to seek them out at night.

Ultimately, there are three basic methodologies for reducing the electricity used by a lighting system:

  • Reduce the amount of time that the lights are turned on.
  • Use more efficient light sources.
  • Allow the electric lights to be on at less than 100%.

Lighting control can provide more to a building than system efficiency. It creates value for the office by accommodating the employee, making office spaces more productive and making buildings more sustainable. Plus, adaptable lighting control means a building will always have the functional lighting it needs as its organizational and system efficiency requirements change.

 

Today's conference room
Tomorrow's open office
The new generation of lighting control system can easily adapt
to the reconfiguration needs of an organization or a space.

 

 

 

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Originally published in Architectural Record.
Originally published in March 2006

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