U.L.’s Mission With The Guidelines-
- U.L.’s mission is to make the world a safer world, so they came up with a guideline to help maximize the potential of lighting
- U.L. employs the best scientific knowledge out there to help individuals tackle those challenges.
- U.L. is a trusted partner to many businesses and customers across the states in solving their challenges.
- U.L.’s non-profit conducts independent researches using scientific knowledge to deliver solutions to business challenges
What does U.L. hope will be achieved with this publication?
For Property Owners: Implementation in properties can distinguish it from other properties and also increase the property valuation. Healthy lighting is also a consequence of proper lighting.
For Light Specifiers- Light specifiers or lighting experts will be equipped with a better knowledge of lighting designs and will become better at what they do.
Building occupants(residents or workers)- A better impact on circadian rhythm, which will inculcate a sense of alertness and improvement in health.
Why Not Wait For An ANSI publication?
U.L. aims at creating an alternative approach to lighting design but is backed by many scientific studies. Multiple approaches to lighting designs are beneficial for organizations since they have more options to choose from.
U.L. is interested in working with existing non-profit organizations, commercial entities, and institutes to deepen their understanding of illumination and human productivity.
Similarities Between UL DG 24480 guideline and WELL Building Standard
Both share a similar objective towards lighting design; more lights during the day and lesser lighting during the night.
The WELL approach aims at minimizing disruption in the human circadian rhythm. It takes into account the window performance and task-based illumination needs are fulfilled to improve the productivity of workers.
WELL uses Equivalent Melanopic Lux (EML) to measure the impact of artificial lighting on human circadian rhythm. This approach is somewhat similar to the circadian stimulus measurement but is calculated differently.
On the other hand, UL DG 24480 guideline is specifically for day workers.
What Does New Design Approach Encourage?
Oversimplified, yet the UL DG 24480 guideline can be condensed in six steps.
- Revamp your lighting design and aim to achieve a circadian stimulus (CS) of 0.3.
- Achieve a higher vertical to the horizontal ratio for a higher CS
- A source of spectral power distribution should be considered.
- Some CAD simulations to measure the horizontal distribution of light(illumination in the plane of occupant’s eyes)
- Determine the final Circadian Stimulus(C.S.)
- If the C.S. achieved is not more than or equal to 0.3, than other luminaires should be considered to achieve the desired C.S.
What Are Some Newer Design Approaches Added This?
To achieve DG 24480, the so-called new circadian lighting guideline;
- Measurement of horizontal as well as vertical illumination is required
- Design with the knowledge of vertical to horizontal ratio, SPD(spectroradiometer capable of measuring SPD is required)
- Use of CAD(computer-aided design software) to specify lighting
To reach the goal of 0.3 CS, the existing lighting design will undergo more modifications. If needed, more layers of lighting will be added to the design.
What Is Driving Circadian-Supportive Light?
According to Gayathri Unnikrishnan, Director, Standard Development at WELL Building Institute, over 800 WELL Building projects are underway.
At events like lightfair, circadian based lighting plan is being hailed as human-centric lighting. Companies are ready to take the competitive advantage of this new trend by adopting is first.
More case studies pouring in, stirring a positive following for the change.
What Does It Mean For Electrical Contractors?
For Existing Buildings
Before revamping any pre-existing lighting arrangements, building owners will consult their resources first.
For building owners, ROI is another primary concern. If their service provider is not confident about delivering the expected results, building owners will not gamble on such investment.
New buildings are very likely to adopt these standards.
Both lighting designers and electrical contractors need to have practical and actionable knowledge about such projects. A confident lighting designer convinces the decision-maker to t modify the lighting design. A learned electrical contractor will add confidence to the decision making.
LED lights are going to play an important role to reduce the high C.S. down to desired values.
This article was originally published on LightNOW
1 comment
thanks for sharing your blog.hope you add more in future also like this.