Building regulations and growing energy awareness are driving an increased demand for digital lighting control.
Simple and cost-effective 'plug and play' systems give contractors an opportunity to make the most of this profitable opportunity suggests Mike Biggs product manager for Hager's Klik digital control system.
In most commercial buildings, Lighting accounts for more than 50% of the electricity used.
It therefore makes sense to focus attention on how to provide energy efficient lighting.
In addition, Part L2 of the Building Regulations states a requirement for "providing lighting systems that are energy efficient" and the newly published Building Standards in Scotland make similar demands.
Just ask yourself how many unoccupied offices have their lights left on, only to waste energy and raise bills? Specifiers certainly ask these questions, particularly those in local authorities.
A simple control system can easily remedy this by using occupancy sensors to switch lighting on or off via a marshalling box.
This alone can lead to significant energy savings.
Taking this one step further, the occupancy sensor can also incorporate a photocell that switches the lighting off if there is enough natural light.
Such systems are not expensive and are easy to install.
Now, however, you will find that there is an increasing demand for digital lighting control systems.
In part, this is because the Building Regulations state: Where it is practical, the aim of lighting control should be to encourage the maximum use of daylight and to avoid unnecessary lighting during time when spaces are unoccupied...
Digital lighting enables luminaries to dim up and down in response to changing light levels.
Savings of up to 70% are possible using such systems.
Digital Control System In the past, digital lighting control systems were over-engineered for everyday applications.
They were expensive to install and a systems integrator or the manufacturer would need to commission the system and debug any problems.
That is no longer the case.
Any competent electrician can install and commission a digital lighting control system.
Often, such systems have evolved from the simple marshalling box systems already described.
Typically, the hard wiring is terminated in a marshalling box before several luminaires are plugged in at final fix.
The difference is that the plug-in interface now distributes both power and data to the digital ballasts thanks to the development of new cabling technology.
This allows more sophisticated digital occupancy sensors to control and dim the lighting in response to both occupancy and daylight levels.
Commissioning can be as simple as programming the sensors using a simple handheld remote control programmer.
For our Klik system, DIL switches select different control options and two buttons dim the lights up or down to the desired luminance levels, as measured by a light meter.
Once this is set, the programmer is simply pointed at the sensor and a button pressed to programme it.
Such systems follow daylight patterns very closely and in areas where there is highly variable cloud cover can produce even higher energy savings.
After all, commercial buildings are generally occupied in daylight hours.
The cost arguments for the end user are persuasive, but some end users still desire the flexibility of local control.
This is not a problem, it is possible to have the best of both worlds since a conventional wall switch can be hard wired into a marshalling box so that it can override the occupancy sensor.
Demand is high for digital lighting control systems.
They are cost-effective, involve no change in installation practice and are simple to commission.
Now's the time to get on board this green bandwagon because the electrician down the road probably already has.