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Public
who are building an extension or new home (as well as commercial
builders) should read the following as it applies to your building
work!
Part
L of the current UK building regulations
Current
UK building regulations state (in part L1 of the regulations)
that a certain number of low energy light fittings must
be installed within 'new build' UK homes and extensions. Certain
rules also apply for 'new build' offices and commercial properties.
These fittings must have integrated ballasts within the fitting
to ensure only low energy bulbs can be replaced (thus stopping
the installation of standard, non-efficient, incandescent lamps
in to the lamp holders)
Below
is a brief section of the current Building regulations regarding
the Low Energy Lights you must install if building a new home or
extension!
'A
way of showing compliance would be to provide lighting fittings
(including lamp, control gear and an appropriate housing, reflector,
shade or diffuser or other device for controlling the output light)
that take lamps having a luminous efficacy greater than 40
lumens per circuit watt. Circuit-Watts means the power consumed
in lighting circuits by lamps and their associated control gear
and power factor correction equiptment
Fluorescent, LED and compact fluorescent
lighting fittings would meet this standard. Lighting fittings
with traditional lamp holders would also meet this standard provided the lamp was low energy.
Fittings
marked with the symbol below on our website would be suitable
for Part L1 of the current UK building regulations and would count
as one of your '75%'
 
Reasonable
provision would be to provide in the areas affected by the building
work, fixed energy efficient light fittings that number not less
than the greater of
a.) three per four fixed lighting fittings (75%)
A
light fitting may contain one or more lamps. Installing mains
frequency fluorescent lighting in garages may cause dangers through
stroboscopic interaction with vehicle engine parts or machine
tools. Fluorescent lamps with high frequency electronic ballasts
substantially reduce this risk.
Light fittings in less frequented areas like cupboards and other
storage areas would not count.
Fixed
external lighting means lighting fixed to an external surface
of the dwelling supplied from the occupier's electrical system.
It excludes the lighting in common areas in blocks of flats and
other access-way lighting provided communally.
Reasonable provision would be to enable effective control and/or
the use of efficient lamps such that:
Either:
lamp capacity does not exceed 150W per light fitting and the lighting
automatically switches off:
When there is enough daylight; and when it is not required at
night
Or:
the lighting fittings have sockets that can only be used with
lamps having an efficacy greater than 40 lumens per circuit watt.
Compact
fluorescent lamps would meet the standard. GLS tungsten lamps
with bayonet cap or Edison screw bases, or tungsten halogen lamps
would not.' Fittings marked with the symbol below on our website
would be suitable for Part L1 of the current UK building regulations
and would count as one of your '25%'
You
can download a copy of the latest building regulations regarding
lighting from the following Government website
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/4000000000563.html
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