NCC 2022 Volume One - Building Code of Australia Class 2 to 9 buildings
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40

Specification 40 Lighting and power control devices

Specification 40 Lighting and power control devices

This Specification contains the requirements for lighting and power control devices including timers, time switches, motion detectors and daylight control devices.

To clarify the extent of items covered by this Specification.

A lighting timer must—

  1. be located within 2 m of every entry door to the space; and
  2. have an indicator light that is illuminated when the artificial lighting is off; and
  3. not control more than—
    1. an area of 100 m2 with a single push button timer; and
    2. 95% of the lights in spaces of area more than 25 m2; and
  4. be capable of maintaining the artificial lighting—
    1. for not less than 5 minutes; and
    2. for not more than 12 hours if the timer is reset.

To detail the required performance of corridor light timers.

Lighting timers are time delay switches that activate a section of lighting when the button is pressed, and switches the lights off again after a predetermined time, provided the button is not pushed again. The provisions for the minimum distance of travel into the space, and for the 5% of lighting that must remain on in larger areas, are designed to reduce the situation of walking into a dark space to switch on the lighting. In many applications the exit signs will provide the continuous 5% of lighting required.

(1) A time switch must be—

  1. capable of switching on and off electric power at variable pre-programmed times and on variable pre-programmed days; and
  2. configured so that the lights are switched off at any time the space is designated to be unoccupied.

(2) A time switch for internal lighting must be capable of being overridden by—

  1. a means of turning the lights on, either by—
    1. a manual switch, remote control or an occupant sensing device that on sensing a person’s presence, overrides the time switch for a period of up to 2 hours, after which if there is no further presence detected, the time switch must resume control; or
    2. an occupant sensing device that overrides the time switch upon a person’s entry and returns control to the time switch upon the person’s exiting, such as a security card reader or remote control; and
  2. a manual “off” switch.

(3) A time switch for external lighting must be—

  1. configured to limit the period the system is switched on to between 30 minutes before sunset and 30 minutes after sunrise is determined or detected including any pre-programmed period between these times; and
  2. capable of being overridden by a manual switch, remote control or a security access system for a period of up to 8 hours, after which the time switch must resume control.

(4) A time switch for boiling water or chilled water storage units must be capable of being overridden by a manual switch or a security access system that senses a person’s presence, overrides for a period of up to 2 hours, after which if there is no further presence detected, the time switch must resume control.

To detail the required performance of time switches.

Time switches are devices that turn lights or equipment on and off at predetermined and pre-programmed times. S40C3(2) and S40C3(3) provides specifications for time switches controlling internal and external lighting. S40C3(4) provides specifications for time switches that operate boiling and chilled water storage units.

(1) In a Class 2, 3 or 9c residential care building other than within a sole-occupancy unit, a motion detector must—

  1. be capable of sensing movement such as by infra-red, ultrasonic or microwave detection or by a combination of these means; and
  2. be capable of detecting a person before they are 1 m into the space; and
  3. other than within a sole-occupancy unit of a Class 3 building, not control more than—
    1. an area of 100 m2; and
    2. 95% of the lights in spaces of area more than 25 m2; and
  4. be configured so that the lights are turned off when the space is unoccupied for more than 15 minutes; and
  5. be capable of being overridden by a manual switch only enabling the lights to be turned off.

(2) In a Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9a or 9b building, a motion detector must—

  1. be capable of sensing movement such as by infra-red, ultrasonic or microwave detection or by a combination of these means; and
  2. be capable of detecting—
    1. a person before they have entered 1 m into the space; and
    2. movement of 500 mm within the useable part of the space; and
  3. not control more than—
    1. in other than a carpark, an area of 500 m2 with a single sensor or group of parallel sensors; and
    2. 75% of the lights in spaces using high intensity discharge; and
  4. be configured so that the lights are turned off when the space is unoccupied for more than 15 minutes; and
  5. be capable of being overridden by a manual switch that only enables the lights to be turned off.

(3) When outside a building, a motion detector must—

  1. be capable of sensing movement such as by pressure, infra-red, ultrasonic or microwave detection or by a combination of these means; and
  2. be capable of detecting a person within a distance from the light equal to—
    1. twice the mounting height; or
    2. 80% of the ground area covered by the light’s beam; and
  3. not control more than five lights; and
  4. be operated in series with a photoelectric cell or astronomical time switch so that the light will not operate in daylight hours; and
  5. be configured so that the lights are turned off when the area is unoccupied for more than 15 minutes; and
  6. have a manual override switch which is reset after a maximum period of 4 hours.

(4) When in a fire-isolated stairway, fire-isolated passageway or fire-isolated ramp, a motion detector must—

  1. be capable of sensing movement such as by infra-red, ultrasonic or microwave detection or by a combination of these means; and
  2. be capable of detecting—
    1. movement of 500 mm within the useable part of the space; and
    2. a person before they have entered 1 m into the space; and
  3. be configured so that the lights dim to a 30% peak power or less when the space is unoccupied for more than 15 minutes.

To detail the required performance of motion detectors.

The motion detector requirements are similar to those of the corridor lighting timer, except that a motion detector is activated by the motion of people, and the operation of the lighting is maintained while the motion continues.


The advantages of motion detectors are: 
•    a person does not need to find the button; and 
•    a person can enter the space with more confidence as another person already within the space would have activated the lighting; and 
•    the time duration for the lighting to be activated does not need to be as long as it does with a corridor lighting timer because the lighting is continuously reset, whereas with a timer, the duration has to be set for the slowest person travelling the greatest distance. 
 

The clause specifies different requirements for motion detectors for four situations— 
•    a Class 2, 3 or Class 9c residential care building other than sole-occupancy units: and 
•    a Class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9a and 9b building; and 
•    outside a building, including when controlling a light in a carpark entry zone; and 
•    when in a fire-isolated stairway, passageway or ramp. 
 

Fire-isolated exit lights 
Unlike other lights required to be controlled by a motion sensor, in a fire-isolated stairway, passageway or ramp it is acceptable for lights to be dimmed to at least 30% of their peak power instead of being switched off.

(1) A daylight sensor and dynamic control device for artificial lighting must—

  1. for switching on and off—
    1. be capable of having the switching level set point adjusted between 50 and 1000 lux; and
    2. have—
      1. a delay of more than 2 minutes; and
      2. a differential of more than 100 lux for a sensor controlling high pressure discharge lighting, and 50 lux for a sensor controlling other than high pressure discharge lighting; and
  2. for dimmed or stepped switching, be capable of reducing the power consumed by the controlled lighting in proportion to the incident daylight on the working plane either—
    1. continuously down to a power consumption that is less than 50% of full power; or
    2. in no less than 4 steps down to a power consumption that is less than 50% of full power.

(2) Where a daylight sensor and dynamic control device has a manual override switch, the manual override switch must not be able to switch the lights permanently on or bypass the lighting controls.