Part L 2010 Compliant Dimmable Lighting

[rryles]

Hi,

I'm doing an extension/rewire and would like some dimmable lighting. The problem is that as LABC will be inspecting the building work they will want to see that lighting in the extension is part L compliant.

The lights that I'd like to be able to dim are:

Kitchen: general/over island eating area. Probably in the form of one or two pendants.
Bedroom: general room lighting.
Living Room: would like some wall mounted up-lighters.

There are other places where dimming would be a nice to have - such as over kitchen worktops.

The dimmable retrofit bulbs that I have seen don't have much of a dimmable range. One alternative is LED lighting, but some of it is silly prices and tends to only come as downlighters or similar highly directional fittings.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

p.s. the dimming system itself is not finalised yet, but will probably be a centralised system, with all the dimmers on a rack.

 

[malcolmsanford]

What retro fit lamps are you refering to, are they not dimmable? a link to the lamps may help.

Also I've attached a link to an article concering Part L 2010 and lighting, which may be of interest.

G:\Building part A to p\Part A-P Approved Documents\Part L\BSRIA article on lighting system efficiencies for Part L 2010.mht

 

[rryles]

I mean the compact fluorescents that fit a B22. You can get ones which are dimmable, but they don't dim by much. If you turn the dimmer down too far they turn off completely.

The link didn't work, but I think this is what you meant to link to:

BSRIA article on lighting system efficiencies for Part L 2010

 

[acvc]

Just FYI, i was pulled up by NIC inspector on my annual assesment earlier this year because I did a full rewire and used 'normal' conventional ceiling pendant drops throughout (bayonet). I was told that a fixed percentage of fittings not lamps had to accept only the 2/4 pin low energy lamps to remain compliant with Part L.

I'm on a job right now and will clarify tonight re fittings-lamps types.

It's worth checking up on this early if you're expecting LABC involvement.

All the best.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Was that the NICEIC again interpreting things how they see it, unlike the rest of the world.

 

[rryles]

acvc,

I assume you mean earlier last year!? He is right it is fittings, but fitting is quite vaguely defined. Also part L changed in November last year. You no longer need to fit dedicated fittings - normal B22 pendants are fine, so long as they are fitted with an energy saving lamp. The percentage that have to be energy saving has gone up from 25% to 75% though, and the definition of "energy efficient" has gone from 40 lamp lumens per circuit watt to 45.

This only applies to domestic. Non-dwellings are a different set of rules. I've also left out some minor details. For the full info see http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/domestic_building_compliance_guide_2010.pdf

 

[telectrix]

i would fit whatever fittings suit you,GU10, BC, ES, fit a percentage with dimmable cfl lamps, the cheapest you can get, then once LABC have disappeared fit proper lamps

 

[ian.settle1]

Just FYI, i was pulled up by NIC inspector on my annual assesment earlier this year because I did a full rewire and used 'normal' conventional ceiling pendant drops throughout (bayonet). I was told that a fixed percentage of fittings not lamps had to accept only the 2/4 pin low energy lamps to remain compliant with Part L.

I'm on a job right now and will clarify tonight re fittings-lamps types.

It's worth checking up on this early if you're expecting LABC involvement.

All the best.

Where is the control gear for these type of pendents? as when using these type of lamps the control gear is normally seperate from lampholder unlike the B22/E27 lamps which are within the lamp it's self