New BCA lighting requirements - a careful balance of lux and watts

In May last year, the Building Code of Australia (BCA) introduced significant changes to what was allowed in terms of energy consumption from lighting per square metre in all new building projects. The regulations allow only 5 W per square metre, as opposed to the previous 25 W per square metre.

The new BCA regulations assist the gradual phasing out of 50 W halogen and incandescent globes and cause business managers and property owners to find suitable replacements. Compounding this situation is the fact that while the wattage per square metre has changed, the regulations for lux levels have not, and commercial properties are still required to meet the minimum lux levels based on the Australian Standards Lux Levels (AS 1680 series) for commercial settings.

As a result, building projects must now install lights that comply with the new energy-efficiency codes while maintaining the required lux levels as part of Australia’s occupation health and safety (OHS) guidelines. Poor or defective lighting can cause problems such as eyestrain, general vision problems and headaches. This can lead to employees having time off as well as increased workers compensation premiums. The rapidly evolving light emitting diode (LED) technology offers a solution to this issue. Many LED products are now able to reproduce the same lighting quality and brightness as the common 50 W halogen globe, effectively becoming a direct replacement. It is important to choose the right LEDs that meet the specifications required for a commercial property.

One important specification in maintaining lux levels will almost always be the luminosity of the LED. LEDs have the ability to produce high luminosity from a low wattage, making them a desirable option for the new BCA requirements. In fact, some high-quality LEDs can produce up to 720 lumens while only running off 10 W of power, making them a direct replacement for 50 W halogen.

Electricians should read the specifications of all LED lights to see whether it meets the new requirements and lux levels. They should ensure that any LED they choose can produce a minimum of 720 lumens without exceeding 20 W. They should also check out the colour temperature and colour rendering index (CRI) of the light - these two factors determine how well the light is capable of reproducing vibrant colours. This is important in workplaces where visual clarity is essential. Lastly, electricians should also make sure builders are educated on the new regulations as buildings that don’t meet the new requirements may fail their final inspections.