Title-24 Residential Lighting Synopsis - Home Automation

Title 24 Residential Lighting Synopsis

Premal Ashar

Founder, Nuro Technologies

In 1978, state legislation mandated that building standards be unified in a single code within the California Code of Regulations and designated as Title 24, the California Building Standards Code. Since then the California Energy Commission updates Title 24 about every three years. Last update was in 2022, next will be 2025.

Title 24 strives to: Ensure that building construction and system design and installation achieve higher energy efficiency. Preserve environmental quality. Create minimum energy-efficiency levels for new residential and nonresidential buildings.

This blog we will cover synopsis of Title 24 related to indoor residential lighting.

Vacancy Sensor Switch
A vacancy sensor automatically turns lighting off when a space is unoccupied. This can save energy compared to a manual on-off switch where the light may be left on while the space is unoccupied.
Using vacancy sensors is recommended for any application where they can provide additional energy savings for the homeowner or occupant.

Dimmer
A dimmer varies the intensity of the light to suit the occasion or the time of day. When less light is needed, the homeowner can reduce the light intensity with a dimmer to save energy.

Indoor Light Control Requirements

Lighting controls are an important part of the Energy Code because they can produce energy savings for the owners and users of the spaces. Lighting Control Requirements in Accordance with Room and Luminaire Types. All lighting controls must comply with the mandatory requirements Following are general control requirements that apply for the room type and for the luminaire type:

Readily Accessible Manual Controls
All permanently installed luminaires shall have readily accessible wall-mounted controls that permit the luminaires to be manually turned on and off. “Readily Accessible” means capable of being reached quickly for operation, repair, or inspection without requiring climbing or removing obstacles, or resorting to access equipment.

Multiple Switches
A lighting circuit can be controlled by more than one switch, such as by three-way or four-way switches. For a lighting circuit with multiple switches, where a dimmer or vacancy sensor has been installed and no controls shall bypass the dimmer or vacancy sensor function.

Energy Management Control Systems (EMCS) and Multiscene Programmable Controllers
An EMCS or a multiscene programmable controller can be installed to meet the dimming, occupancy, and lighting control.

Exhaust Fan Integrated Lighting
Integrated lighting in an exhaust fan must be controlled independently from the fan.

Lighting for Drawers and Cabinets
Undercabinet lighting, undershelf lighting, and interior lighting of display cabinets shall be controlled separately from ceiling-installed lighting such that one can be turned on without turning on the other. Drawers and cabinetry with internal lights and opaque fronts or doors must have controls that turn the lights off when the drawer or door is closed.

Independent Control of Switched Outlets
Switched outlets shall be controlled separately from ceiling-installed lighting such that one can be turned on without turning on the other.

Ceiling Fan Lighting
Ceiling fans with integrated light sources can be controlled with a remote control for ON, OFF, and dimming control. The remote control does not need to be wall mounted.

Spaces Required to Have Vacancy Sensors or Occupancy Sensors
The following residential spaces are required to have at least one installed luminaire in the space be controlled by an occupancy or vacancy sensor providing automatic-off functionality:
1. Bathrooms
2. Garages
3. Laundry Rooms
4. Utility Rooms
5. Walk-in Closets

Luminaires Required to Have Dimming Controls
Lighting in habitable spaces such as living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms must have readily accessible wall-mounted dimming controls that allow the lighting to be manually adjusted up and down.

Light Control Functionality

All installed lighting control devices and systems must meet the functionality requirements as per code. In addition, all components of a lighting control system installed together shall meet all applicable requirements for the application for which they are installed as required by the code (includes requirements for specific lighting control features and functionality). Designers and installers should review features of their specified lighting control products for meeting these requirements as part of the code compliance process.

Time-Switch Lighting Controls

Dimmers
Dimmer products shall provide the functionality as per the Energy Code.
Forward phase cut dimmers used with LED lighting must comply with NEMA standards.

Occupant Sensing Controls
Occupant sensing controls (including occupant sensors, partial-ON occupant sensors, partial-OFF occupant sensors, motion sensors, and vacancy sensors) shall provide the functionality as per the Energy Code.
Occupant sensing controls must automatically reduce lighting or turn the lighting off within 20 minutes after the area has been vacated.
Occupant sensing control systems may consist of a combination of single- or multi-level occupant, motion, or vacancy sensor controls, if components installed for manual-on compliance don’t allow occupants to change the functionality from manual-on to automatic-on.

Using Vacancy Sensors or Occupancy Sensors
Occupancy sensors automatically turn lighting on when a space becomes occupied, and automatically turn lighting off within 20 minutes of the space being vacated.
Vacancy sensors, also known as manual-on/automatic-off occupant sensors, require occupants to turn lights on manually, and automatically turn lights off within 20 minutes of the space being vacated.
Occupancy and vacancy sensors are required to provide the ability to manually turn lighting on and off. The manual off feature provides the flexibility to control the lighting environment by turning off lights when they are not needed.

BriteHome’s AI-powered lighting solution ensures long-term readiness by incorporating the latest energy efficiency strategies that are updated every three years under Title 24.

Source: California Energy Commission

Title 24 Residential Lighting Synopsis

Premal Ashar

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