REP'S PERSPECTIVE
HOW TO GET
WHAT YOU WANT IN A Lighting Control System
By ANDREW PARKER,
P.ENG., LC, SALEX INC.
Surprisingly, it is not by knowing the part numbers of all the widgets…
START WITH THE OWNER’S PROJECT REQUIREMENTS Lighting control system design begins with understanding the owner and the end-user. What does the owner want the lighting controls to do, and what requirements and limitations exist regulating their implementation in the design? For the end-user, lighting controls should be unobtrusive – think smooth dimming over abrupt switching – and they should be able to be overridden when necessary with conveniently located and intuitive interfaces. All controls should be maintainable by the facility staff, who should be trained on the equipment.
Fasken Calgary Photo credit: Eymeric Widling Photography Interior Design: iN Studio Manufacturers: Artemide, Luminii, Senso
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designing lighting
At the outset, owner requirements should be defined by creating a design document called the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR). The OPR will include the purpose of each facility and/or space, their operating schedules, applicable project codes and standards, integration needs, project goals (such as energy efficiency targets), and any preferred vendors. The OPR will often evolve throughout a project and become more detailed. At times, the OPR may not even exist, so the designer will be