Electrical Design Standard

SSOE, Inc.

Interior Lighting Systems

Issued:

Jan 2007

Standard revised:

DS-16-L001

Standard reaffirmed:
FOR SSOE USE ONLY - This document is the property of SSOE, Inc. The technical information herein may be disclosed only to those company employees who
need it in the performance of official duties. Reproduction or disclosure to others is prohibited.

Scope/Purpose:
This standard identifies the design criteria for interior lighting design in factory, office, and support
areas.
Cross Reference: (DS)
1.
DS-16-L003 - Emergency and Exit Lighting Systems
2.
DS-16-L004 - Lighting Fixtures
3.
DS-16-L005 - Lighting Control Equipment
4.
DS-16-P007 - Low Voltage Distribution Systems
Governing Codes and Standards:
1.
NEC - National Electrical Code
2.
IES - Illumination Engineering Society - Lighting Handbook
Special Considerations:
1.
Task lighting requirements should be identified where appropriate.
2.
Permanent fixture use as construction phase lighting should be considered.
3.
Accessibility for maintenance purposes should be a design consideration.
4.
Alternate phase connections of adjacent fixtures to avoid stroboscopic effects.
5.
This standard does not address special lighting requirements such as theatrical/stage lighting,
video conferencing, etc.
6.
Illumination levels outlined below are general guidelines. Always follow the clients standards
where they apply.
Design Standard:
1.

2.

General
1.1

Job conditions such as environmental factors, economics, and lighting requirements

shall determine the selection of specific lighting fixture types.

1.2

Lighting systems shall comply with applicable sections of the National Electrical Code
(NEC), particularly Article 410 for general areas and Articles 500 through 504 for
classified locations.

Lighting Level Calculation Criteria

2.1

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General lighting
2.1.1

Design footcandle levels shall be average maintained levels.

2.1.2

Manufacturing, utility, and material handling area lighting level calculations

shall be based on a 0.70 Light Loss Factor (LLF).

2.1.3

Office and cafeteria area lighting calculations shall be based on an LLF of

0.75.

2.1.4

Other areas which are not addressed in this standard shall be designed in

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accordance with criteria as stated by client or as recommended for the area

and activity by the current version of the Illuminating Engineering Society
(IES) Lighting Handbook. When IES standards are used to determine
illumination levels, the mid-range footcandle levels in the specific category
shall be used.
2.2

Task lighting
2.2.1

3.

Illumination levels and lighting types by area

3.1

3.2

3.3

4.

Design footcandle levels shall also be average maintained levels, using an

LLF of 0.70.

Manufacturing and Material Service Areas

3.1.1

40 to 50 footcandles (without equipment considerations)

3.1.2

Light sources shall be metal halide or fluorescent

Utility Areas
3.2.1

20 to 30 footcandles

3.2.2

Light sources shall be metal halide or fluorescent

Office Areas & Cafeterias

3.3.1

70 to 80 footcandles in offices and conference rooms

3.3.2

45 to 50 footcandles in computer/data processing rooms

3.3.3

45 to 50 footcandles in cafeterias

3.3.4

20 to 25 footcandles in corridors, restrooms and storage areas

3.3.5

Light sources shall be fluorescent

Lighting System Wiring (refer to DS-16-P007 & DS-16-L005 for additional information)
4.1

Panelboards
4.1.1

4.1.2

Manufacturing, Utility & Material Service Areas

A.

Lighting panelboards shall be column mounted type where feasible.

B.

Lighting panelboards shall be fed via lighting contactors controlled

by an energy management system.

Office Areas & Cafeterias

A.

4.1.3

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Surface mounted panelboards shall be utilized when located in

mechanical areas and recessed panelboards shall be used in
finished areas.

General and task lighting panelboards shall be 480Y/277 volt, 3 phase, 4

wire, 100 amp; dedicated to lighting, unless approved otherwise by the

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client.

4.2

4.3

5.

6.

4.1.4

Branch circuits for 120 volt incandescent lighting in pipe chases or similar
areas may be fed from a receptacle panelboard within the area.

4.1.5

Architectural lighting such as down lights or other types requiring 120 volts
may be fed from a receptacle panelboard.

Lighting branch circuit ratings.

4.2.1

277 volt circuits shall be fed via single pole 20 amp circuit breakers. Circuit
loading -4432 VA maximum.

4.2.2

120 volt circuits shall be fed via single pole 20 amp circuit breakers. Circuit
loading -1920 VA maximum.

Wiring System
4.3.1

In factory areas the standard wiring method shall be individual conductors in

rigid steel conduit, with ball type hangers and pendant mounted fixtures with
quick disconnect type connections. Alternates including chain hung fixtures,
flexible wiring systems, etc. must be approved by client on a project by
project basis. All fixtures utilizing conduit or chain pendants shall have a
safety cable from the fixture body to the support steel.

4.3.2

In office and cafeteria areas the standard wiring method shall be individual
conductors in electrical metal tubing, with junction boxes and flexible conduit
connections to each fixture. Alternates including, flexible manufactured
wiring systems, etc. must be approved by client on a project by project
basis.

Task Lighting
5.1

Task lighting shall be provided in man pit and maintenance pit areas. These fixtures
will only provide general low level illumination.

5.2

Task lighting along assembly lines or at designated production areas will require
higher levels of illumination.

5.3

In general task lighting shall be fluorescent, twin tube, and type T-8, 32 watt lamps
with 4100K color temperature.

5.4

The direction that each of these fixtures shall be aimed will be based upon the
specific task performed.

Lighting for Hazardous Areas

6.1

Hazardous areas shall be classified by Class, Division, Group, and Temperature

Rating as defined by the NEC.

6.2

Components of lighting systems shall be approved for use in hazardous areas.

Components shall be listed for the correct Class, Division, Group and Temperature
Rating as required by the area classification.

6.3

Construction drawings shall clearly delineate the boundaries of the classified areas,
both in plan view and cross section, with the Class, Division, Group and Temperature

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Rating of each area designated.

7.

Night lighting system

7.1

An appropriate number of light fixtures for a given area will be designated as night
lights (minimum of 10%). It will be the responsibility of the designer to determine
what is appropriate to provide enough light for walking areas and for watchmen and
security personnel, by consulting with client personnel during the design of lighting
systems.

7.2

Night-lights shall be connected to a dedicated circuit locked in the on position at the

panel.

7.3

Emergency lighting, required to illuminate the way of travel to a means of egress,

shall in most cases be sufficient to meet night lighting requirements (see DS-16L006).

Authoring Committee:
Bob Heimert, John Colley - SSOE
Approved:

Date:

Document Expiration Date:

This document will expire on January 2008. Document may be revised, reaffirmed or with drawn prior
to this date. Contact the committee listed above for the latest version.

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DS16L001