This Part contains Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions for compliance with Part J1. It sets out provisions for the design and configuration of artificial lighting and power, boiling and chilled water units, lifts and escalators and moving walkways.
Notes
From 1 May 2023 to 30 September 2023 Section J of NCC 2019 Volume One Amendment 1 may apply instead of Section J of NCC 2022 Volume One. From 1 October 2023 Section J of NCC 2022 Volume One applies.
Notes: New South Wales Section J Energy Efficiency
For a Class 2 building or a Class 4 part of a building, where a relevant development consent or an application for a complying development certificate requires compliance with a BASIX Single Dwelling or Multi Dwelling Certificate issued under Version 3.0 or earlier, NSW Section J of NCC 2019 Volume One Amendment 1 applies.
For a Class 2 building or a Class 4 part of a building, where a relevant development consent or an application for a complying development certificate requires compliance with a BASIX Single Dwelling or Multi Dwelling Certificate issued under Version 4.0 or later, Section J of NCC 2022 Volume One applies.
For a Class 2 building or a Class 4 part of a building, where a relevant development consent or an application for a complying development certificate requires compliance with a BASIX Alterations and Additions Certificate, NSW Section J of NCC 2019 Volume One Amendment 1 applies.
For a Class 3 building or Class 5 to 9 building:
From 1 May 2023 to 30 September 2023 NSW Section J of NCC 2019 Volume One Amendment 1 may apply instead of Section J of NCC 2022 Volume One.
From 1 October 2023 Section J of NCC 2022 Volume One applies.
Notes: Tasmania Section J Energy Efficiency
In Tasmania, for a Class 2 building and Class 4 part of a building, Section J is replaced with Section J of BCA 2019 Amendment 1.
J7D3, J7D4, and J7D6(1)(b) do not apply to Class 8 electricity network substations. The safety of workers requires manual lighting controls for inspection and maintenance activities of hazardous high voltage equipment.
J7D3
Artificial lighting
2019: J6.2
(1) In a sole-occupancy unit of a Class 2 building or a Class 4 part of a building—
when designing the lamp power density or illumination power density, the power of the proposed installation must be used rather than nominal allowances for exposed batten holders or luminaires; and
halogen lamps must be separately switched from fluorescent lamps.
NSW J7D3 Artificial lighting2019: J6.2
Delete subclause J7D3(1) and insert J7D3(1) as follows:
(1) This subclause does not apply in NSW.
(2) In a building other than a sole-occupancy unit of a Class 2 building or a Class 4 part of a building—
for artificial lighting, the aggregate design illumination power load must not exceed the sum of the allowances obtained by multiplying the area of each space by the maximum illumination power density in Table J7D3a; and
the aggregate design illumination power load in (a) is the sum of the design illumination power loads in each of the spaces served; and
where there are multiple lighting systems serving the same space, the design illumination power load for (b) is—
the total illumination power load of all systems; or
where a control system permits only one system to operate at a time based on the highest illumination power load; or determined by the formula—
In the formula at (c)(ii)—
= the highest illumination power load; and
= the time for which the maximum illumination power load will occur, expressed as a percentage; and
= the predominant illumination power load.
NSW J7D3 Artificial lighting2019: J6.2
Delete subclause J7D3(2) and insert J7D3(2) as follows:
(2) In a Class 3 or Class 5 to 9 building—
for artificial lighting, the aggregate design illumination power load must not exceed the sum of the allowances obtained by multiplying the area of each space by the maximum illumination power density in Table J7D3a; and
the aggregate design illumination power load in (a) is the sum of the design illumination power loads in each of the spaces served; and
where there are multiple lighting systems serving the same space, the design illumination power load for (b) is—
the total illumination power load of all systems; or
where a control system permits only one system to operate at a time based on the highest illumination power load; or determined by the formula—
In the formula at (c)(ii)—
= the highest illumination power load; and
= the time for which the maximum illumination power load will occur, expressed as a percentage; and
= the predominant illumination power load.
(3) The requirements of (1) and (2) do not apply to the following:
Emergency lighting provided in accordance with Part E4.
Signage, display lighting within cabinets and display cases that are fixed in place.
Lighting for accommodation within the residential part of a detention centre.
A heater where the heater also emits light, such as in bathrooms.
Lighting of a specialist process nature such as in a surgical operating theatre, fume cupboard or clean workstation.
Lighting of performances such as theatrical or sporting.
Lighting for the permanent display and preservation of works of art or objects in a museum or gallery other than for retail sale, purchase or auction.
Lighting installed solely to provide photosynthetically active radiation for indoor plant growth on green walls and the like.
for an illuminance not more than 80 lx, 2 W/m2; and
for an illuminance more than 80 lx and not more than 160 lx, 2.5 W/m2; and
for an illuminance more than 160 lx and not more than 240 lx, 3 W/m2; and
for an illuminance more than 240 lx and not more than 320 lx, 4.5 W/m2; and
for an illuminance more than 320 lx and not more than 400 lx, 6 W/m2; and
for an illuminance more than 400 lx and not more than 600 lx, 10 W/m2; and
for an illuminance more than 600 lx and not more than 800 lx, 11.5 W/m2.
For enclosed spaces with a Room Aspect Ratio of less than 1.5, the maximum illumination power density may be increased by dividing it by an adjustment factor for room aspect which is 0.5 + (Room Aspect Ratio/3).
The Room Aspect Ratio of the enclosed space is determined by the formula: A/(H x C), where—
A is the area of the enclosed space; and
H is the height of the space measured from the floor to the highest part of the ceiling; and
C is the perimeter of the enclosed space at floor level.
Daylight sensor and dynamic lighting control device - dimmed or stepped switching of lights adjacent windowsNotes 3 and 5
In a Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9b building or a Class 9a building, other than a ward area, where the lights are adjacent windows, other than roof lights, for a distance from the window equal to the depth of the floor to window head height
0.5 Note 3
Daylight sensor and dynamic lighting control device - dimmed or stepped switching of lights adjacent windowsNotes 3 and 5
Serving a Class 3 or 9c building, or a Class 9a ward area, where the lights are adjacent windows, other than roof lights, for a distance from the window equal to the depth of the floor to window head height
0.75 Note 3
Daylight sensor and dynamic lighting control device - dimmed or stepped switching of lights adjacent windowsNotes 3 and 5
In a Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9b building or a Class 9a building, other than a ward area, where the lights are adjacent roof lights
0.6 Note 3
Daylight sensor and dynamic lighting control device - dimmed or stepped switching of lights adjacent windowsNotes 3 and 5
In a Class 3 or 9c building, or a Class 9a ward area, where the lights are adjacent roof lights
0.8 Note 3
Table Notes
A maximum of two illumination power density adjustment factors for a control device can be applied to an area.
Where more than one illumination power density adjustment factor (other than for room aspect) applies to an area, they are to be combined using the following formula: A x (B + [(1 - B)/2]), where—
To set the minimum requirements for the level of interior artificial lighting.
J7D3(1) - Sole-occupancy units of Class 2 buildings or a Class 4 part
There are two approaches available for the sole-occupancy units of residential buildings in J7D3(1)(a).They are a lamp power density approach or an illumination power density approach. The former is simpler while the latter provides considerably more flexibility for a dwelling with sophisticated lighting control systems. 5 W/m2 for inside a dwelling is the criterion in both approaches.
Lamp power density is the simpler means of setting energy consumption at an efficient level for sole-occupancy units of Class 2 buildings or a Class 4 part of a building. It is a defined term and is calculated by adding the maximum power ratings of all the permanently wired lamps in a space and dividing this sum by the area of the space. With this approach there are no concessions for using timers, motion detectors or other control devices.
If the illumination power density approach is used the 5 W/m2 can be increased by dividing it by the illumination power density adjustment factor in Table J7D3b where applicable. This more complex approach has been included as an increasing number of dwellings are using sophisticated control systems in order to reduce their energy consumption.
Lamps plugged into general purpose socket outlets are excluded through the definition of lamp power density and illumination power density because of the difficulty in regulating such portable appliances.
When illumination power density and one or more control devices are used, the adjustment factor is only applied to the space(s) served by the control device. The adjusted allowance for this space is then combined with the allowances for the remaining spaces using an area weighted average, which subsequently increases the allowance provided in J7D3(1)(a)(i) or (ii).
The area of the space refers to the area the lights serve. This could be considered a single room, open plan space, verandah, balcony or the like, or the total area of all these spaces.
To comply with J7D3(1)(a), the design lamp power density or design illumination power density must be less than or equal to the allowance. Trading of allowances between J7D3(1)(a)(i) and (ii) is not permitted.
J7D3(1)(a)(ii) includes outdoor living spaces such as verandahs, balconies, patios, alfresco spaces or the like that are attached to a sole-occupancy unit of a Class 2 building or Class 4 part of a building.
J7D3(1)(c) requires the power of the proposed installation to be used and may mean the light fittings be specified or some other administrative condition be applied.
J7D3(1)(d) requires the less efficient halogen lamps to be separately switched from fluorescent lamps. This is because the halogens may not be needed all the time but would have to be on if they were controlled by the same switch as the more efficient fluorescent.
J7D3(2) - Buildings except for sole-occupancy units of Class 2 buildings or a Class 4 part
J7D3(2) covers other building classifications. Requirements for these types of buildings are more detailed than the requirements for sole-occupancy units of Class 2 buildings or a Class 4 part, in order to cater for the greater range of applications.
Where lamp power density or illumination power density may be used for sole-occupancy units in Class 2 buildings or a Class 4 part of a building, only illumination power density (IPD) can be used to measure compliance for all other applications.
Lighting in non-residential commercial buildings is progressively moving towards the use of LED lamps for general lighting and for special lighting. At present other lamps are available, but because of the shift to LED lamps for general lighting, the illumination power density levels in Part J7 reflect this newer technology. The aggregated design illumination load is the maximum load in the lamp’s operational cycle.
J7D3(2)(a) describes the process for determining the illumination power allowance for artificial lighting, however it does not apply to the sole-occupancy units of a Class 2 building or a Class 4 part of a building.
Illumination power density values
The maximum values in Table J7D3a have been derived on the basis of a lighting design complying with the recommendations of AS 1680 for the nature of the task, including an allowance for a safety margin in design and the physical limitation of placing a discrete number of fittings in a uniform array. The maintained illuminance will be designed to suit the use of the area and again is based on the illuminance levels in AS 1680 or an equivalent document from an overseas standards organisation. However, the levels are not being controlled by Section J; only the power allowance for achieving the desired illuminance.
Guide Table J7D3 shows how some of the illumination power density values correspond to the lighting levels of AS 1680. The allowance is for the power supply to the lighting.
The values have been generally set at a level that can be achieved with reasonable surface reflectances, direct (rather than indirect) lighting, and low loss control gear. The use of the space has also been taken into account. However, Performance Solutions, developed to the satisfaction of the local building control authority, can be used for spaces that have complex or specific lighting needs. AS 1680.1 includes scenarios of where it may be appropriate for higher illumination levels. Where higher illumination levels can be justified to the local building control authority, a Performance Solution based on the notes to Table J7D3a could be developed.
Alternatively, energy saved by more efficientbuilding services or through the installation of on-site renewable energy systems may also be used to increase the allowances for lighting, again subject to the approval of the local building control authority.
There are two levels for offices. General open areas that are lit to more than 200 lx may use 4.5 W/m2. For offices lit to less than 200 lx, where task lighting is intended to supplement the general lighting, the maximum for the generallighting is only 2.5 W/m2.
The table provides values based on the illuminance level.
Illumination power density adjustment factors
It is recognised that there are many variables in lighting that limit the ability to achieve the maximum illumination power density. One is the size of the room and so note 2 of Table J7D3a explains how the illumination power density may be increased for small rooms. A further series of adjustment factors have been included in Table J7D3b and Table J7D3c that allow credit for additional energy control devices or to allow the use of high Colour Rendition Lights.
The adjustment factors are applied to the maximum illumination power density in Table J7D3a. This means that if a designer chooses to use a less efficient light source or luminaire, compliance can be achieved by the use of a supplementary control device such as an occupancy sensor or photoelectric device.
Occupancy sensors representant efficient way of tailoring the lighting to the usage of the space. The fewer lights that are controlled by an individual sensor the greater the energy saved,however, there is less cost saving on the energyto offset the cost of the sensor. Therefore, there is a graduated scale of adjustment factors for the area of lights controlled.
For lecture theatres,auditoria and large spaces of transient usage, the contribution of detectors should be assessed using a Performance Solution rather than the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.
Table J7D3: Illumination power density values as they correspond to the lighting levels of AS 1680
Location
AS 1680 recommended illuminance, Ix
Maximum illumination power density W/m2
Auditorium, church and public hall
160
8
Board room and conference room
240
5
Carpark - general
40
2
Carpark – entry zone (first 15 m of travel)
800
11.5
Carpark – entry zone (next 4 m of travel) during daytime
160
2.5
Carpark – entry zone (first 20 m of travel) during night-time
160
2.5
Common rooms, spaces and corridors in a Class2 building
160
4.5
Control room, switch room and the like – intermittent monitoring
160
3
Control room, switch room and the like – constant monitoring
240
4.5
Corridors
240
5
Courtroom
320
4.5
Entry lobby from outside building
160
9
Health-care – infants’ and children’s ward and emergency department
240
4
Health-care – examination room
400
4.5
Health-care – examination room in intensive care and high dependency ward
400
6
Health-care – all other patient care areas including wards and corridors
240
2.5
Kitchen and food preparation areas
240
4
Laboratory - lit to 400 lx or more
400
6
Library – stack and shelving area
240
2.5
Library – reading room and general areas
320
4.5
Lounge area for communal use in a Class 3 or 9c building
240
4.5
Museum and gallery - circulation, cleaning and service lighting
240
2.5
Office – artificially lit to an ambient level of 200 lx or more
320
4.5
Office – artificially lit to an ambient level of <200 lx
160
2.5
Plant room where an average of 160 lx vertical illuminance is required on a vertical plane
160
4
Plant room with a horizontal illuminance target of 80 lx
80
2
Restaurant, café, bar, hotel lounge and a space for the serving and consumption of food or drinks
80
14
Retail space including a museum and gallery whose purpose is the sale of objects
160
14
School - generalpurpose learning areas and tutorial rooms
320
4.5
Sole-occupancy unit of a Class3 or 9c building
160
5
Storage
80
1.5
Service area, cleaners room and the like
80
1.5
Toilet, locker room,staff room, rest room and the like
80
3
Wholesale storage areawith a vertical illuminance target of 160 lx
160
4
Stairways, including fire-isolated stairways
80
2
Lift cars
160
3
J7D4
Interior artificial lighting and power control
2019: J6.3
(1) All artificial lighting of a room or space must be individually operated by–
a switch; or
other control device; or
a combination of (a) and (b).
(2) An occupant activated device, such as a room security device, a motion detector in accordance with Specification 40, or the like, must be provided in the sole-occupancy unit of a Class 3 building, other than where providing accommodation for people with a disability or the aged, to cut power to the artificial lighting, air-conditioner, local exhaust fans and bathroom heater when the sole-occupancy unit is unoccupied.
(3) An artificial lighting switch or other control device in (1) must—
if an artificial lighting switch, be located in a visible and easily accessed position—
in the room or space being switched; or
in an adjacent room or space from where 90% of the lighting being switched is visible; and
for other than a single functional space such as an auditorium, theatre, swimming pool, sporting stadium or warehouse—
if in a Class 5 building or a Class 8 laboratory, not operate lighting for an area of more than 250 m2; or
if in a Class 3, 6, 7, 8 (other than a laboratory) or 9 building, not operate lighting for an area of more than—
250 m2 for a space of not more than 2000 m2; or
1000 m2 for a space of more than 2000 m2.
(4) 95% of the light fittings in a building or storey of a building, other than a Class 2 or 3 building or a Class 4 part of a building, of more than 250 m2 must be controlled by—
(5) In a Class 5, 6 or 8 building of more than 250 m2, artificial lighting in a natural lighting zone adjacent to windows must be separately controlled from artificial lighting not in a natural lighting zone in the same storey except where—
the room containing the natural lighting zone is less than 20 m2; or
the room’s natural lighting zone contains less than 4 luminaires; or
70% or more of the luminaires in the room are in the natural lighting zone.
must be controlled by a daylight sensor and dynamic lighting control device in accordance with Specification 40.
(8) Artificial lighting for daytime travel in the first 19 m of travel in a carpark entry zone must be controlled by a daylight sensor in accordance with Specification 40.
(9) The requirements of (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) do not apply to the following:
Where artificial lighting is needed for 24 hour occupancy such as for a manufacturing process, parts of a hospital, an airport control tower or within a detention centre.
(10) The requirements of (4) do not apply to the following:
Artificial lighting in a space where the sudden loss of artificial lighting would cause an unsafe situation such as—
in a patient care area in a Class 9a building or in a Class 9c building; or
a plant room or lift motor room; or
a workshop where power tools are used.
A heater where the heater also emits light, such as in bathrooms.
J7D4 Interior artificial lighting and power control
To set the minimum requirements for switches and other lighting control devices.
The lighting control requirements are directed at enabling occupants to save energy on lighting and power when the space is not occupied or the service is not needed.
J7D4(1) requires each room or space to be individually switched or controlled. This is to ensure that when lighting to a small area is required, lighting to a larger area is not also activated.
J7D4(2) requires that an occupant activated device be installed in a sole-occupancy unit of a Class 3 building, based on the likelihood that guests may not switch off the power when leaving the room.
This power includes the lighting, air-conditioning, exhaust fans and bathroom heatingwhen the room is not occupied. The control device is not detailed so the requirements can be met by various systems such as a security device like a room key slot at the door, a motion detector, or any device or system that can monitor the occupancy of the unit. For the purpose of applying this provision, occupancy should be taken as the physical presence of people in the room rather than having someone registered or checked into the unit.
J7D4(3) requires lighting to be locally switched from a position that is visible in the room or in an adjacent room. If the controls are in an adjacent room, then the lighting that is controlled must be visible from the switching position. This is to reduce the possibility of lighting being left on in unoccupied areas because it cannot be seen.
Most buildings are required to have local control of the lighting in manageable blocks. This is to avoid the situation where a large area of lighting has to be switched on when only a small area is required, simply because there is no subdivision of the switching area. Buildings with lighting that is likely to be totally on or totally off, such as a theatre or swimming pool, are exempted.
J7D4(4) requires a non-residential building or storey (i.e. other than a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2 or 3 and Class 4 part) over 250 m2 to have controls to prevent most of the lighting being left on 24 hours a day. This can be a time switch oroccupancy sensor. The time switching has to comply with Specification 40. Simple manual override switches or bypass switches are not allowed as they give the ability to permanently disable the control. The time switch control does not preclude the need for local control.
J7D4(5) applies to only certain buildings and specifically to switching the lights near windows.
J7D4(6) requires the artificial lighting in fire-isolated stairways, passageways and ramps to be controlled by motion detectors. Note that this does not apply to emergency lighting required in accordance with Part E4.
J7D5
Interior decorative and display lighting
2019: J6.4
(1) Interior decorative and display lighting, such as for a foyer mural or art display, must be controlled—
separately from other artificial lighting; and
by a manual switch for each area other than when the operating times of the displays are the same in a number of areas such as in a museum, art gallery or the like, in which case they may be combined; and
by a time switch in accordance with Specification 40 where the display lighting exceeds 1 kW.
(2) Window display lighting must be controlled separately from other display lighting.
To set the minimum requirements for controlling decorative and display lighting.
These are additional control requirements for decorative and display lighting as distinct from those for other artificial lighting in a space.
J7D6
Exterior artificial lighting
2019: J6.5
(1) Exterior artificial lighting attached to or directed at the facade of a building, must—
be controlled by—
a daylight sensor; or
a time switch that is capable of switching on and off electric power to the system at variable pre-programmed times and on variable pre-programmed days; and
when the total lighting load exceeds 100 W—
use LED luminaires for 90% of the total lighting load; or
be controlled by a motion detector in accordance with Specification 40; or
when used for decorative purposes, such as façade lighting or signage lighting, have a separate time switch in accordance with Specification 40.
(2) The requirements of (1)(b) do not apply to the following:
To set the minimum requirements for exterior artificial lighting.
It is not practical to apply illumination power density to external lighting in the same way as it has been applied to internal lighting because it is difficult to define the relevant area for all situations. The requirements are therefore aimed at ensuring efficient light sources are used or that the lighting only operates when it is required.
All external lighting must be controlled by either a daylight sensor or time switch.
J7D7
Boiling water and chilled water storage units
2019: J6.6
Power supply to a boiling water or chilled water storage unit must be controlled by a time switch in accordance with Specification 40.
J7D7 Boiling water and chilled water storage units
To set the minimum requirements for controlling boiling water and chilled water storage units.
A time switch is required for boiling water and chilled water storage units that continually maintain water at temperature because they can waste energy overnight and during weekends. This clause is not intended to apply to units that heat or chill water as it is being drawn off.
J7D8
Lifts
2019: J6.7
Lifts must—
be configured to ensure artificial lighting and ventilation in the car are turned off when it is unused for 15 minutes; and
achieve the idle and standby energy performance level in Table J7D8a; and
To set the minimum energy efficiency requirements for lifts.
The intent of this provision is to ensure lifts that are expected to have high frequency usage are the most efficient.
A lower energy rating has been allowed for dedicated goods lifts, i.e. a lift used for carrying goods or materials and in which only the attendant and the persons required to load and unload are intended (or permitted) to travel. This is in recognition that these lifts have different requirements than passenger lifts.
J7D9
Escalators and moving walkways
2019: J6.8
Escalators and moving walkways must have the ability to slow to between 0.2 m/s and 0.05 m/s when unused for more than 15 minutes.