Final Design

This is the step in which specific lighting and lighting controls products are selected and located on the plans. These are the primary goals to accomplish during the final design phase: Provide a reliable, correctly-operating system Provide lighting flexibility where it is needed Design a system that is convenient to use and to maintain Satisfy the occupants Reduce the needed capacity of the HVAC system Minimize energy consumption Satisfy security needs Bring the project in on time and within budget The main steps in the actual design process are:

•  Design Controls for Each Area
•  Compile Construction Documents

This is the step during which controls are in the most danger of being cut. See the Kansas City New Zoo project for an example of how this can happen.

Design Controls for Each Area

The first step is to systematically evaluate all the parameters involved in the design in light of the design goals. For each area, you need to determine which components will be most appropriate. At the same time, you need to decide on the optimum placement for each component. Seek assistance from the control manufacturer. Many controls manufacturers are more than willing to help make sure you've selected the appropriate devices for each area, that your control scheme will work. They'll also give you wiring diagrams to give to the contractor — and best of all; most of them will do it for free!

Select Products
Depending on the relative importance of the several factors, select appropriate components and test the integrated design to see if it will satisfy the goals.

Types of Controls
For more information on the various types of controls, see the "Descriptions" section of the Advisor.

Control Voltage
Some controls can be hooked to line-voltage power, and others must be connected to low-voltage (DC) power. For a new building, both are possibilities, but for a partial renovation, it may be beneficial to use low-voltage controls.

Typical Coverage Patterns (Applies to Occupancy Sensors)
There are several different kinds of coverage patterns and mounting configurations for occupancy sensors, such as:

•  ceiling mounted controls with 360° coverage
•  ceiling mounted controls with elongated "corridor" coverage
•  wall mounted controls with a fan-shaped coverage pattern
•  ceiling mounted controls with a rectangular coverage pattern
•  and more!

Take note of the difference between each device's sensitivity to minor motion (working at a desk) vs. major motion (walking or half-step activity). The manufacturer should provide coverage diagrams for both levels of activity.

Ballast/Control Compatibility

Fluorescent fixtures which are intended to be dimmed require special dimming ballasts. There are several kinds of control systems, and likewise, and there are several varieties of dimming ballasts.

Electronic ballasts have replaced magnetic ballasts as the industry's standard. Electronic ballasts are 10% to 20% more efficient than the best "energy saving" magnetic ballasts. Replacing magnetic ballasts with electronic ballasts provides a quick payback. And, the frequency of electronic ballasts is much higher than for magnetic ballasts, eliminating the annoying hum and flicker sometimes caused by magnetic ballasts.

Many lighting designers believe that electronic dimming ballasts will be the "future standard" for fluorescent lighting.

Locate Products on Plans

As you locate the controls, ask yourself these questions:

•  Is the placement appropriate?

  Click here for room-by-room ideas for control placement.

  Make sure the controls are easy to locate and to access. Don't put them in a closet that might be locked.

  Use appropriate controls for each space. Note that the locations of partitions and walls will affect the coverage patterns of sensors. Also pay attention to the locations of doors, air vents, and vibrating machinery. To avoid false triggering, make sure that the sensor coverage will not extend beyond the controlled space. Check for high ceilings. Check that nothing besides the occupants will trigger the sensor, and that the movements of the occupants will always be detected, even if the movements are minute. Seek the manufacturer's assistance if necessary.

•  Are the controls easy to use? Easy to maintain?

  Check that the controlled lighting can be seen from the control panel or switch location. Otherwise, occupants will have to yell to each other "Is that good? Is it dim enough?!" If the controls adapt to the normal behavior of people, they will be accepted. If not, they will be rejected.

  Make the control scheme simple. If controls aren't simple, they will not be used. Controls should make sense and provide flexibility to all users.

•  Have you considered security issues?

  In high security applications, occupancy sensors will indicate that people are preset wherever lights are on. It is also advisable that, in these areas, there should be no manual off option and sensors should be protected from tampering and vandalism.

Compile Construction Documents

A complete set of construction documents includes (but is not necessarily limited to):

•  Drawings, showing control locations, circuiting, and a control zone diagram to show which luminaires are controlled by which device and how the controls are interrelated.
•  Wiring diagrams for control components.
•  A schedule of controls, showing catalog numbers and descriptions of selected products (including all necessary power packs and accessories).
•  Written specifications for the control system, explaining the work and submittals included and clearly describing the approved equipment needed to achieve the desired results.
•   Click here for room-by-room ideas for control placement.

"Conceptual Design"		"Construction Observation"