Multifamily Lighting Clarifications In 2025 CA Energy Code

The 2025 California Energy Code (Title 24) clarifies lighting requirements for multifamily buildings. Here is a summary of the lighting changes:

• Updates mandatory requirements for dwelling units: all installed luminaires and light sources to meet JA8 criteria; removes Table 160.5-A and references. Section 160.5(a)1A
• Clarifies lighting integral to kitchen range hoods and bathroom exhaust fans do not require dimming controls. Section 160.5(a)2F
• Updates and clarifies mandatory common area lighting requirements:
  • Manual controls to be located such that controlled lighting or status can be seen when operating controls. Section 160.5(b)4A
  • Multilevel controls must provide and enable continuous dimming from 100 to 10 percent or lower; removes Table 160.5-B; Exception 3 allows HID and induction luminaires to have one control step between 30 and 70 percent. Section 160.5(b)4B
  • Occupant-sensing controls must have no more than 20-minute time delay; Exception 4 applies only to emergency lighting intended to function only when normal power is absent. Section 160.5(b)4Ci
  • Lighting in restaurants does not require automatic holiday shut-off feature with automatic time-switch controls. Section 160.5(b)4Civ
  • Occupancy sensing control zones for offices greater than 250 square feet must be shown on plans. Section 160.5(b)4Cvi
  • Daylight responsive controls are now required in daylit zones with 75 watts or more of general lighting; luminaires longer than 8 feet must be controlled in segments up to 8 feet; Exception 3 applies to secondary sidelit daylit zones with less than 85W of general lighting from daylight responsive controls, when primary sidelit daylit zones do not require daylight responsive controls. Section 160.5(b)4D
  • Control interactions for occupied-standby space-conditioning zones. Section 160.5(b)4F
• Clarifies which outdoor luminaires require motion sensors. Section 160.5(c)2Ci
• Removes prescriptive Tailored Method of calculating lighting power allowances in common use areas; some allowances moved to Area Category Method. Section 170.2(e)3D and 4B
• Removes most automatically compliant, sign light sources. Section 170.2(e)7B

Source

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and Senior Business Development Consultant at Capacity Consulting, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has been co-chair of the ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

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