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Utah Adopts the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code; Effective Now

San Jose, Calif., September 24, 2019 – Utah recently passed its Construction Code Modifications bill, updating the commercial building energy efficiency code from the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) to the 2018 IECC effective July 1, 2019.

The adoption to the 2018 IECC permits the use of the ASHRAE/IES 90.1-2016 standard, giving building owners and design teams an alternative compliance path to the 2018 IECC. Any plans submitted for permitting on or after the effective date are required to follow 2018 IECC new energy code requirements.

The updated code will increase energy efficiency and lower energy operation costs for commercial buildings. Harold Jepsen, Vice President of Standards and Industry Affairs, Building Control Systems at Legrand, has outlined important lighting control changes in the code as well as recommended solutions that meet these requirements.

Lighting Control Provision Changes
  • Occupancy sensor control shut off time delay is lowered to 20 minutes from 30 minutes.
  • Occupancy sensor controls for lighting shut off are required for open plan offices. Additionally, open plan offices must limit the size of the occupancy sensor-controlled area to separate 600 square foot zones. When occupancy is no longer detected in these individual zones, general lighting must automatically shut off or reduced by at least 80 percent. When all individual lighting zones no longer detect occupants, the entire open office space must shut general lighting completely off.
  • A new code provision addresses the use of Luminaire Level Lighting Control (LLLC) technologies as an alternate lighting control option as long as the luminaires have embedded occupancy sensors, daylight sensing controls, dimming, wireless zoning capability, along with other setpoint and adjustment parameters.
  • An exception was made that allows a trade-off for daylighting controls that requires an overall reduction of total building lighting power allowance equal to 40 percent of the allowed power for any daylight responsive zones using the exception.
Additional Code Changes
Two more measure options were added to the Additional Efficiency Package Options, increasing the compliance choices from six options to eight. One added measure is to increase building envelope performance and the second measure is for reduced air infiltration. Neither of the two lighting specific efficiency options were changed from the 2015 IECC code.

Solutions
Legrand is prepared to assist with the new code by offering compliant products and solutions, including Wattstopper Digital Lighting Management (DLM) system products:
  • ​​​​​​​ In open plan office areas, products like the LMDC-100 low profile Dual Technology Ceiling Mount Occupancy Sensor are ideal where using just one detection technology could result in false triggers.
  • A wide range of Wattstopper occupancy sensors - including the LMPC-100 low profile Digital PIR Ceiling Mount Occupancy Sensor (with room controller) - automatically turns lighting on and off based on occupancy. In addition, the NEW DCLV2 0-10V Decorator Dimmer, which controls and dims low voltage lighting loads, can be set for Manual-On or Partial-On to meet code.
  • Automatic daylight-responsive controls like the Wattstopper LMLS-500 photosensors automatically switch or dim lighting based on ambient light and/or daylight levels.
ResourcesLyle W Williams Company
1303 Swaner Road Suite A
Salt Lake City, Utah 84104801-975-7600

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About Legrand and Legrand, North and Central America
Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for use in commercial, industrial, and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. Drawing on an approach that involves all teams and stakeholders, Legrand is pursuing its strategy of profitable and sustainable growth driven by acquisitions and innovation, with a steady flow of new offerings—including connected products stemming from Legrand’s global Eliot (Electricity and IoT) program. Legrand reported sales of around $6.2 billion (USD) in 2017. Legrand has a strong presence in North and Central America, with a portfolio of well-known market brands and product lines that includes AFCO Systems, C2G, Cablofil, Chief, Da-Lite, Electrorack, Finelite, Kenall, Luxul, Middle Atlantic Products, Milestone AV, Nuvo, OCL, On-Q, Ortronics, Pass & Seymour, Pinnacle, Projecta, QMotion, Quiktron, Raritan, Sanus, Server Technology, Solarfective, Vaddio, Vantage, Wattstopper, and Wiremold. Legrand is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component stock of indexes including the CAC40, www.legrand.us.

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Media Contact:
Mary Placido, Legrand Building Control Systems
415-218-3627
mary.placido@legrand.us