The exterior lighting requirements provide lighting power density (LPD) limits for the various exterior applications expected to be found as part of commercial building installations. These LPDs are separated into two types of applications: tradable and non-tradable.
Tradable area allowances are calculated for each application based on the length or area of the application and then summed to provide a total allowance for all of those tradable applications. This total allowed wattage can then be used in any manner among the tradable applications.
2006 IECC: Tradable Exterior Lighting Areas and LPDs
Attached canopy |
1.25 |
ft2 |
Driveway1 |
0.15 |
ft2 |
Free standing canopy |
1.25 |
ft2 |
Main entry/exit |
30 |
ft of door width |
Other entry/exit |
20 |
ft of door width |
Outdoor sales area/lot2 |
0.5 |
ft2 |
Parking area(s)1 |
0.15 |
ft2 |
Plaza area |
0.2 |
ft2 |
Special feature area |
0.2 |
ft2 |
Stairway |
1.0 |
ft2 |
Vehicle sales street frontage |
20 |
ft |
Walkway < 10 feet wide |
1.0 |
ft |
Walkway >= 10 feet wide |
0.2 |
ft2 |
The non-tradable applications function on a use-it-or-lose-it basis. Each of these applications has a specific allowance that can only be used for that application and cannot be "traded" to other applications.
2006 IECC: Non-tradable Exterior Lighting Areas and LPDs
ATM/Depository site3 |
90 |
machine(s) + 180 per site |
Drive-up window4 |
400 |
window(s) |
Emergency services, uncovered loading area |
0.5 |
ft2 |
Guarded facility, uncovered entrance/inspection area |
1.25 |
ft2 |
Illuminated wall or surface area5 |
0.2 |
ft2 |
Illuminated wall or surface length5 |
5.0 |
ft |
Parking near 24-hour retail entrance |
800 |
main entry(s) |
There is also a 5% supplemental allowance. It is an additional allowance of 5% of the total allowed wattage for both tradable and non-tradable applications. This 5% can be used for any application or combination of applications.
1 "Driveways" and "parking area(s)" is meant to include any minor medians and separation strips that are included within the parking area.
2 "Outdoor sales area/lot" applies to any permanently planned outdoor sales activity including vehicles.
3 "Illuminated wall or surface area/length" provides two methods for compliance. Use either W/ft2 of surface to be illuminated OR W/linear foot of the ground or base length of the surface (base/ground edge only - not entire perimeter).
4 The "ATM/Depository site" allowance is applied as 270 W per location, which includes one machine in that specific location and an additional 90 W for each additional machine in that location. The first machine at each of two separate locations (i.e. opposite sides or ends of the building) would get the initial 270 W per location. This is also the same as applying 180 W for each ATM type location and an additional 90 W for each machine at each location.
5 "Drive-up window" applies to all drive-up windows regardless of its application (i.e. restaurants, pharmacies, banks, etc.)
2009/2012 IECC: Exterior lighting requirements vary by exterior lighting zone.
Exterior Lighting Zones
LIGHTING ZONE |
DESCRIPTION |
1 |
Developed areas of national parks, state parks, forest land, and rural areas |
2 |
Areas predominantly consisting of residential zoning, neighborhood business districts, light industrial with limited nighttime use and residential mixed use areas |
3 |
All other areas |
4 |
High-activity commercial districts in major metropolitan areas as designated by the local land use planning authority |
2009/2012 IECC: Tradable Exterior Lighting Areas and LPDs
2009/2012 IECC: Non-tradable Exterior Lighting Areas and LPDs
The additional base site allowance provided based on exterior lighting zone may be used in tradable or non-tradable surfaces. COMcheck refers to the base allowance as the "supplemental allowance".
To identify an exempt feature, first make sure Exterior Lighting Exemptions is checked in the Options menu. To use the optional exemptions feature, click the mouse on the Exemption column of that fixture. A list will be displayed giving you a choice of the types of exemptions available under the code. Select the type of exemption that applies to the fixture type. When a set of lighting fixtures is identified as exempt, the power for the fixtures is omitted from the wattage total.
Fixtures used for the following purposes may be treated as exempt:
Advertising or directional signage
Athletic playing areas
Highlighting public monuments
Highlighting registered historical landmark structures
Industrial production (incl. storage)
Manufacturer installed as part of equipment or instruments
Material handling (incl. storage)
Temporary lighting
Theatrical applications (performance, stage, film, video)
Theme/amusement park elements
Transportation marker, signal, and directional lighting
Transportation sites (incl. storage)