Title 24 · California Energy Code
Multilevel lighting controls, dimmers and interactions with space-conditioning systems
If you have a nonresidential space of 100 sq ft or more with lighting heavier than 0.5 W/ft², California’s code requires multilevel controls able to continuously dim from full to at least 10% and compliant dimmer hardware; occupancy sensors can also control HVAC only when the mechanical rules allow ventilation to be reduced to zero and the zone contains only occupancy‑sensed spaces. The mandatory text for these requirements is in **§ 130.1(b)** and **§ 130.1(f)**, and dimmer performance is specified in **§ 110.9(b)3**; the specific text of **§ 130.3(a)2** was not found in your uploaded files.
Last reviewed: July 6, 2026
What the code requires — 2-4 sentences
The California Energy Code requires that the general lighting in most nonresidential spaces of 100 square feet or larger with a connected lighting load greater than 0.5 watts per square foot be provided with multilevel lighting controls able to continuously dim from 100% to 10% (or lower) of lighting power (§ 130.1(b)) .
The Code also sets minimum performance for dimmers (minimum dim reduction, flicker, and zero-lumen OFF) in § 110.9(b)3 and requires daylight controls to allow multilevel systems to adjust continuously where daylighting rules apply (see § 130.1(d)) .
Finally, where an HVAC zone serves only spaces required to have occupant sensing controls and ventilation may be reduced to zero per Table 120.1‑A, the space‑conditioning system may be controlled by occupancy sensing as allowed in § 130.1(f) (referencing the control in Section 120.2(e)3) .
The single most important rule: if a space is ≥ 100 ft² and its connected lighting load is > 0.5 W/ft², it must get multilevel (continuous) dimming controls that let lighting go from full ON down to at least 10% power (§ 130.1(b)) .
Requirements in detail
Who/what triggers multilevel controls
- Trigger: space size ≥ 100 ft² AND connected lighting load > 0.5 W/ft² — then multilevel lighting controls are required (§ 130.1(b)) .
- Required capability: continuous dimming from 100% to 10% (or lower) of lighting power (§ 130.1(b)) .
Dimmers — performance requirements
- Minimum power reduction at lowest setting: 65% reduction (i.e., device must reduce power by ≥65% at lowest setting).
- Must provide reduced flicker (amplitude modulation < 30% for frequencies < 200 Hz) and an off position that produces zero lumen output.
These are specified in § 110.9(b)3 (dimmer performance) .
Occupant-sensor / HVAC interactions
- If a space-conditioning system zone serves only spaces that are required to have occupant sensing controls per § 130.1(c)5 and 6, and Table 120.1‑A allows ventilation air to be reduced to zero when the space is in occupied‑standby mode, then the HVAC system may be controlled by the occupancy sensing control specified in Section 120.2(e)3 — this allowance is in § 130.1(f) .
- In plain terms: where the mechanical ventilation rules permit it and the zone contains only spaces with the required occupancy sensors, occupancy sensors can send signals that affect HVAC operation (e.g., setback to occupied‑standby) as allowed by the referenced HVAC control section .
Daylight-responsive control interactions
- Where daylight controls are required, they must let the multilevel lighting control perform continuous dimming and must avoid reducing combined illuminance (electric + daylight) below the no-daylight electric-only level; in high daylight they require substantial reduction or OFF (90% reduction or 100% OFF in parking garages) — see § 130.1(d) for the daylight-control performance and interaction requirement that explicitly permits continuous multilevel adjustment .
Quick decision table
| Decision dimension | Key value / requirement | Code Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Space size threshold for multilevel | 100 ft² | § 130.1(b) |
| Connected lighting load threshold | > 0.5 W/ft² | § 130.1(b) |
| Required dimming range | 100% → 10% (or lower) continuous dimming | § 130.1(b) |
| Dimmer minimum reduction | ≥ 65% reduction at lowest setting | § 110.9(b)3 |
| Dimmer off requirement | Zero lumen output at OFF | § 110.9(b)3 |
| HVAC interaction allowed when | HVAC zone serves only occupancy‑sensed spaces AND Table 120.1‑A permits ventilation to 0 during occupied‑standby | § 130.1(f) (references § 120.2(e)3) |
Exceptions & special cases
- Single‑luminaire spaces: an indoor space with only one luminaire is exempt from § 130.1(b) multilevel control requirement (Exception 1 to § 130.1(b)) .
- Restrooms and healthcare facilities are explicitly excepted from the general multilevel requirement (Exceptions 2 & 3 to § 130.1(b)) .
- HID / induction general lighting: where HID or induction light sources are used, the general lighting shall instead have at least one control step between 30% and 70% of full rated power (Exception 4 to § 130.1(b)) — i.e., continuous 10% min is not required where impractical for those sources .
- Appendix/voluntary guidance: Appendix provisions (e.g., sign dimming in Appendix A6.209.6) recommend automatic sign dimming controls (65% reduction at night), but that is an appendix/voluntary standard and not the same as § 130.3(a)2; see Appendix A6.209.6 for those sign rules .
Note: I could not locate the text for § 130.3(a)2 in the uploaded files. The file set includes the table of contents showing 130.3 Sign Lighting Controls but the specific subsection (a)2 text is not present in the files you provided, so I cannot quote or ground any rule from § 130.3(a)2 here. The code references to sign lighting in the Appendix (A6.209.6) are available and cited above; the mandatory §130.3(a)2 text was not retrieved from your uploads .
Common mistakes
- Installing a dimmer device that does not meet the ≥65% minimum reduction or that does not produce zero lumen at OFF — verify device spec sheets against § 110.9(b)3 before installation .
- Assuming any manual switch + relay equals “multilevel” — § 130.1(b) requires continuous multilevel dimming (100→10%); mechanical two‑step switches are not compliant unless they provide the continuous dimming capability or meet an allowed exception .
- Failing to allow manual controls to override or reduce daylight‑set levels where manual controls are required — daylight controls must permit the multilevel control to adjust, but manual controls must be able to turn lights off or lower them below daylight settings as required in daylight control interaction language (see § 130.1(d)) .
- Not coordinating occupancy sensor zones with HVAC zoning rules — § 130.1(f) allows HVAC control by occupancy sensing only under the specific condition that the HVAC zone serves only occupancy‑sensed spaces and Table 120.1‑A allows ventilation to be reduced to zero; installers sometimes over‑apply occupancy control to mixed zones (not allowed) .
Worked example — concrete scenario
Scenario: An open office area of 1,200 ft² with a connected general lighting load of 1.0 W/ft² (total connected lighting = 1,200 W). The space is not a restroom and is not a healthcare space.
Step 1 — Is multilevel control required?
- Space ≥ 100 ft² and connected load 1.0 W/ft² > 0.5 W/ft² → Yes. Requirement: install multilevel lighting controls capable of continuous dimming 100% → 10% (or lower) per § 130.1(b) .
Step 2 — Dimmer selection:
- Choose dimmers complying with § 110.9(b)3: device must reduce power by ≥65% at the lowest setting and provide zero lumen at off; check flicker specs (<30% AM for <200 Hz) .
Step 3 — Occupant sensors & HVAC interaction:
- If the HVAC zone serves only this office area (and other spaces that also have the required occupant sensing controls) AND the mechanical rules (Table 120.1‑A) allow ventilation to be reduced to 0 during occupied‑standby, then the HVAC may be controlled by the occupancy sensors per § 130.1(f) (via § 120.2(e)3) — otherwise HVAC must follow standard mechanical control requirements and not be directly controlled by the lighting occupancy sensors .
Step 4 — Daylight controls (if this space has daylight zones):
- Daylight responsive controls must permit the multilevel control to do continuous dimming and must not lower combined illuminance below electric-only illuminance; where daylight is high the controlled lighting power may need to be reduced substantially or turned off per § 130.1(d) .
Related provisions
- § 130.1(b) — Multilevel lighting control trigger and dimming requirement (primary controlling section) .
- § 110.9(b)3 — Dimmers: minimum reduction, flicker and zero‑lumen OFF requirements (device performance) .
- § 130.1(d) — Daylight‑responsive control performance and interaction with multilevel systems (continuous dimming permitted/required interactions) .
- § 130.1(f) — Occupancy sensing controls’ interaction with space‑conditioning systems (HVAC control allowance when conditions are met) .
- Table 120.1‑A and § 120.2(e)3 — Mechanical/ventilation rules referenced by § 130.1(f) (these govern when ventilation can be reduced to zero and the HVAC occupancy control methods) — see referenced sections in the mechanical chapter (Table 120.1‑A itself was cited in § 130.1(f)) .
- Appendix A6.209.6 — Voluntary/appendix guidance for sign lighting dimming (65% nighttime reduction) — informative but not a mandatory §130.3(a)2 citation; included for context on sign dimming practices .
Code references
Grounded in the retrieved California Energy Code — click a citation to read the verbatim passage:
§ 130.1 High relevance — show source text
C. The daylight responsive controls shall meet the following: i. For spaces where the installation of multilevel lighting controls is required under Section 130.1(b), allow the multilevel lighting controls to adjust the light level with continuous dimming; ii. For each space, ensure the combined illuminance from the controlled lighting and daylight is not less than the illuminance from controlled lighting when no daylight is available; iii. For areas other than parking garages, ensure that, when the daylight illuminance is greater than 150 percent of the illuminance provided by the controlled lighting when no daylight is available, the controlled lighting power in that daylight zone shall be reduced by a minimum of 90 percent; and iv. For parking garages, ensure that when daylight illuminance levels measured at the farthest edge of the secondary sidelit zone away from the glazing or opening are greater than 150 percent of the illuminance provided by the controlled lighting when no daylight is available, the controlled lighting power in the combined primary and secondary sidelit daylit zones shall be reduced by 100 percent; and D. Photosensors shall be located so that they are not readily accessible to unauthorized personnel; and E. The location where calibration adjustments are made to the daylight responsive controls shall be readily accessible to authorized personnel but may be inside a locked case or under a cover which requires a tool for access; and F. The automatic daylighting control shall permit the multilevel lighting control to adjust the level of lighting.
Exception 1 to Section 130.1(d): Areas under skylights where it is documented that existing adjacent structures or natural objects block direct sunlight for more than 1,500 daytime hours per year between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Exception 2 to Section 130.1(d): Areas adjacent to vertical glazing below an overhang, where the overhang covers the entire width of the vertical glazing, no vertical glazing is above the overhang, and the ratio of the overhang projection to the overhang rise is greater than 1.5 for south, east and west orientations or greater than 1 for north orientations.
Exception 3 to Section 130.1(d): Where daylight responsive controls are not required for the primary sidelit daylit zones, and where the total wattage of general lighting luminaires in the secondary sidelit daylit zones is less than 85 watts, daylight responsive controls are not required for the secondary sidelit zone.
Exception 4 to Section 130.1(d): Reserved.
Exception 5 to Section 130.1(d): Rooms that have a total glazing area of less than 24 square feet, or parking garage areas with a combined total of less than 36 square feet of glazing or opening.
Exception 6 to Section 130.1(d): For parking garages, luminaires located in the daylight adaptation zone.
Exception 7 to Section 130.1(d): Luminaires in sidelit daylit zones in retail merchandise sales and wholesale showroom areas.
(e) Demand responsive controls. See Section 110.12 for requirements for demand responsive lighting controls.
(f) Occupancy sensing controls interactions with space-conditioning systems. For space-conditioning system zones serving only spaces that are required to have occupant sensing controls as specified in Sections 130.1(c)5 and 6, and where Table 120.1-A allows the ventilation air to be reduced to zero when the space is in occupied-standby mode, the space-conditioning system shall be permitted to be controlled by occupancy sensing controls as specified in Section 120.2(e)3.
§ 140.6 High relevance — show source text
It can be a line voltage switch or a low voltage switch selecting between two relays. It cannot be overridden or changed in any manner that would permit both loads to operate simultaneously. 2. Reduction of wattage through controls. In calculating adjusted indoor lighting power, the installed watts of a luminaire providing general lighting in an area listed in Table 140.6-A may be reduced by the product of (i) the number of watts controlled as described in Table 140.6-A, times (ii) the applicable power adjustment factor (PAF), if all of the following conditions are met: A. An installation certificate is submitted in accordance with Section 130.4(b), and B. Luminaires and controls meet the applicable requirements of Section 110.9, and Sections 130.0 through 130.5; and C. The controlled lighting is permanently installed general lighting systems and the controls are permanently installed nonresidential-rated lighting controls. When used for determining PAFs for general lighting in offices, furniture mounted luminaires that comply with all of the following conditions shall qualify as permanently installed general lighting systems: i. The furniture mounted luminaires shall be permanently installed no later than the time of building permit inspection; and ii. The furniture mounted luminaires shall be permanently hardwired; and iii. The furniture mounted lighting system shall be designed to provide indirect general lighting; and iv. Before multiplying the installed watts of the furniture mounted luminaire by the applicable PAF, 0.2 watts per square foot of the area illuminated by the furniture mounted luminaires shall be subtracted from installed watts of the furniture mounted luminaires; and
v. The lighting control for the furniture mounted luminaire complies with all other applicable requirements in Section 140.6(a)2.
D. At least 50 percent of the light output of the controlled luminaire is within the applicable area listed in Table 140.6-A. Luminaires on lighting tracks shall be within the applicable area in order to qualify for a PAF. E. Only one PAF from Table 140.6-A may be used for each qualifying luminaire. PAFs shall not be added together unless allowed in Table 140.6-A.
F. Only lighting wattage directly controlled in accordance with Section 140.6(a)2 shall be used to reduce the installed watts as allowed by Section 140.6(a)2 for calculating the Adjusted Indoor Lighting Power. If only a portion of the wattage in a luminaire is controlled in accordance with Section 140.6(a)2, then only that portion of controlled wattage may be reduced in calculating adjusted indoor lighting power. G. Lighting controls used to qualify for a PAF shall be designed and installed in addition to manual, multilevel, and automatic lighting controls required in Section 130.1, and in addition to any other lighting controls required by any provision of Part 6. PAFs shall not be available for lighting controls required by Part 6. H. To qualify for the PAF for daylight continuous dimming plus OFF control, the daylight control and controlled luminaires shall comply with Section 130.1(d), 130.4(a)3 and 130.4(a)7, and the daylight control shall be continuous dimming and shall additionally turn lights completely OFF when the daylight available in the daylit zone is greater than 150 percent of the illuminance received from the general lighting system at full power. The PAF shall apply to the luminaires in the primary sidelit daylit zone, secondary sidelit daylit zone and skylit daylit zone.
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§ 130.1 High relevance — show source text
General lighting in the secondary sidelit daylit zones shall be controlled independently of general lighting in the primary sidelit daylit zones.
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D. For skylights located in an atrium, the skylit daylit zone definition shall apply to the floor area directly under the atrium and the top floor area directly adjacent to the atrium. E. Parking garage areas where the total installed wattage of the general lighting in the primary and the secondary sidelit daylit zones is 60 watts or greater, the general lighting in the primary and secondary sidelit daylit zones shall be controlled by daylight responsive controls. 2. All daylight responsive controls shall meet the following requirements: A. All skylit daylit zones, primary sidelit daylit zones, secondary sidelit daylit zones, and the combined primary and secondary sidelit daylit zones in parking garages shall be shown on the plans; and Note: Parking areas on the roof of a parking structure are outdoor hardscape, not skylit daylit areas. B. The daylight responsive controls shall provide separate control for general lighting in each type of daylit zone. The daylight responsive controls shall meet the following: i. General lighting in overlapping skylit daylit zone and sidelit daylit zone shall be controlled as part of the skylit daylit zone. ii. General lighting in overlapping primary and secondary sidelit daylit zones shall be controlled as part of the primary sidelit daylit zone. iii. General lighting luminaires longer than 8 feet shall be controlled as segments of 8 feet or less according to the type of the daylit zone in which the segment is primarily located; and Exception to Section 130.1(d)2Biii: Where a luminaire contains a factory assembled housing and light source as an integral unit in segments longer than 8 feet, the luminaire segment is allowed to be controlled according to the type of the daylit zone in which the segment is primarily located. C. The daylight responsive controls shall meet the following: i. For spaces where the installation of multilevel lighting controls is required under Section 130.1(b), allow the multilevel lighting controls to adjust the light level with continuous dimming; ii. For each space, ensure the combined illuminance from the controlled lighting and daylight is not less than the illuminance from controlled lighting when no daylight is available; iii. For areas other than parking garages, ensure that, when the daylight illuminance is greater than 150 percent of the illuminance provided by the controlled lighting when no daylight is available, the controlled lighting power in that daylight zone shall be reduced by a minimum of 90 percent; and iv. For parking garages, ensure that when daylight illuminance levels measured at the farthest edge of the secondary sidelit zone away from the glazing or opening are greater than 150 percent of the illuminance provided by the controlled lighting when no daylight is available, the controlled lighting power in the combined primary and secondary sidelit daylit zones shall be reduced by 100 percent; and D. Photosensors shall be located so that they are not readily accessible to unauthorized personnel; and E. The location where calibration adjustments are made to the daylight responsive controls shall be readily accessible to authorized personnel but may be inside a locked case or under a cover which requires a tool for access; and F.
§ 130.1 High relevance — show source text
Scene controllers may comply with this requirement provided that at least one scene turns on general lighting only, and the control provides a means to manually turn off all lighting.
Exception to Section 130.1(a): Up to 0.1 watts per square foot of indoor lighting may be continuously illuminated to allow for means of egress illumination consistent with California Building Code Section 1008. Egress lighting complying with this wattage limitation is not required to comply with manual control requirements if:
- The space is designated for means of egress on the plans and specifications submitted to the enforcement agency under Section 10-103(a)2 of Part 1; and
- The egress lighting controls shall not be controllable by unauthorized personnel during a normal power failure.
(b) Multilevel lighting controls. The general lighting of any space with a size of 100 square feet or larger and with a connected lighting load greater than 0.5 watts per square foot shall be provided with multilevel lighting controls. The multilevel lighting controls shall provide and enable continuous dimming from 100 percent to 10 percent or lower of lighting power.
Exception 1 to Section 130.1(b): An indoor space that has only one luminaire.
Exception 2 to Section 130.1(b): Restrooms.
Exception 3 to Section 130.1(b): Healthcare facilities.
Exception 4 to Section 130.1(b): The general lighting with light source of HID and induction shall have a minimum of one control step between 30 and 70 percent of full rated power.
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(c) Shut-OFF Controls. All installed indoor lighting shall be equipped with controls able to automatically reduce lighting power when the space is typically unoccupied.
Exception 1 to Section 130.1(c): Healthcare facilities.
Exception 2 to Section 130.1(c): Continuous illumination of up to 0.1 watts per square foot in any area designated for egress within a building is allowed, provided that the area is designated for means of egress on the plans and specifications submitted to the enforcement agency under Section 10-103(a)2 of Part 1. The lighting provided for means of egress illumination, as defined in the California Building Code, must be configured to provide no less than the illumination required by California Building Code Section 1008 while in the partial-off mode.
- All installed indoor lighting shall be equipped with controls that meet the following requirements: A. Shall be controlled with an occupant sensing control set to no more than a 20-minute time delay, automatic timeswitch control, or other control capable of automatically shutting OFF all of the lighting when the space is typically unoccupied; and B. Separate controls for the lighting on each floor, other than lighting in stairwells; and C. Separate control zones for a space enclosed by ceiling height partitions not exceeding 5,000 square feet. Exception to Section 130.1(c)1C: The area controlled may not exceed 20,000 square feet in the following function areas: malls, auditoriums, single tenant retail, industrial, convention centers and arenas.
§ 0.5 High relevance — show source text
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ii. The egress lighting controls shall not be controllable by unauthorized personnel during a normal power failure.
B. Multi-level lighting controls. The general lighting of any space with a size of 100 square feet or larger and with a connected lighting load greater than 0.5 watts per square foot shall be provided with multilevel lighting controls. The multilevel lighting controls shall provide and enable continuous dimming from 100 percent to 10 percent or lower of lighting power. Exception 1 to Section 160.5(b)4B: An indoor space that has only one luminaire. Exception 2 to Section 160.5(b)4B: Restrooms. Exception 3 to Section 160.5(b)4B: The general lighting with light source of HID and induction shall have a minimum of one control step between 30 and 70 percent of full rated power. C. Shut-OFF controls. All installed indoor lighting shall be equipped with controls able to automatically reduce lighting power when the space is typically unoccupied. Exception to Section 160.5(b)4C: Continuous illumination of up to 0.1 watts per square foot of lighting is allowed to be in any area designated for egress within a building, provided that the area is indicated on the plans and specifications submitted to the enforcement agency under Section 10-103(a)2 of Part 1. Lighting providing means of egress illumination, as defined in the California Building Code, shall be configured to provide no less than the illumination required by California Building Code Section 1008 while in the partial-off mode. i. All installed indoor lighting shall be equipped with controls that meet the following requirements: a. Shall be controlled with an occupant sensing control set no more than a 20-minute time delay, automatic time-switch control or other control capable of automatically shutting OFF all of the lighting when the space is typically unoccupied; and b. Separate controls for the lighting on each floor, other than lighting in stairwells; and c. Separate control zones for a space enclosed by ceiling height partitions not exceeding 5,000 square feet. Exception 1 to Section 160.5(b)4Ci: Where the lighting is serving an area that is in continuous use, 24 hours per day/365 days per year. Exception 2 to Section 160.5(b)4Ci: Lighting complying with Section 160.5(b)4Cv or Section 160.5(b)4Cvic. Exception 3 to Section 160.5(b)4Ci: Electrical equipment rooms subject to Article 110.26(D) of the Cali- fornia Electrical Code .
Exception 4 to Section 160.5(b)4Ci: Illumination provided by lighting equipment that is designated for emergency lighting, and intended to function in emergency mode only when normal power is absent. ii. Countdown timer switches may be used to comply with the automatic shut-OFF control requirements in Section 160.5(b)4Ci only in closets less than 70 square feet. The maximum timer setting shall be 10 minutes for closets.
iii. If an automatic time-switch control is installed to comply with Section 160.5(b)4Ci, it shall incorporate a manual override lighting control that allows the lighting to remain on for no more than 2 hours when an override is initiated.
Exception to Section 160.5(b)4Ciii: Areas where occupant sensing controls are installed.
§ 25218.5 High relevance — show source text
Note: Authority: Sections 25213, 25218, 25218.5, 25402 and 25402.1, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 25007, 25008, 25218.5, 25310, 25402, 25402.1, 25402.4, 25402.5, 25402.8, and 25943, Public Resources Code.
SECTION 130.1—MANDATORY INDOOR LIGHTING CONTROLS
Nonresidential and hotel/motel buildings shall comply with the applicable requirements of Sections 130.1(a) through 130.1(f), in addition to the applicable requirements of Sections 110.9 and 130.0.
(a) Manual controls. Each space shall be provided with lighting controls that allow the lighting in that space to be manually turned on and off. The manual control shall:
- Be readily accessible; and Exception to Section 130.1(a)1: Restrooms having two or more stalls, parking areas, stairwells, corridors and spaces of the building intended for access or use by the public may use a manual control not accessible to unauthorized personnel.
- Be located in the same space, or be located such that the controlled lighting or the status of the controlled lighting can be seen when operating the controls; and Exception to Section 130.1(a)2: In healthcare facilities, for restrooms and bathing rooms intended for a single occupant, the lighting control may be located outside the enclosed area but directly adjacent to the door.
- Provide separate control of general, floor display, wall display, window display, case display, ornamental, and special effects lighting, such that each type of lighting can be turned on or off without turning on or off other types of lighting. Scene controllers may comply with this requirement provided that at least one scene turns on general lighting only, and the control provides a means to manually turn off all lighting.
Exception to Section 130.1(a): Up to 0.1 watts per square foot of indoor lighting may be continuously illuminated to allow for means of egress illumination consistent with California Building Code Section 1008. Egress lighting complying with this wattage limitation is not required to comply with manual control requirements if:
- The space is designated for means of egress on the plans and specifications submitted to the enforcement agency under Section 10-103(a)2 of Part 1; and
- The egress lighting controls shall not be controllable by unauthorized personnel during a normal power failure.
(b) Multilevel lighting controls. The general lighting of any space with a size of 100 square feet or larger and with a connected lighting load greater than 0.5 watts per square foot shall be provided with multilevel lighting controls. The multilevel lighting controls shall provide and enable continuous dimming from 100 percent to 10 percent or lower of lighting power.
Exception 1 to Section 130.1(b): An indoor space that has only one luminaire.
Exception 2 to Section 130.1(b): Restrooms.
Exception 3 to Section 130.1(b): Healthcare facilities.
Exception 4 to Section 130.1(b): The general lighting with light source of HID and induction shall have a minimum of one control step between 30 and 70 percent of full rated power.
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§ 110.0 Medium relevance — show source text
(a) Additions. Additions shall meet either Item 1 or 2 below.
- Prescriptive approach. The envelope and lighting of the addition, any newly installed space-conditioning system, electrical power distribution system, or water-heating system; any addition to an outdoor lighting system; and any new sign installed in conjunction with an indoor or outdoor addition shall meet the applicable requirements of Sections 110.0 through 120.7, 120.9 through 130.5 and 140.2 through 140.9.
- Performance approach. A. The envelope and indoor lighting in the conditioned space of the addition, and any newly installed space-conditioning system, electrical power distribution system, or water-heating system, shall meet the applicable requirements of Sections 110.0 through 120.7, 120.9 through 130.5; and
B. Either:
i. The addition alone shall comply with Section 140.1; or ii. Existing plus addition plus alteration. The standard design for existing plus addition, plus alteration energy use is the combination of the existing building’s unaltered components to remain, existing building altered components that are the more efficient, in LSC, of either the existing conditions, or the requirements of Section 141.0(b)2, plus the proposed addition’s energy use meeting the requirements of Section 140.1. The proposed design energy use is the combination of the existing building’s unaltered components to remain and the altered component’s energy features, plus the proposed energy features of the addition.
Exception 1 to Section 141.0(a): When heating, cooling or service water heating to an addition are provided by expanding existing systems, the existing systems and equipment need not comply with Sections 110.0 through 120.9 or Sections 140.4 through 140.5.
Exception 2 to Section 141.0(a): Where an existing system with electric reheat is expanded by adding variable air volume (VAV) boxes to serve an addition, total electric reheat capacity may be expanded so that the total capacity does not exceed 150 percent of the existing installed electric heating capacity in any one permit, and the system need not comply with Section 140.4(g). Additional electric reheat capacity in excess of 150 percent of the existing installed electric heating capacity may be added subject to the requirements of Section 140.4(g).
Exception 3 to Section 141.0(a): Duct sealing. When ducts are extended from an existing duct system to serve the addition, the existing duct system and the extended ducts shall meet the applicable requirements specified in Section 141.0(b)2D.
Exception 4 to Section 141.0(a): Additions that increase the area of the roof by 2,000 square feet or less are not required to comply with Section 110.10.
Exception 5 to Section 141.0(a): A gas hot water boiler system with a total system input of at least 1 MMBtu/h but no more than 10 MMBtu/h added to an existing building is not required to comply with Section 140.4(k)8.
Exception 6 to Section 141.0(a): A gas service water-heating system with a total system input of at least 1 MMBtu/h added to an existing building is not required to comply with Section 140.5(c).
Exception 7 to Section 141.0(a) : Section 140.4(a)2 shall not apply to new space-conditioning systems or components.
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§ 160.5 Medium relevance — show source text
The manual control shall: i. Be readily accessible; and Exception to Section 160.5(b)4Ai: Restrooms having two or more stalls, parking areas, stairwells, corridors and spaces of the building intended for access or use by the public may use a manual control not accessible to unauthorized personnel. ii. Be located in the same space or be located such that the controlled lighting or the status of the controlled lighting can be seen when operating the controls; and iii. Provide separate control of general, floor display, wall display, window display, case display, ornamental and special effects lighting, such that each type of lighting can be turned on or off without turning on or off other types of lighting. Scene controllers may comply with this requirement provided that at least one scene turns on general lighting only, and the control provides a means to manually turn off all lighting. Exception to Section 160.5(b)4A: Up to 0.1 watts per square foot of indoor lighting may be continuously illuminated to allow for means of egress illumination consistent with California Building Code Section 1008. Egress lighting complying with this wattage limitation is not required to comply with manual area control requirements if:
i. The space is designated for means of egress on the plans and specifications submitted to the enforcement agency under Section 10-103(a)2 of Part 1; and
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MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS—MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
ii. The egress lighting controls shall not be controllable by unauthorized personnel during a normal power failure.
B. Multi-level lighting controls. The general lighting of any space with a size of 100 square feet or larger and with a connected lighting load greater than 0.5 watts per square foot shall be provided with multilevel lighting controls. The multilevel lighting controls shall provide and enable continuous dimming from 100 percent to 10 percent or lower of lighting power. Exception 1 to Section 160.5(b)4B: An indoor space that has only one luminaire. Exception 2 to Section 160.5(b)4B: Restrooms. Exception 3 to Section 160.5(b)4B: The general lighting with light source of HID and induction shall have a minimum of one control step between 30 and 70 percent of full rated power. C. Shut-OFF controls. All installed indoor lighting shall be equipped with controls able to automatically reduce lighting power when the space is typically unoccupied. Exception to Section 160.5(b)4C: Continuous illumination of up to 0.1 watts per square foot of lighting is allowed to be in any area designated for egress within a building, provided that the area is indicated on the plans and specifications submitted to the enforcement agency under Section 10-103(a)2 of Part 1. Lighting providing means of egress illumination, as defined in the California Building Code, shall be configured to provide no less than the illumination required by California Building Code Section 1008 while in the partial-off mode.
§ 430.23 Medium relevance — show source text
(h) Mandatory requirements for controlled environment horticulture (CEH) spaces.
- Indoor growing, dehumidification. Dehumidification equipment shall be one of the following: A. Dehumidifiers subject to regulation under federal appliance standards tested in accordance with 10 CFR 430.23(z) and Appendix X or X1 to Subpart B of 10 CFR Part 430 as applicable, and complying with 10 CFR 430.32(v)2; B. Integrated HVAC system with on-site heat recovery designed to fulfill at least 75 percent of the annual energy for dehumidification reheat;
C. Chilled water system with on-site heat recovery designed to fulfill at least 75 percent of the annual energy for dehumidification reheat; or
D. Solid or liquid desiccant dehumidification system for system designs that require dew point of 50°F or less. 2. Indoor growing, electrical power distribution systems. Electrical power distribution systems serving CEH spaces shall be designed so that a measurement device is capable of monitoring the electrical energy usage of aggregate horticultural lighting load. 3. Conditioned greenhouses, building envelope. Conditioned greenhouses shall meet the following requirements: A. Opaque wall and opaque roof assembly shall meet the requirements of Section 120.7; and B. Nonopaque envelopes shall have two or more glazings separated by either air or gas fill. 4. Conditioned greenhouses, space-conditioning systems. Space-conditioning systems used for plant production shall comply with all applicable requirements. 5. Horticultural lighting. In a building with CEH spaces or a greenhouse with more than 40 kW of aggregate horticultural lighting load, the electric lighting system used for plant growth and plant maintenance shall meet the following requirements: A. The horticultural lighting systems shall have a photosynthetic photon efficacy (PPE) rated in accordance with ANSI/ASABE S640 for wavelengths from 400 to 700 nanometers and meet one of the following requirements: i. Integrated, nonserviceable luminaires shall have a rated PPE of at least 2.3 micromoles per joule; or ii. Luminaires with removable or serviceable lamps shall have lamps with a rated PPE of at least 2.3 micromoles per joule. B. Time-switch lighting controls shall be installed and comply with Section 110.9(b)1, Section 130.4(a)4 and applicable sections of Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA7.6.2. C. Multilevel lighting controls shall be installed and comply with Section 130.1(b).
(i) Mandatory requirements for steam traps. Steam traps in new industrial facilities and new steam traps added to support new, nonreplacement, process equipment in existing industrial facilities where the installed steam trap operating pressure, which is the steam pressure entering the steam trap during normal design operating conditions, is greater than 15 psig and the total combined connected boiler input rating is greater than 5 million Btu/hr shall meet the following requirements:
- Central steam trap fault detection and diagnostics monitoring. Steam trap systems shall be equipped with a central steam trap monitoring system that: A. Provides a status update of all steam trap fault detection sensors at no greater than 8-hour intervals. B. Automatically displays an alarm that identifies which steam trap has a fault once the system has detected a fault.
- Steam trap fault detection. Steam traps shall be equipped with automatic fault detection sensors that shall communicate their operational state to the central steam trap monitoring system as described in Section 120.6(i)1.
- **Steam trap strainer installation.
§ 160.5 Medium relevance — show source text
viii. The daylight responsive controls shall meet the following: a. For spaces where the installation of multilevel lighting controls is required under Section 160.5(b)4B, allow the multilevel lighting controls to adjust the light level with continuous dimming; b. For each space, ensure the combined illuminance from the controlled lighting and daylight is not less than the illuminance from controlled lighting when no daylight is available; c. For areas other than parking garages, ensure that when the daylight illuminance is greater than 150 percent of the illuminance provided by the controlled lighting system when no daylight is available, the controlled lighting power in that daylight zone shall be reduced by a minimum of 90 percent; and d. For parking garages, ensure that when daylight illuminance levels measured at the farthest edge of the secondary sidelit zone away from the glazing or opening are greater than 150 percent of the illuminance provided by the controlled lighting when no daylight is available, the controlled lighting power in the combined primary and secondary sidelit daylight zones shall be reduced by 100 percent; and ix. Photosensors shall be located so that they are not readily accessible to unauthorized personnel; and x. The location where calibration adjustments are made to the daylight responsive controls shall be readily accessible to authorized personnel but may be inside a locked case or under a cover that requires a tool for access; and xi. Interaction with other lighting controls in a space where manual controls are required, the manual controls shall be capable of turning off or decreasing light levels below the light level set by the daylight responsive controls. Exception 1 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Areas under skylights where it is documented that existing adjacent structures or natural objects block direct sunlight for more than 1,500 daytime hours per year between 8 a.m. and 4
p.m. Exception 2 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Areas adjacent to vertical glazing below an overhang, where the overhang covers the entire width of the vertical glazing, no vertical glazing is above the overhang, and the ratio of the overhang projection to the overhang rise is greater than 1.5 for south, east and west orientations or greater than 1 for north orientations.
Exception 3 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Where daylight responsive controls are not required for the primary sidelit daylit zones, and where the total wattage of general lighting luminaires in the secondary sidelit daylit zones is less than 85 watts, daylight responsive controls are not required for the secondary sidelit zone. Exception 4 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Reserved. Exception 5 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Rooms that have a total glazing area of less than 24 square feet, or parking garage areas with a combined total of less than 36 square feet of glazing or opening. Exception 6 to Section 160.5(b)4D: For parking garages, luminaires located in the daylight adaptation zone. Exception 7 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Luminaires in sidelit daylit zones in retail merchandise sales and wholesale showroom areas.
§ 141.0 Medium relevance — show source text
TABLE 141.0-E-2—THE STANDARD DESIGN FOR AN ALTERED COMPONENT Col2 Col3 ALTERED COMPONENT STANDARD DESIGN WITHOUT THIRD-
PARTY VERIFICATION OF EXISTING
CONDITIONS SHALL BE BASED ONSTANDARD DESIGN WITH THIRD-PARTY
VERIFICATION OF EXISTING CONDITIONS
SHALL BE BASED ONRoof/ceiling insulation, wall insulation, and
floor/soffit insulationThe requirements of Section 141.0(b)1 and 141.0(b)2Bii. The requirements of Section 141.0(b)1 and 141.0(b)2Bii. Fenestration
The allowed glass area shall be the smaller of a.
or b. below:
a. The proposed glass area: or
b. The larger of:
1. The existing glass area that remains; or
2. The area allowed in Section 140.3(a)5A.The_U_-factor and RSHGC
requirements of Table 141.0-A.The existing_U_-factor
and RSHGC levels.Space-conditioning system equipment and ducts The requirements of Section 141.0(b)2C, 141.0(b)2Di
or 141.0(b)2Dii, and Section 141.0(b)2E.The requirements of Section 141.0(b)2C, 141.0(b)2Di
or 141.0(b)2Dii, and Section 141.0(b)2E.Window film The_U_-factor of 0.40 and
SHGC value of 0.35.The existing fenestration in the alteration
shall be based on Tables 110.6-A and 110.6-B.Service water heating systems The requirements of Section 140.5 without solar water heating requirements. The requirements of Section 140.5 without solar water heating requirements. Roofing products The requirements of Section 141.0(b)2B. The requirements of Section 141.0(b)2B. Lighting system The requirements of Sections 141.0(b)2F through 141.0(b)2K. The requirements of Sections 141.0(b)2F through 141.0(b)2K. All other measures The proposed efficiency levels. The proposed efficiency levels. 2025 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE 155
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NONRESIDENTIAL AND HOTEL/MOTEL OCCUPANCIES— ADDITIONS, ALTERATIONS AND REPAIRS
TABLE 141.0-F—CONTROL REQUIREMENTS FOR INDOOR LIGHTING SYSTEM ALTERATIONS Col2 Col3 Col4 CONTROL SPECIFICATIONS CONTROL SPECIFICATIONS PROJECTS COMPLYING WITH
SECTION 141.0(B)2IiPROJECTS COMPLYING WITH
SECTION 141.0(B)2Iii OR
141.0(B)2IiiiManual Area Controls 130.1(a)1 Required Required Manual Area Controls 130. § 140.6 Medium relevance — show source text
The alteration shall not exceed 80% of the indoor lighting power requirements specified in Section 140.6, and shall comply with the lighting control requirements specified in Table 141.0-F; or
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NONRESIDENTIAL AND HOTEL/MOTEL OCCUPANCIES— ADDITIONS, ALTERATIONS AND REPAIRS
iii. The alteration shall be a one-for-one luminaire alteration within a building or tenant space of 5,000 square feet or less, the total wattage of the altered luminaires shall be at least 40% lower compared to their total pre-alteration wattage, and the alteration shall comply with the lighting control requirements specified in Table 141.0-F. Alterations to indoor lighting systems shall not prevent the operation of existing, unaltered controls, and shall not alter controls to remove functions specified in Section 130.1. Alterations to lighting wiring are considered alterations to the lighting system. Alterations to indoor lighting systems are not required to separate existing general, floor, wall, display, or decorative lighting on shared circuits or controls. New or completely replaced lighting circuits shall comply with the control separation requirements of Section 130.1(a)3. Exception 1 to Section 141.0(b)2I: Alteration of portable luminaires, luminaires affixed to moveable partitions, or lighting excluded as specified in Section 140.6(a)3. Exception 2 to Section 141.0(b)2I: Any enclosed space with only one luminaire. Exception 3 to Section 141.0(b)2I: Any alteration that would directly cause the disturbance of asbestos, unless the alteration is made in conjunction with asbestos abatement. Exception 4 to Section 141.0(b)2I: Acceptance testing requirements of Section 130.4 are not required for alterations where lighting controls are added to control 20 or fewer luminaires. Exception 5 to Section 141.0(b)2I: Any alteration limited to adding lighting controls or replacing lamps, ballasts, or drivers.
Exception 6 to Section 141.0(b)2I: One-for-one luminaire alteration of up to 50 luminaires either per complete floor of the building or per complete tenant space, per annum.
J. Reserved.
K. Reserved.
L. Alterations to existing outdoor lighting systems in a lighting application listed in Table 140.7-A or 140.7-B shall meet the applicable requirements of Sections 130.0, 130.2(b) and 130.4, and: i. In alterations that increase the connected lighting load, the added or altered luminaires shall meet the applicable requirements of Section 130.2(c) and the requirements of Section 140.7 for general hardscape lighting or for the specific lighting applications containing the alterations; and ii. In alterations that do not increase the connected lighting load, where 10 percent or more of the existing luminaires are replaced in a general hardscape or a specific lighting application, the alterations shall meet the following requirements: a. In parking lots and outdoor sales lots where the bottom of the luminaire is mounted 24 feet or less above the ground, the replacement luminaires shall comply with Section 130.2(c)1 AND Section 130.2(c)3; and b. For parking lots and outdoor sales lots where the bottom of the luminaire is mounted greater than 24 feet above the ground and for all other lighting applications, the replacement luminaires shall comply with Section 130.
§ 110.9 High relevance — show source text
Provide an automatic holiday shutoff feature that turns off all connected loads for at least 24 hours and then resumes normally scheduled operation.
B. Astronomical time-switch controls shall:
i. Have sunrise and sunset prediction accuracy within plus-or-minus 15 minutes and timekeeping accuracy within 5 minutes per year; ii. Be capable of displaying date, current time, sunrise time, sunset time, and switching times for each step during programming; iii. Be capable of automatically adjusting for daylight savings time; and iv. Have the ability to independently offset the on and off for each channel by at least 90 minutes before and after sunrise or sunset.
C. Multilevel time-switch controls shall include at least two separately programmable steps per zone. D. Time-switch controls installed outdoors shall have setback functions that allow the lighting on each controlled channel to be switched or dimmed to lower levels. The set back functions shall be capable of being programmed by the user for at least one specific time of day. 2. Daylight responsive controls. Controls that provide daylight responsive controls functionality shall: A. Automatically return to its most recent time delay settings within 60 minutes of the last received input when left in calibration mode;
B. Have a set point control that easily distinguishes settings to within 10 percent of full-scale adjustment; C. Provide a linear response within 5 percent accuracy over the range of illuminance measured by the light sensor; and D. Be capable of being calibrated in a manner that the person initiating the calibration is remote from the sensor during calibration to avoid influencing calibration accuracy, for example by having a light sensor that is physically separated from where the calibration adjustments are made. 3. Dimmers. Controls that provide dimming functionality shall: A. Be capable of reducing lighting power consumption by a minimum of 65 percent when at its lowest setting; B. Provide reduced flicker operation, meaning that directly controlled light sources shall be provided electrical power such that the light output has an amplitude modulation of less than 30 percent for frequencies less than 200 Hz without causing premature lamp failure; C. Provide an off setting that produces a zero lumen output; and D. For wall box dimmers and associated switches designed for use in three way circuits, be capable of turning lights off, and on to the level set by the dimmer if the lights are off. 4. Occupant sensing controls. Occupant sensing controls include occupant sensors, motion sensors, and vacancy sensors, including those with a partial-ON or partial-OFF function. Occupant sensing controls shall: A. Be capable of automatically turning the controlled lights in the area either off or down no more than 20 minutes after the area has been vacated;
B. For manual-on controls, have a grace period of no less than 15 seconds and no more than 30 seconds to turn on lighting automatically after the sensor has timed out; and C. Provide a visible status signal that indicates that the device is operating properly, or that it has failed or malfunctioned. The visible status signal may have an override that turns off the signal.
Exception to Section 110.9(b)4: Occupant sensing control systems may consist of a combination of single or multilevel occupant, motion or vacancy sensor controls, provided that components installed to comply with manual-on requirements shall not be capable of conversion by occupants from manual-on to automatic-on functionality.
- Reserved.
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§ 110.9 High relevance — show source text
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ALL OCCUPANCIES—MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MANUFACTURE, CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF SYSTEMS, EQUIPMENT AND BUILDING COMPONENTS
SECTION 110.9—MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR LIGHTING CONTROLS
(a) All lighting control devices and systems and all light sources subject to the requirements of Section 110.9 shall meet the following requirements:
Shall be installed only if the lighting control or light source complies with all of the applicable requirements of Section 110.9.
Lighting controls may be individual devices or systems consisting of two or more components.
(b) All lighting controls. Lighting controls listed in Section 110.9(b) shall comply with the requirements listed below; and all components of the system considered together as installed shall meet all applicable requirements for the application for which they are installed as required in Sections 130.0 through 130.5, Sections 140.6 through 140.8, Section 141.0, and Section 150.0(k).
- Time-switch lighting controls. All controls that provide time-switch functionality, including all automatic and astronomical time-switch controls, shall have program backup capabilities that prevent the loss of the device’s schedule for at least 7 days, and the device’s date and time for at least 72 hours if power is interrupted. In addition: A. Time-switch controls installed in nonresidential buildings shall: i. For each connected load, be capable of providing manual override to each connected load and of resuming normally scheduled operation after a manual override is initiated within 2 hours; and ii. Provide an automatic holiday shutoff feature that turns off all connected loads for at least 24 hours and then resumes normally scheduled operation.
B. Astronomical time-switch controls shall:
i. Have sunrise and sunset prediction accuracy within plus-or-minus 15 minutes and timekeeping accuracy within 5 minutes per year; ii. Be capable of displaying date, current time, sunrise time, sunset time, and switching times for each step during programming; iii. Be capable of automatically adjusting for daylight savings time; and iv. Have the ability to independently offset the on and off for each channel by at least 90 minutes before and after sunrise or sunset.
C. Multilevel time-switch controls shall include at least two separately programmable steps per zone. D. Time-switch controls installed outdoors shall have setback functions that allow the lighting on each controlled channel to be switched or dimmed to lower levels. The set back functions shall be capable of being programmed by the user for at least one specific time of day. 2. Daylight responsive controls. Controls that provide daylight responsive controls functionality shall: A. Automatically return to its most recent time delay settings within 60 minutes of the last received input when left in calibration mode;
B. Have a set point control that easily distinguishes settings to within 10 percent of full-scale adjustment; C. Provide a linear response within 5 percent accuracy over the range of illuminance measured by the light sensor; and D. Be capable of being calibrated in a manner that the person initiating the calibration is remote from the sensor during calibration to avoid influencing calibration accuracy, for example by having a light sensor that is physically separated from where the calibration adjustments are made. 3. **Dimmers.
§ 130.1 High relevance — show source text
Exception 3 to Section 130.1(d): Where daylight responsive controls are not required for the primary sidelit daylit zones, and where the total wattage of general lighting luminaires in the secondary sidelit daylit zones is less than 85 watts, daylight responsive controls are not required for the secondary sidelit zone.
Exception 4 to Section 130.1(d): Reserved.
Exception 5 to Section 130.1(d): Rooms that have a total glazing area of less than 24 square feet, or parking garage areas with a combined total of less than 36 square feet of glazing or opening.
Exception 6 to Section 130.1(d): For parking garages, luminaires located in the daylight adaptation zone.
Exception 7 to Section 130.1(d): Luminaires in sidelit daylit zones in retail merchandise sales and wholesale showroom areas.
(e) Demand responsive controls. See Section 110.12 for requirements for demand responsive lighting controls.
(f) Occupancy sensing controls interactions with space-conditioning systems. For space-conditioning system zones serving only spaces that are required to have occupant sensing controls as specified in Sections 130.1(c)5 and 6, and where Table 120.1-A allows the ventilation air to be reduced to zero when the space is in occupied-standby mode, the space-conditioning system shall be permitted to be controlled by occupancy sensing controls as specified in Section 120.2(e)3.
Note: Authority: Sections 25213, 25218, 25218.5, 25402 and 25402.1, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 25007, 25008, 25218.5, 25310, 25402, 25402.1, 25402.4, 25402.5, 25402.8, and 25943, Public Resources Code.
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NONRESIDENTIAL AND HOTEL/MOTEL OCCUPANCIES—MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR LIGHTING SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT, AND ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
SECTION 130.2—OUTDOOR LIGHTING CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
Nonresidential and hotel/motel buildings shall comply with the applicable requirements of Sections 130.2(a) through 130.2(c).
(a) Reserved.
(b) Luminaire shielding requirements. All outdoor luminaires of 6,200 initial luminaire lumens or greater shall comply with backlight, uplight and glare (BUG) (in accordance with ANSI/IES TM-15-20, Annex A) requirements in accordance with Title 24, Part 11, Section 5.106.8.
Exception 1 to Section 130.2(b): Signs.
Exception 2 to Section 130.2(b): Lighting for building facades, public monuments, public art, statues and vertical surfaces of bridges.
Exception 3 to Section 130.2(b): Lighting not permitted by a health or life safety statute, ordinance or regulation to be a cutoff luminaire.
Exception 4 to Section 130.2(b): Temporary outdoor lighting.
§ 160.5 Medium relevance — show source text
Interaction with other lighting controls in a space where manual controls are required, the manual controls shall be capable of turning off or decreasing light levels below the light level set by the daylight responsive controls. Exception 1 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Areas under skylights where it is documented that existing adjacent structures or natural objects block direct sunlight for more than 1,500 daytime hours per year between 8 a.m. and 4
p.m. Exception 2 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Areas adjacent to vertical glazing below an overhang, where the overhang covers the entire width of the vertical glazing, no vertical glazing is above the overhang, and the ratio of the overhang projection to the overhang rise is greater than 1.5 for south, east and west orientations or greater than 1 for north orientations.
Exception 3 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Where daylight responsive controls are not required for the primary sidelit daylit zones, and where the total wattage of general lighting luminaires in the secondary sidelit daylit zones is less than 85 watts, daylight responsive controls are not required for the secondary sidelit zone. Exception 4 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Reserved. Exception 5 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Rooms that have a total glazing area of less than 24 square feet, or parking garage areas with a combined total of less than 36 square feet of glazing or opening. Exception 6 to Section 160.5(b)4D: For parking garages, luminaires located in the daylight adaptation zone. Exception 7 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Luminaires in sidelit daylit zones in retail merchandise sales and wholesale showroom areas.
E. Demand responsive controls. See Section 110.12 for requirements for demand responsive lighting controls. F. Occupancy sensing controls interactions with space-conditioning systems. For space-conditioning system zones serving only spaces that are required to have occupancy sensing controls as specified in Sections 160.5(b)4Cv and vi, and where Table 120.1-A allows the ventilation air to be reduced to zero when the space is in occupied-standby mode, the space-conditioning system shall be permitted to be controlled by occupancy sensing controls as specified in Section 120.2(e)3.
(c) Outdoor lighting and control equipment. Multifamily buildings shall comply with the applicable requirements of Sections 160.5(c)1 through 160.5(c)2.
- Luminaire shielding requirements. All outdoor luminaires of 6,200 initial luminaire lumens or greater shall comply with backlight, uplight, and glare (BUG) (in accordance with ANSI/IES TM-15-20, Annex A) requirements in accordance with Title 24, Part 11, Section 5.106.8. Exception 1 to Section 160.5(c)1: Signs. Exception 2 to Section 160.5(c)1: Lighting for building facades, public monuments, public art, statues and vertical surfaces of bridges. Exception 3 to Section 160.5(c)1: Lighting not permitted by a health or life safety statute, ordinance or regulation to be a cutoff luminaire.
Exception 4 to Section 160.5(c)1: Temporary outdoor lighting .
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MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS—MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
§ 207.3.3 Medium relevance — show source text
**
A6.207.3.3 Installation.||
|
|| |A6.207.4 Natural gas central furnaces, cooking equipment and pool and spa heaters.
Pilot lights prohibited.||||| |A6.207.5 Controls for space-conditioning systems.
A6.207.5.1 Thermostatic controls for each zone.
A6.207.5.2 Criteria for zonal thermostatic controls.
A6.207.5.3 Heat pump controls.
A6.207.5.4 Dampers for air supply and exhaust equipment.
A6.207.5.5 Automatic demand shed controls.||
|
|| |A6.207.6 Pipe insulation.||||| |SECTION A6.209 Lighting||||| |A6.209.1 Lighting control devices, ballasts and luminaires.
A6.209.1.1 All devices: Instructions and calibration.
A6.209.1.2 Indicator lights.
A6.209.1.3 Automatic time switch control devices.
A6.209.1.4 Occupant sensors, motion sensors and vacancy sensors.
A6.209.1.5 Multilevel occupant sensor.
A6.209.1.6 Automatic daylighting control devices.
A6.209.1.7 Interior Photosensors.
A6.209.1.8 Multilevel astronomical time-switch controls.
A6.209.1.9 Outdoor astronomical time-switch controls.
A6.209.1.10 Dimmers.||
|
|| |A6.209.2 Indoor lighting controls.
A6.209.2.1 Area controls.
A6.209.2.2 Multilevel lighting controls.
A6.209.2.3 Daylight areas.
A6.209.2.3.1 Daylight area.
A6.209.2.3.1.2 Daylight area, primary sidelit.
**A6.209.2.3.1.3 Daylight area, secondary sidelit.§ 130.1 Medium relevance — show source text
Exception 1 to Section 130.1(c)1: Where the lighting is serving an area that is in continuous use, 24 hours per day/365 days per year.
Exception 2 to Section 130.1(c)1: Lighting complying with Section 130.1(c)5 or 130.1(c)6E. Lighting in stairwells and common area corridors that provide access to guestrooms of hotel/motels and complying with Section 130.1(c)6C.
Exception 3 to Section 130.1(c)1: Electrical equipment rooms subject to Article 110.26(D) of the California Electrical Code.
Exception 4 to Section 130.1(c)1: Illumination provided by lighting equipment that is designated for emergency lighting, and is intended to function in emergency mode only when normal power is absent. 2. Countdown timer switches may be used to comply with the automatic shut-OFF control requirements in Section 130.1(c)1 only in closets less than 70 square feet, and server aisles in server rooms. The maximum timer setting shall be 10 minutes for closets, and 30 minutes for server aisles.
- If an automatic time-switch control is installed to comply with Section 130.1(c)1, it shall incorporate a manual override lighting control that allows the lighting to remain ON for no more than 2 hours when an override is initiated. Exception 1 to Section 130.1(c)3: In the following function areas, the override time may exceed 2 hours: Malls, auditoriums, single tenant retail, industrial, laboratories and arenas where captive-key override is utilized. Exception 2 to Section 130.1(c)3: Areas where occupant sensing controls are installed.
- If an automatic time-switch control is installed to comply with Section 130.1(c)1, it shall incorporate an automatic holiday “shut-OFF” feature that turns OFF all loads for at least 24 hours, and then resumes the normally scheduled operation. Exception 1 to Section 130.1(c)4: Automatic holiday shut-off features are not required in retail stores, malls, restaurants, grocery stores, churches, and theaters. Exception 2 to Section 130.1(c)4: Areas where occupant sensing controls are installed.
- Occupant sensing controls. In offices 250 square feet or smaller, multipurpose rooms of less than 1,000 square feet, classrooms, conference rooms, and restrooms, lighting shall be controlled with occupant sensing controls to automatically shut OFF all of the lighting in 20 minutes or less after the control zone is unoccupied. In areas required by Section 130.1(b) to have multi-level lighting controls, the occupant sensing controls shall function either as a:
A. Partial-ON occupant sensing controls capable of automatically activating between 50 and 70 percent of controlled lighting power, or B. Vacancy sensing controls, where all lighting responds to a manual ON input only. In areas not required by Section 130.1(b) to have multilevel lighting controls, the occupant sensing controls shall function either as:
A. Automatic full-on occupant sensing controls; or B. Partial-ON occupant sensing controls, or C. Vacancy sensing controls, where all lighting responds to a manual ON input only. In addition, controls shall be provided that allow the lights to be manually shut OFF in accordance with Section 130.1(a) regardless of the sensor status. 6. **Full or partial-OFF occupant sensing controls.
§ 209.1.4 Medium relevance — show source text
**
A6.209.1.4 Occupant sensors, motion sensors and vacancy sensors.
A6.209.1.5 Multilevel occupant sensor.
A6.209.1.6 Automatic daylighting control devices.
A6.209.1.7 Interior Photosensors.
A6.209.1.8 Multilevel astronomical time-switch controls.
A6.209.1.9 Outdoor astronomical time-switch controls.
A6.209.1.10 Dimmers.||
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|| |A6.209.2 Indoor lighting controls.
A6.209.2.1 Area controls.
A6.209.2.2 Multilevel lighting controls.
A6.209.2.3 Daylight areas.
A6.209.2.3.1 Daylight area.
A6.209.2.3.1.2 Daylight area, primary sidelit.
A6.209.2.3.1.3 Daylight area, secondary sidelit.
A6.209.2.3.1.4 Daylight area, skylit.
A6.209.2.3.2 Controls for luminaires providing general lighting that are in or are
partially in the skylit daylight area and or the primary sidelit daylight area.
A6.209.2.4 Shut-off controls.||
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|| |A6.209.3 Outdoor lighting controls and equipment.
A6.209.3.1 Outdoor lighting.
A6.209.3.2 Luminaire cutoff requirements.
A6.209.3.3 Controls for outdoor lighting.||
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||APPENDIX A6.1-38 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE
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Frequently asked questions
What exact dimming range do I need to specify for fixtures to comply?
Specify continuous dimming from 100% to 10% (or lower) for spaces triggered by § 130.1(b); devices must also meet dimmer performance in § 110.9(b)3 (≥65% reduction at lowest setting, zero-lumen OFF) .
Are restrooms required to have multilevel controls?
No — restrooms are an explicit exception to § 130.1(b) (Exception 2) and do not require the multilevel lighting control specified there .
Can occupancy sensors automatically control HVAC?
Only in the narrow case where the HVAC zone serves only spaces required to have occupancy sensing and Table 120.1‑A allows ventilation to be reduced to zero in occupied‑standby; then § 130.1(f) permits HVAC control via the occupancy sensor method in § 120.2(e)3 .
Do sign dimming rules live in § 130.3(a)2?
I could not find § 130.3(a)2 in the uploaded files. Appendix guidance (A6.209.6) contains sign dimming recommendations (65% reduction at night), but that is appendix text — I do not have the mandatory §130.3(a)2 text in your uploaded files to cite directly .
What paperwork/verification is required after installation?
Lighting control installations are subject to the Code’s acceptance and installation certificate requirements (see § 130.4) and to the PAF/adjustments rules in Part 6 when claiming power adjustment credits; acceptance testing verifies dimming, daylight, and occupant control functioning per the relevant sections .
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Occupancy sensing requirements, sensor zoning and office sensor rules
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California Energy Code