Credit(s) earned on completion of this course will be

reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of

Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA

members are available upon request.

This course is registered with AIA CES for

continuing professional education. As such, it does

not include content that may be deemed or

construed to be an approval or endorsement by the

AIA of any material of construction or any method or

manner of

handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any

material or product.

___________________________________________

Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will

be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

Michael Shulman

Principal Engineer

UL LLC

The Standard for Low Voltage Lighting Systems, UL 2108, was revised in

2015 to explicitly accommodate PoE Lighting Systems. These systems

include a network switch serving as the LED driver, communications cable

(Cat5 / Cat6, et al), and low voltage luminaires equipped with an RJ45

input port and the ability to communicate with the network switch. They

offer far-reaching versatility for facility lighting control. Compliance with

the NEC, however, requires detailed knowledge about several different

but inter-related articles to establish a clear fit between the equipment and

the requirements. Special applications, such as emergency lighting, pose

additional challenges. This presentation will explore the standard and

code issues that equipment producers, specifiers, installers, and

authorities having jurisdiction should consider when developing,

recommending, deploying, or approving such equipment.

1. How Codes and Standards try to keep pace with

technology

2. Safety does not establish Compliance

3. Standards-level (UL 2108) compliance of PoE

Lighting

4. Code-level (NEC 411, 725) compliance of PoE

Lighting

5. Questions for PoE emergency lighting (NEC 700)

Codes – putting the

pieces together to

form a system

Standards – ensuring

predictable pieces

Stable codes and standards can be very beneficial

Transition processes must be well managed

Stable codes and standards can be very beneficial

Transition processes must be well managed

But – slow to change codes and standards creates obstacles

for deploying beneficial technologies

Codes and

Standards

Lighting

technology

LEDs

“Listed. Equipment … included in a list published by an organization …

that maintains periodic inspection of production of listed equipment …

and whose listing states that either the equipment … meets appropriate

designated standards or has been tested and found suitable for a

specified purpose.”

NEC 90.7 Examination of Equipment for Safety.

“It is the intent of this Code that factory-installed internal wiring or the

construction of equipment need not be inspected at the time of

installation of the equipment, except to detect alterations or damage,

if the equipment has been listed by a qualified electrical testing

laboratory …”

Provisions for flexibility are built into the documents

NEC 90.4 Enforcement.

“By special permission, the

authority having jurisdiction

may waive specific

requirements in this Code or

permit alternative methods

where it is assured that

equivalent objectives can be

achieved by establishing and

maintaining effective safety.

UL Standards Foreword. “A

product employing materials or

having forms of construction not

addressed by this Standard may

be examined and tested

according to the intent of the

requirements and, if found to

meet the intent of this Standard,

may be judged to comply with the

Standard.”

• Increased efficiency

• Reduced consumables

• Reduced hazards

PoE changes the infrastructure

Communication = Power

UL 60950-1 / UL 62368: Standards for A/V, Information and

Communications Equipment

Limited safety risks due to restricted voltage and power

levels

Safety ≠ Compliance

Uncertainty about compliance

2015 Revisions:

• PoE luminaires added to “SCOPE”

• PoE definition, citing conformance to IEEE

802.3

• PoE power units permitted to be cord/plug

connected

• Cat5 (and equivalent) cables permitted

UL 1310

“Class 2”

UL 60950-1

“LPS”

UL 2108

“Class 2”

“Suitable for

Class 2 Wiring”

2014:

411.1 Scope. This article covers lighting systems operating at 30 volts or less

and their associated components. This article also covers lighting equipment

connected to a Class 2 power source.

2017:

2011:

411.1 Scope. This article covers lighting systems operating at 30 volts or

less and their associated components

Covers installation of power-limited circuits. Permits alternative wiring

methods – smaller, less insulated, and more limited electrical /

mechanical protection for conductors

Chapter 3 wiring Chapter 7 wiring

725.121 Power Sources for Class 2 and Class 3 Circuits.

(1) A listed Class 2 or Class 3 transformer

(2) A listed Class 2 or Class 3 power supply

725.121(A)(4) Listed information technology (computer)

equipment limited-power circuits.

Informational Note: …Typically such circuits are used to

interconnect information technology equipment for the

purpose of exchanging information (data).

725.121(A)(3) Other listed equipment marked to identify the Class 2 or

Class 3 power source.

Exception No. 2 to (3): Limited power circuits of listed equipment where

these circuits have energy levels rated at or below the limits established in

Chapter 9, Table 11(A) and Table 11(B).

In collaboration with a plastics industry association, UL conducted a fact-finding investigation in 2015, to better understand the relationship between temperature rise and CM cable size (5, 6, 6a), bundle sizes, and current

New clause after 725.121(b):

Separation provisions of NEC 700

≠

V. Control — Emergency Lighting Circuits

700.20 Switch Requirements. The switch or switches installed in emergency lighting circuits shall be arranged so that only authorized persons have control of emergency lighting.

=?

• Safety is comparable to that of class 2 lighting

• Listing is available under UL 2108

• Approval under the NEC faces some uncertainty, depending in part on what NEC edition is used

• Interesting questions remain regarding separation, control, and activation of emergency lighting

“Power over Ethernet Lighting – Evolution or Revolution?”

Available at http://library.ul.com/ (white paper)

This concludes The American Institute of Architects

Continuing Education Systems Course

Michael.shulman@ul.com