5. AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

NEMA, ANSI, BSI, EEI, IES, EPA, UL, CSA, IEEE, FAA, FCC, IDA and PUC all exert influence on how photocontrols are made and used.

5.1 ANSI

ANSI is the most widely recognized standards group for utility equipment in North America. ANSI C136.10 (or C136.24 if you are using button controls) should be the starting point for all utility photocontrol standards. When you use it, remember they are compromise standards setting forth only minimum requirements.

The ANSI C136 committee meets twice a year to write and review all Roadway Lighting Standards.

5.2 IES (Illuminating Engineering Society)

The IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) Roadway Committee has written DG-13 design guide for specifying photocontrols. Although not a standard, the IES document has received wide circulation. It is a lengthy document that covers a multitude of items. For example, the IES document suggests a higher turn-ON level of 2.6 footcandles (27.9 lux) to account for HID warm up time. It also suggests electronic controls with low OFF/ON ratios.

5.3 Green Lights

The U.S. government's EPA Green Lights Program supports lighting upgrades that make technical and economic sense. A recent Green Lights report documented the success story of a mid-Atlantic utility's switch to better quality photocontrols. The utility saved significant maintenance dollars, reduced energy consumption, reduced emissions, reduced total expenditure on photocontrols and made the customers happy. Reprints are available from DTL.

5.4 International Dark Sky Association (IDA)

The IDA is very concerned about unneeded light going upward. They also champion the cause of reducing light trespass and light pollution. Using controls that are only on for the first half of the night (Part Night controls like the DPN124-2.6-TMGN) may reduce concerns about light pollution.

5.5 BSI

The British Standards Institute requires that controls face upward with pointed top covers. This is different than the ANSI standard that requires north facing controls. Also, BSI wants the turn-ON level at 6.5 footcandles (70 lux) instead of the ANSI recommended 1.5 footcandles ( 16 lux).

5.6 NEMA and IEEE

These are the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. Both groups support ANSI committees that write Roadway Lighting Standards. The IEEE also sponsors national utility shows that include lighting products.

5.7 UL

Underwriters Laboratories has standards for twistlock and button type photocontrols. These are primarily safety standards. If you need controls that meet UL standards, this must be clearly stated in your specifications. For utilities, a UL listed control is not necessarily better for a specific application than a non-UL product. It may be more expensive or lack some needed features. Consult DTL for details. Preferred UL listed DTL model is DUX124-12A.

5.8 CSA

The Canadian Standards Association has a standard for photocontrols. Under NAFTA, UL and CSA will recognize each other as certified test laboratories.

5.9 FAA

The Federal Aviation Agency (USA) requires that towers near airports be lighted. When photocontrols are used, these "obstruction light" controls must be ON at 35 footcandles ( 375 lux) and OFF at 57 footcandles (610 lux). These FAA controls are also useful for other applications that demand that the light be ON very early in the evening.

5.10 FCC

The Federal Communications Commission (USA) regulates equipment that might emit radio waves or cause radio interference. Properly designed controls will not cause interference. New rules require controls with microprocessors to be tested to FCC part 15.

5.11 PUC

In the United States, Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) in the USA regulate the amount that utilities can charge customers for roadway lighting. PUCs often specify how many annual burning hours a light will provide. Annual burning hours are largely determined by the photocontrol, control orientation, latitude, cloud cover and other factors. Thus, it is important that photocontrol specifications for turn-ON and OFF be consistent with local PUC requirements. For example: an electromechanical photocontrol made to ANSI standards with a 2.0 footcandle turn-ON, a 10 footcandle turn-OFF, installed at latitude 34° (e.g., Los Angeles, California) would yield about 4,342 burning hours per year. Most PUCs currently allow 4,000 to 4,200 burning hours annually.