Sparks Electrical News January 2022

LIGHTING

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Connected lighting: The decision-making process A doption of the most robust connected lighting systems has been slower than expected. Perceived complexity, lack of per- ceived value among end-users, and concerns about interoper- ability act as inhibitors. Training, education, field validation, greater in- teroperability, and greater standardisation of utility rebate programs are strong opportunities to meet these challenges.

Depending on the project, a third-party commissioning agent may be involved. A key additional player in projects involving more complex lighting control systems is an integrator, an expert in ensuring lighting control and building systems properly integrate. Key findings The connected lighting system project process and supply chain is highly detailed Aside from the potential addition of an integrator and commissioning party, it is not very different from the typical lighting supply chain for new construction, making this challenge hardly unique to connected lighting. Due to its relative complexity, however, good communication is essential across the various roles involved in the project process. An effective control narrative is critical. The building owner may not understand or value the benefits of con- nected lighting to justify the expense or risk Many building owners want a simple 'set it and forget it' lighting system, resulting in resistance to more robust features such as centralised pro- grammability and data collection. This is not unlike adoption of lighting with high-quality features such as high-end optics. The lighting industry should enhance the business case for connected lighting DOE recommends the lighting industry analyse and quantify energy savings, the value of non-energy benefits, and the benefits of integration with other building systems, looking at more building types/sizes and with longer-term monitoring. Educational materials can simply outline

These are some of the conclusions of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Connected Lighting Systems Stakeholders Research Study, published in September 2021. The study’s objective was to capture how users and stakeholders engage with connected lighting systems and make deci- sions during each step of the supply chain process from manufacturing to operation at the point of use in U.S. commercial buildings. Thirty in- terviews were conducted among researchers, designers, manufacturers and reps, utilities, system operators, and contractors. The nearly 60-page document defines the project process and roles in the supply chain delivering a finished connected lighting solution. It covers manufacturing and design, value engineering, bidding and pur- chasing, installation, commissioning, and operation and repairs. Finally, the study identifies key challenges and opportunities for the category moving forward. The appendices provide topline summaries and the interview questions asked of stakeholders. Supply chain roles Common stakeholders in the connected lighting system project pro- cess and supply chain include the manufacturer, building owner, sales rep, electrical engineer, lighting designer, architect, electrical contractor, general contractor, occupants, building operator, and construction man- ager.

a strongly supported value proposition and make owners aware of the greater reliability and lower cost of the latest systems. Additionally, DOE sees an opportunity for manufacturers to increase customer feedback and share lessons learned back to the supply chain. A lack of standardisation makes specifying systems with different manufacturers difficult, substitutions of control components or sys- tems risky, and building a three-name spec difficult as control systems can be distinct DOE sees an opportunity for interoperability standards for both con- nected lighting products and integrating with building automation

A SIGNIFICANT HEALTH AND SAFETY ASPECT NEGLECTED IN SOUTH AFRICA

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A set of pictograms, illustrating the important aspect of escape route identification and lighting.

The Charlotte Maxeke fire was the fourth in six years at public health facilities in Gauteng. In February 2021, a fire broke out at Carletonville Hospital, in May 2019 there was a fire at Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Soweto, and one at Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg in May 2015. A blaze in September 2018 devastated the pro- vincial health department’s head office in the Bank of Lisbon building in Joburg’s inner city and claimed the lives of three firefighters. Nana Radebe, spokesperson for Joburg Emer- gency Services, confirmed they currently have just over half of the equipment – 51 of 92 items – needed for the fire service to meet national fire safety standards (the SANS 10090). Radebe also says high levels of non-compliance to fire and safety by-laws within the city continue to be a headache for the 1,271 firefighters employed at the city’s 29 fire stations. The Charlotte Maxeke Hospital fire adds to a long-standing and tightly knotted occupational health and safety crisis in the public health sec- tor in the province. Worryingly, Democratic Alli- ance member of the provincial legislature, Jack Bloom, noted that in 2019, former Gauteng health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku, who was axed in Octo- ber 2020, admitted that “no state health facility in Gauteng had been assessed as complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act”. This included general machinery regulations, electrical installation regulations, firefighting equipment, lift regulations, storage, exits, stairs and aisles. Property, building owners and conglomerates must accept responsibility for safeguarding the health and safety of their staff and customers and not assume that by having a building permit their staff and customers are in any way assured of quick and safe exit from a building in the event of an emergency. “Our extensive research of existing emer- gency lighting conformance is that the majority of South African companies do not meet the necessary requirements when everyone’s slogan should be ‘Your safety is our primary concern’,” concludes Donald.

cape Route Lighting. The primary specification being SANS10400-T: Fire Protection, to be read in conjunction with SANS 10114-2, VC8055 and SANS1464-22.” VC8055 is a compulsory product specifica- tion meant to be strictly enforced by the NRCS. Sadly, there is no evidence of this being the case. ELASA offers various training courses to inter- ested parties at no cost to participants. Recent happenings where fires occurred clear- ly illustrate that emergency and escape route lighting and signage were either not working or non-existent. People’s lives are being placed at risk because those who are custodians of ensur- ing compliance, for whatever reason, are not ful- filling their responsibilities to the levels required. “No matter where we go, lack of knowledge, lack of education and therefore lack of applica- tion is overwhelming,” says Donald. People in government, the head of the fire services and the head of national disaster are all in agreement that this needs to change, but the resources are not available. With this in mind, the company is embark- ing on an education programme and recently made a breakthrough with the Fire Protection Association which runs training for fire services and fire inspectors. “We’ve done a full training programme that they will run in their curriculum, but that’s a 3-5 year programme before we get through to every inspector,” he says, noting that a whole chain of events needs to occur to ensure that all buildings are compliant in the future. The Charlotte Maxeke fire When the CharlotteMaxeke fire caused the evac- uation of 700 patients and the destruction of an estimated R40m in hospital supplies, Gauteng Health denied reports that the hospital did not meet fire regulations. Just weeks before a fire tore through parts of Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Jo- hannesburg on 16 April 2021, a fire safety au- dit at the hospital was signed off and in March a hospital fire and safety team met, according to Gauteng Health. Yet the department’s spokes- person Kwara Kekana confirmed that “the smoke doors are not used as the magnetic system on the doors was no longer effective and they were recommissioned”.

Enquiries: Drew Donald: +27 (0)83 226 2708; Stirling Marais: +27 (0)83 448 7721;

Cliffy Graff: +27 (0)71 890 5719; Brett Urquart: +27 (0)72 054 0672

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JANUARY 2022