APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS

Fundamentally, rules and regulations can be separated into two categories: They relate to products or applications. 

One typical product regulation is the so-called "ecodesign directive" (ErP directive, Energy-related Products) passed as EU directive 2009/125/EC on 20 November 2009. Its resulting ordinance relevant for technical lighting is no. 245/2009. It regulates the ban on placing inefficient lighting components on the market (see also chapter "Environmentally sound product design").

Regarding the components in electronically controlled lighting installations, the ErP directive merely demands that electronic control gear units facilitating the switching-off of connected light sources must not consume more than 0.5 watts of active power in standby operation (see chapter "Power factor"). It does not contain any requirements regarding the operating mode of control components. 

However, there are application regulations which differ from country to country in Europe, yet trace back to the respective national implementation of the European EPBD directive (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive), EU directive 2010/31/EU. 

For Germany, this is the energy savings ordinance. In its applicable version (EnEV 2014, see chapter ) light management systems with automatic presence detection or daylight-dependent dimming lighting control functions for applications in work places (user profiles) are defined as reference technology. It is therefore established that their energy savings potential must be considered when determining the maximum permissible energy requirements for issuing a construction permit for a non-residential building.

Increasing efficiency    Light management systems