NSW: Can motion sensor lighting be used in strata buildings and what minimum lighting standards apply to hallways and car parks

Question: To save on electricity, can we consider movement sensing lights in low use areas? Are there minimum lighting level requirements for halls and underground car parks?

Our building has 20 floors that are serviced by lifts with 7 floors of car parking underneath. Each floor has a number of lights permanently on. People are only ever in the hallways to go to or from their unit to the lifts, or to the garbage chute. The car park has had a number of fluro fittings replaced with movement sensing LED lights that are permanently on dimly and shine brighter with movement. These areas have no windows or external light source.

To save on electricity, can we consider movement sensing lights in these low use areas? Our building manager has stated that lighting is required. I have been in other buildings with only movement activated lighting.

Are there minimum lighting level requirements for halls and underground car parks?

Answer: A minimum level of lighting is required at all times.

There is an Australian Standard for internal lighting which specifies the level of lighting required. The level of lighting required differs with respect to the areas to be lit, the uses those areas are put to and the type of luminaire being used.

Exit lights are generally required to be on at all times. Emergency lights are required when an emergency occurs or on all the time depending upon the area and use (eg fire isolated stair or lobby) and so on.

A minimum level of lighting is required at all times and the building approvals at the time the building was approved will dictate what those were.

The Building Code of Australia allows for Owners to make changes to the lighting provided the current requirements are met.

Upgrades to the lighting which substantially change the way in which the lighting operates would require the the services of a lighting specialist and certifier to ensure that the relevant codes are met, particularly in relation to stairs, lobbies, hallways and circulation areas.

The requirements in these circulation areas are much more stringent and generally required to be brighter.

We would not recommend making changes to the lighting without the necessary approvals being in place.

QIA Group
E: info@qiagroup.com.au
P: 1300 309 201