Ecmweb 24477 Lighting Design 0419 Pr 0
Ecmweb 24477 Lighting Design 0419 Pr 0
Ecmweb 24477 Lighting Design 0419 Pr 0
Ecmweb 24477 Lighting Design 0419 Pr 0
Ecmweb 24477 Lighting Design 0419 Pr 0

Lighting Design with Electrical in Mind

April 18, 2019
How an integrated approach can yield the best results for your clients.

Most lighting designers would agree that asking the right questions from the start, knowing how to integrate designs with electrical engineering requirements, and understanding how to convey the importance of a well-researched lighting design choice to architects, owners, and other team members consistently lead to a smoother design process and outcome. The tricky part is many are not aware of the strategies and tools available to help integrate lighting designs with codes and other engineering requirements that make for an easier coordination process as well as fewer surprises for the client.

Since electrical engineers and lighting designers offer different perspectives on seemingly overwhelming design requirements, early, proactive communication between the two disciplines can result in more creative, better-designed solutions. Through experience and lessons learned from 14 years of offering integrated electrical engineering and lighting design services to clients, the team at AE Design has honed a series of effective strategies and tools that have proven to be not only productive, but also profitable. By sharing some of what we’ve learned, we hope others will find our tips and insights useful. 

Don’t Design in a Box

Making coordination between electrical engineers and lighting designers a priority — and being attentive to key coordination issues teams may encounter as they progress through a project’s phases — benefits the project as a whole. Key issues can include: how to share drawing files, the specification/layout of life safety lighting, lighting controls scope, and the timing of drawing swaps, all of which have a significant impact on the overall process. By understanding these and other coordination issues, everyone can be better prepared and more aware of how their design and construction decisions impact everyone else.

Part of the Same Team

If owners have a bad experience on a project, they rarely attach their memories to a specific consultant. They are merely going to remember that they had a bad experience with the team overall. Sometimes designers fall into a zone where they put blinders on, do their thing, and forget others are involved. While they may succeed in their own element, the overall project might not, which will ultimately reflect poorly on everyone. Thus, it is important to remember we are all part of the same team, and that developing good relationships often enhance future project opportunities (architects/owners notice team camaraderie).

Ban Finger Pointing

Nobody benefits from a “not-in-my-scope” attitude that results in finger pointing — the clients least of all. Designers are ultimately part of an integrated, committed team tasked with delivering a fully coordinated project to clients. Since they all strive to produce the “perfect job” with zero issues during construction, designers must be proactive, prioritize coordination with all team members, avoid duplication, and take steps to create a fluid line of communication.

Implementing effective strategies and tools can ultimately reduce cost and improve profitability for all team members as well as clients. The effort invested in coordination and good communication will ultimately save you time, avoid errors (and change orders), and allow your team to accomplish a more efficient, effective, in-budget process.

The Devil is in the Details

A kickoff meeting is critical, but going beyond merely reviewing general project requirements to including both lighting and electrical scope items is key. The full team needs to understand where everything stands — and who is responsible for each task at the very beginning — to be sure there is no overlapping or double dipping. To some, this step may feel unnecessary, but it will save a lot of time and stress down the road. Once it becomes part of your project process, it will become second nature, reaping benefits that far outweigh the initial investment.

Focus on the Time Frame

During the initial kickoff meeting, there are specific discussions that should be included, not the least of which is how this information will fit into the overall schedule of the project. For example, it is important to ask how much time the electrical engineer will need to complete the lighting plans once receiving the lighting designer’s information, if zoning controls will be in the project scope, and if they will need to confirm that luminaire selections are appropriate, etc. Other questions involve how much time the lighting designer needs, and if they will be required to make changes based on electrical engineers’ inputs.

Be Aware of the Eight-Lane Highway

Remember, it is not just electrical and lighting. Electrical needs to work with mechanical plans, the architect needs to work with lighting’s RCPs, and electrical needs to work with lighting’s layouts to get every aspect coordinated. All of this needs to meet the milestone deadlines of the project. We have adopted a process called “pull planning” on a number of projects that really helps organize the overall coordination approach. 

Understand your Data’s Application

Understanding how you and others will be issuing something, along with their time line, is also critical. For example, if someone needs your set two weeks before the actual deadline date, is that your 100% set or just a coordination set? If it is being integrated into a set, it is probably your 100% set. But if you are providing a PDF set, does the electrical engineer need to redraw everything, or will he or she be providing Revit drawings? In other words, it is important to understand how the data will be incorporated, if it is going to the architect, and how they can link into your model to use it as a reference.

It is also critical to know the level of detail each set requires, especially as it relates to the effort you are putting in. What is the set being used for and integrated into? If the set is for design development (DD), everything may not need to be fully vetted. If the DD set is being priced, then how do you mutually convey your designs accordingly? Does the lighting design set go in with the electrical set, or is it going to be integrated with the architectural set? In addition, understanding the professional engineer (PE) stamping requirements and what that process means is also key.

Incorporating BIM/REVIT Sets 

Although building information modeling (BIM) software is clearly our tool for the future, lighting and electrical integration is still a learning process. If you are a lighting designer and your electrical engineer is circuiting in BIM, that capability may be compromised, depending on your luminaire family setup. Our firm has that ability (because we provide both lighting and electrical systems design services), but other firms may not. How do you work with each other to bridge that gap? Therefore, be aware of whether it makes sense to deliver in BIM.

Scope Delineation

During your initial kickoff meeting, be certain the scope of the electrical engineer doesn’t overlap with that of the lighting designer and that no areas are subject to assumption. Absolute clarity is key. Assign or go through spaces, and then look at the details. Who is responsible for the exit signs and emergency lighting? If the electrical engineer is doing building-wide controls, are there spaces where the lighting designers will be responsible? And are there any special control requirements needed in the lighting designer space, etc.? Who is responsible for the Division 26 specifications? There is great opportunity for overlap here — and for assumptions to be made if these responsibilities are not clearly communicated. Avoid the “oh, I thought you were handling that,” and “it’s not in my scope” trip-ups by getting everything ironed out early.

Document Decisions, and Confirm Buy-in

Always ask yourself: Does this conversation, meeting, or coordination affect anyone else on the team? If so, reach out and let them know what you’ve talked about. Get buy-in and confirmation or approval from them, and write it down. Documenting your team’s decisions can avoid a lot of heartache later if, and when, there are questions — or when you need to reference a choice made at particular point in the design process.

Be Fluent in Code

Be aware that many different codes can apply to your project, not all of which may apply to you as an electrical engineer or lighting designer. Awareness of this can help either discipline account for a code or specific portion of the code that applies to both disciplines. There may also be amendments to codes that could potentially impact the lighting and electrical together or individually. Being aware of this possibility can help introduce solutions early, thus meeting the overall design intent of the project and requirements of the code as needed (because this is required, and there is no way around it).

Special spaces such as a pool, for example, can be code intensive. Lighting designers may not be aware of all the nuances of the National Electrical Code (NEC) with respect to placing luminaires, accessibility, voltage, and other restrictions. The bottom line is: Don’t make assumptions; be helpful, and share your knowledge.

Energy compliance, as well as understanding any special owner/project energy saving goals, such as LEED, is also important. The project needs it. The design should meet it. How the tab is being kept on it is an important discussion to have. Whether it is a Comcheck for the lighting designer or mechanical engineer, staying on top of it will impact the overall project.

EM Systems, Exit Signs, and Egress Lighting

The aesthetics of emergency luminaires need to be considered as well. Even though lighting designers may not have the scope specifically in their contract, they will likely have input because you don’t want an ugly frog eye in a space that has some sweet looking luminaires. This is something that few tend to think about, but it is code required — and, if neglected, can mess up a project. (For example, the back of house has red exit signs, front of house has green.) Don’t assume that this will be figured out eventually. It needs to be thought out, planned, and coordinated in advance.

Mind Your Budget

When designing, work with the electrical engineer or lighting designer to be certain that the design concepts are feasible, and everything is in-line with the project’s budget numbers. Get all the decision makers involved again to look for discrepancies in the budget. The owner may have said one thing to the electrical engineer and another to the lighting designer without realizing they may be connected or not connected. Just make sure everyone is on the same page. As an integrated team, it might not be your part that is out of budget. However, if the whole project is over, then the whole team needs to jump in and figure out a solution together.

Don’t Forget QA/QC and CA

The quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) process during design can have a huge impact on the quality of design documents. Find a method that works for you, ask questions, and embrace construction comments. Always remember everyone is in this for one common goal. Also,  don’t exclude construction administration (CA). In fact, we recommend that you take it one step further, and make time to review light fixtures and controls — even if the specifications are not in your scope. A second set of eyes never hurts, and some questions may get sorted out during submittal review. This is your last chance to get things right.

Lighting design and electrical engineering are hard to separate, so making sure team members communicate early, clearly, and often helps assure a cohesive team and smooth overall design process. These simple but often overlooked strategies can help lighting, electrical, and the rest of the team get on the same page. At the end of the day, we’re all responsible for the success of a project.    

Jass is a senior project manager, Moser is a project manager, Brooks, P.E., is a principal, and Venkataraman, Jr., is a project designer with AE Design in Denver. They can be reached at [email protected], [email protected]; [email protected], and [email protected].

About the Author

Bryan Jass | Senior Project Manager

Jass is a senior project manager with AE Design in Denver.

About the Author

Melina Moser | Project Manager

Moser is a project manager with AE Design in Denver.

About the Author

Jon Brooks, P.E. | Principal

Brooks, PE, is a principal with AE Design in Denver.

About the Author

Sai Krishna Venkataraman | Project Designer

Venkataraman is a project designer with AE Design in Denver. He also holds the credentials of Jr. Associate IALD, MIES.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EC&M, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Electrical Conduit Comparison Chart

CHAMPION FIBERGLASS electrical conduit is a lightweight, durable option that provides lasting savings when compared to other materials. Compare electrical conduit types including...

Fiberglass Electrical Conduit Chemical Resistance Chart

This information is provided solely as a guide since it is impossible to anticipate all individual site conditions. For specific applications which are not covered in this guide...

Considerations for Direct Burial Conduit

Installation type plays a key role in the type of conduit selected for electrical systems in industrial construction projects. Above ground, below ground, direct buried, encased...

How to Calculate Labor Costs

Most important to accurately estimating labor costs is knowing the approximate hours required for project completion. Learn how to calculate electrical labor cost.