Part L Compliance

How to achieve Part L Compliance for lighting as of 2010 to late 2013 (subject to change 2014)

Part L is a Building Regulation that relates to energy efficiency. Part L1 is for domestic use and Part L2 is for commercial use.

Part L1 Compliance:

For a house or domestic property to achieve Part L compliance, 3 out of every 4 luminaires (light fittings) must be low energy.

Just fitting an LED is not always enough. For a luminaire to be Part L compliant it must produce over 400 lamp lumens and have an efficacy (lighting term for efficiency) of at least 45 lumens per watt.

LEDs that are 5W and below are not included in Part L, they are ignored.

Part L2 Compliance:

All Commercial Buildings and Schools are covered by Part L2 of the Building Regulations.

All installations to Existing Buildings under 100m2 are not notify-able but should meet regulations.

All non-dwelling Buildings should be provided with energy efficient services and controls.

Part L2 is awarded to the building not the lamp or luminaire and account is taken into energy saving controls.

The overall efficiency of the building should achieve lighting efficacies of at least 55 lumens per watt.

As detailed in Parts L2A and L2B energy meters should be installed, so that at least 90% of energy can be calculated by category, e.g. lighting, heating etc.