CLC Lighting System Commissioning & Quality Assurance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of lighting commissioning?
- To select the most energy-efficient luminaires for a project
- To verify that a lighting system is installed and operates according to design intent (Correct answer)
- To calculate the total cost of ownership for a lighting system
- To ensure compliance with local building codes only
Correct answer: To verify that a lighting system is installed and operates according to design intent
Lighting commissioning verifies that the installed system performs as specified in the design documents and meets the owner's requirements.
Question 2: Which document establishes the intended performance expectations of a lighting system before commissioning begins?
- Request for Proposal (RFP)
- Owner's Project Requirements (OPR) (Correct answer)
- Certificate of Occupancy
- Energy Audit Report
Correct answer: Owner's Project Requirements (OPR)
The Owner's Project Requirements (OPR) documents the functional requirements and expectations the lighting system must meet throughout the project.
Question 3: Which measurement instrument is most appropriate for verifying horizontal illuminance levels during commissioning?
- Goniophotometer
- Spectroradiometer
- Illuminance meter (footcandle meter) (Correct answer)
- Luminance meter
Correct answer: Illuminance meter (footcandle meter)
An illuminance meter measures footcandles or lux at a surface, which is the standard method for verifying horizontal illuminance against design targets.
Question 4: What is a 'punch list' in the context of a lighting commissioning project?
- A schedule of all luminaire replacements needed over the product's life
- A list of deficiencies, incomplete items, or corrections needed before project closeout (Correct answer)
- A documentation of all approved product substitutions during construction
- A record of all energy measurements taken during testing
Correct answer: A list of deficiencies, incomplete items, or corrections needed before project closeout
A punch list documents items that must be corrected or completed before the project can be officially closed out and accepted by the owner.
Question 5: During commissioning of occupancy sensors, which parameter is most critical to verify for energy performance?
- The color temperature of nearby luminaires
- The time delay before lights turn off after the space becomes unoccupied (Correct answer)
- The total lumen output of controlled fixtures
- The power factor of connected loads
Correct answer: The time delay before lights turn off after the space becomes unoccupied
The time-delay (timeout) setting determines when lights extinguish after the last detected motion, directly affecting energy savings and occupant satisfaction.
Question 6: What does 'as-built documentation' provide at the completion of a lighting project?
- The original design drawings before any field changes were made
- An accurate record of how the lighting system was actually installed, including all field modifications (Correct answer)
- The manufacturer's specifications for all installed equipment
- The preliminary schematic design from the concept phase
Correct answer: An accurate record of how the lighting system was actually installed, including all field modifications
As-built drawings record the final installed conditions, capturing all deviations from the original design that occurred during construction.
Question 7: At what stage of a project should commissioning activities ideally begin?
- After construction is complete and all equipment is installed
- During schematic design, when project goals and requirements are being established (Correct answer)
- Only after the certificate of occupancy is issued
- When the contractor submits the first shop drawings
Correct answer: During schematic design, when project goals and requirements are being established
Beginning commissioning during the design phase allows performance requirements to be incorporated into specifications and reduces costly changes during construction.
CLC Lighting System Commissioning & Quality Assurance 1
What is the primary purpose of lighting commissioning?