Luminaires in any of the following categories are classified high luminous efficacy and do not have to comply with the requirements of Reference Joint Appendix JA8 (aka JA8 – refer to next section for details).

1. Luminaires containing LED light sources that are installed outdoors.
2. Inseparable solid-state lighting (SSL) luminaires containing colored light sources for decorative lighting purpose.
3. Pin-based linear fluorescent luminaires or compact fluorescent luminaires using electronic ballasts.
4. High intensity discharge (HID) light sources, including pulse-start metal halide luminaires and high pressure sodium luminaires.
5. Luminaires with induction lamp and hardwired high frequency generator.
6. Ceiling fan light kits that are subject to federal appliance regulations.

All other luminaire types must meet the JA8 requirements with the following exceptions:

1. Integrated device lighting, including lighting integral to exhaust fans, kitchen range hoods, bath vanity mirrors, and garage door openers.
2. Navigation lighting, such as night lights, step lights, and path lights less than 5 watts.
3. Cabinet lighting, including lighting internal to drawers, cabinetry, and linen closets with an efficacy of 45 lumens per watt or greater.

Table 6-1 summarizes the requirements for residential high luminous efficacy luminaires. There are luminaires automatically classified as high efficacy, luminaires that must use JA8-certified light sources or lamps (See Section 6.2.2), and recessed downlight luminaires in ceilings (See Section 6.2.3).

Luminaires not listed in the previous section must have an integral light source or removable lamp that meets the performance requirements of JA8. The requirements in JA8 ensure that new lighting technologies, like LEDs, provide energy-efficient light, while also maintaining performance characteristics that customers expect. In addition to setting minimum efficacy requirements, JA8 establishes performance requirements that ensure accurate color rendition, dimmability, and reduced noise and flicker during operation.

Luminaires with integral sources, such as LED luminaires, must be certified to the Energy Commission as meeting the JA8 requirements. Changeable lamps, such as those in screw-base luminaires, must also be certified to the Energy Commission.

Luminaires and lamps that have been certified to the Energy Commission must be marked with JA8-2022 or JA8-2022-E on the product. The JA8-2022-E marking indicates that the product has passed the more stringent ENERGY STAR Elevated Temperature Life test. This test ensures that the light source is appropriate for elevated temperature applications such as installation in enclosed or recessed luminaires.

Luminaires that can be classified as high luminous efficacy by meeting the requirements of JA8 include:

1. LED luminaires with integral light sources that are JA8-certified.
2. Ceiling recessed downlight luminaires with JA8-certified light sources (the luminaire must not contain screw-based lamp sockets).
3. Screw-based luminaires with JA8-certified lamps.
4. Low-voltage pin-based luminaires with JA8-certified lamps.

Almost any luminaire can be classified as high luminous efficacy if it is installed with a JA8 certified lamp or light source. The exception is recessed downlight luminaires in ceilings, which must meet additional requirements.

The Energy Commission maintains a database of certified JA8 certified luminaires, lamps, and light sources. The database can be accessed using a Quick Search Tool at https://cacertappliances.energy.ca.gov/Pages/ApplianceSearch.aspx or an Advanced Search at https://cacertappliances.energy.ca.gov/Pages/Search/AdvancedSearch.aspx.

In addition to the high luminous efficacy requirements, there are several additional requirements for residential downlight luminaires that are recessed in ceilings.

Figure 6-1 Recessed Downlight Luminaires in Ceiling

Source: Image Courtesy of Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.

Recessed downlight luminaires are limited to specific light sources and lamp types. Recessed downlight luminaires:

1. Must contain light sources that are JA8-certified.
2. Must not contain screw-based lamps.
3. Must not contain light sources that are labeled not for use in enclosed luminaires or not for use in recessed luminaires.

All recessed downlight luminaires must contain a light source or lamp that is JA8-certified, such as an integral LED source or LED lamp. Screw-based lamps such as LED A-lamps or LED PAR lamps are not allowed. Pin-based lamps such as LED MR-16 lamps are allowed in recessed luminaires as long as they are JA8-certified.

In addition to the light source and lamp requirements listed, recessed downlight luminaires in ceilings must also meet all the following performance requirements:

1. Have a label that certifies the luminaire is airtight with air leakage less than 2.0 cubic feet per minute (cfm) at 75 Pascals when tested in accordance with ASTM E283 (exhaust fan housings with integral light are not required to be certified airtight); and
2. Be sealed with a gasket or caulk between the luminaire housing and ceiling, and have all air leak paths between conditioned and unconditioned spaces sealed with a gasket or caulk, or be installed per manufacturer’s instructions to maintain airtightness between the luminaire housing and ceiling; and
3. Meet the clearance and installation requirements of California Electrical Code Section 410.116 for recessed luminaires which requires the following.
   • A recessed luminaire that is not identified for contact with insulation, non-Type IC, shall have all recessed parts spaced not less than 1/2 inch from combustible materials. The points of support and the trim finishing off the openings in the ceiling shall be permitted to be in contact with combustible materials.
   • A recessed luminaire that is identified for contact with insulation, Type IC, shall be permitted to be in contact with combustible materials at recessed parts, points of support, and portions passing through or finishing off the opening in the building structure.
   • Thermal insulation shall not be installed above a recessed luminaire or within 3 inches of the recessed luminaire's enclosure, wiring compartment, ballast, transformer, LED driver, or power supply unless the luminaire is identified as Type IC for insulation contact.

Luminaires that meet the air leakage requirement or luminaires that are Type IC rated will have this information listed on luminaire cut sheets or packaging. Installers are responsible for ensuring that luminaires are properly sealed to prevent air leakage between the luminaire housing and ceiling.

Recessed luminaires that are marked for use in fire-rated installations and recessed luminaires installed in non-insulated ceilings are exempt from the air leakage requirement and sealing requirement, however, they must meet all other requirements for recessed luminaires.

Figure 6-2 Recessed Luminaire with an IC Housing (left); Recessed Luminaire with a Non-IC Housing (right)

Source: Image Courtesy of Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.

For enclosed luminaires and recessed luminaires other than ceiling-recessed downlights, the installed light sources must be JA8-compliant and meet the elevated temperature testing requirement. The JA8-compliant lamps and light sources must be marked with “JA8-2022-E” to signify that they are suitable to be installed in an enclosed or recessed luminaire.

For screw-base luminaires to be installed in residential spaces, the installed lamps must be JA8 certified. Recessed downlight luminaires in ceilings cannot have screw base lamp sockets.

Navigation lighting such as night lights, step lights, and path lights must either:

1. Be rated to consume no more than 4 watts; or
2. Comply with luminaire efficacy requirements in §150.0(k)1A and Table 150.0-A (Table 6-1).

Luminaires or light sources internal to drawers, cabinets, and linen closets must either:

1. Have an efficacy of 45 lumens per watt or greater or
2. Comply with luminaire efficacy requirements  in §150.0(k)1A and Table 150.0-A (Table 6-4).

Example 6-1: Screw-based luminaires

Question

I am using a screw-based luminaire that is rated to take a 60W lamp for lighting over a sink, and I plan to install a 10W LED lamp. Does it meet the residential lighting requirement for screw-based luminaires?

Answer

If the LED lamp is JA8-certified and marked JA8-2022 or JA8-2022-E, then it meets the residential lighting requirement for screw-based luminaires in Energy Code §150.0(k)1B.

If the luminaire is a recessed luminaire in a ceiling, it would not comply since recessed luminaires cannot contain a screw base socket.

Example 6-2: Color-tunable and dim-to-warm luminaires installed in residential buildings

Question

Can color-tunable luminaires and dim-to-warm luminaires be certified to meet JA8 specifications?

Answer

JA8 includes color characteristic specifications for light sources.

The JA8 specifications require all light sources to be capable of providing color temperature (correlated color temperature, CCT) of 4000 Kelvin (K) or less.

JA8 also require light sources to provide color rendering index (CRI) of 90 or higher and R9 of 50 or higher. LED lamps regulated by the Title 20 Appliance Efficiency Regulations must have a CRI of 82 or higher.

If the color-tunable luminaire or dim-to-warm luminaire can provide a CCT of 4000k or less and provide CRI that meets these requirements, it meets the color characteristic criteria.

If all requirements of JA8 are met, including the color characteristic requirements, these light sources can be certified to meet JA8.

Example 6-3: Fade-in lighting

Question

I would like to use lighting with an aesthetic fade-in feature in my design. JA8 has a start time requirement. Are fade-in lights able to qualify as high efficacy?

Answer

Aesthetic fade-in lights are acceptable under Title 24. The test procedure for start time measures “[t]he time between the application of power to the device and the point where the light output reaches 98% of the lamp’s initial plateau.” The “initial plateau” is “[t]he point at which the average increase in the light output over time levels out (reduces in slope).”

For light sources with a fade-in feature, the light output intentionally follows a programmed fade-in curve to increase light output gradually. Because the light output must level out, the initial plateau for these light sources is the point in time at which there is perceived light output and the perceived light increase begins to follow the programmed fade-in curve. The programmed fade-in curve is expected to be continuously increasing as a function of time.

This allows fade-in lighting to qualify as high efficacy.

Example 6-4: Kitchen exhaust hood lighting

Question

I am installing an exhaust hood over my kitchen range that has lamps in it. Do these lamps have to be high efficacy?

Answer

This lighting is integrated into the appliance and does not have to meet the luminaire efficacy requirements for permanently installed lighting.

Example 6-5: Kitchen alterations

Question

I am designing a residential kitchen lighting system with six 12W LED recessed downlights and four 24W LED tape lights for under cabinet lighting. How many watts of incandescent or halogen luminaires can be installed?

Answer

There are no wattage limitations for residential lighting. However, all luminaires must meet the luminaire efficacy requirements in §150.0(k)1A and Table 150.0-A of the Energy Code. Incandescent and halogen light sources may not be able to meet the requirements of JA8, thus may not be able to be installed for Energy Code compliance.

Example 6-6: Night lights

Question

Where are night lights permitted to be installed in residential buildings?

Answer

There are no location restrictions in the Energy Code. Permanently installed night lights and night lights integral to installed luminaires can be installed anywhere in single family buildings, or other residential spaces.

The number of electrical boxes that are more than 5 feet above the finished floor and do not contain a luminaire or other device shall be no greater than the number of bedrooms. These electrical boxes must be served by a dimmer, vacancy sensor control, low voltage wiring, or fan speed control.

Example 6-7: Blank electrical boxes

Question

For a three-bedroom house, how many blank electrical boxes can be installed?

Answer

Up to three blank electrical boxes can be installed if the electrical boxes are served by a dimmer, vacancy sensor control, low voltage wiring or fan speed control. The number of electrical boxes can be less than or equal to the number of bedrooms in the dwelling.

This requirement applies to blank electrical boxes located more than 5 feet above the finished floor. It does not apply to blank electrical boxes mounted 5 feet or less above the finished floor.