Technical information
Energy codes typically require lighting power density
calculations for track lighting to be based on the linear
feet of installed track. Some codes stipulate multipliers as
low as 30W per foot of track, while others use a multiplier
as high as 70W per foot of track. When energy efcient
lighting is used, the connected load is typically much less
than the per-foot multipliers given in the energy codes.
This penalizes lighting designs that employ track lighting
and may threaten retail environments where higher light
levels are needed.
Many codes also provide provisions to compute the
luminaire wattage based off the maximum wattage that
the circuit can provide. For example, 2005 CA Title 24,
130(c)3 states:
“Luminaire wattage incorporated into the installed lighting
power shall be determined in accordance with the
following criteria... The wattage of line-voltage lighting
track and plug-in busway which allows the addition or
relocation of luminaires without altering the wiring of the
system shall be the volt-ampere rating of the branch
circuits feeding the luminaires...”
Introduction to
Track-Limiting Panels
24