A lot of confusion surrounds the meaning of JA8/Title 24 and the lighting that is compliant with it. Keep reading to find out how it can benefit you!
You may have seen a badge on several lighting products that looks just a little different from others and wondered what it is. It's called Title 24 and it has been around and assisting energy planning since the 1970s and it was revised to include JA8 (Joint Appendix 8) in 2016. If you’ve ever been curious about what it means for you, you are not alone. In the following, we will dive into the definition of Title 24 and the many benefits for you.
What is JA8/Title 24?
Title 24 of the California Energy Commission is located in the California Code of Regulations. Fully named California Building Standards Code, it is additional requirements for energy-efficient compliancy for lighting in residential and non-residential buildings. This measure helps to better the quality of life in both indoor and outdoor environments.
JA8/Title 24 works to improve the environment by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that are released into the air every day. This also lowers energy costs for commercial and residential buildings. Fixtures and lighting with this rating are perfect options for anyone looking to do their part for the environment at an affordable cost to themselves.
To get the JA8 rating, lighting products must be put through extensive testing to make sure they meet higher efficiency standards than other bulbs. Once the lighting meets these strict requirements, they are considered approved by the state of California and will have the JA8 date code printed directly on it. Keep in mind that the JA8/Title 24 rating is not required to sell products in California, but it is required for new construction projects.
What are the Requirements for JA8/Title 24 Compliant Lighting?
To make sure you have the correct lighting, follow the list of requirements given by the California Energy Commission. Keep in mind that these requirements change or are updated every three years so make sure to keep track of rules so that you get the best lighting experience possible.
Here are a few of the most important parts:
- Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) needs to be under 4000 Kelvin
- Color Rendering Index (CRI) needs to be greater than 90
- Must have a rated lifetime of at least 15,000 hours
- All light fixtures that have a screw-based socket must only use JA8 marked bulbs
- Wall mounted outdoor lights are required to be controlled by a combination of the following: Photocell and motion sensor/time switch, or an astronomical time clock
It is important to note that most of the requirements for Title 24/JA8 build off the requirements that Title 20 called for on 1/1/2017. Some of these requirements are as follows:
- Color Rendering Index (CRI) needs to be greater than 80
- Must have a rated lifetime of at least 10,000 hours
- Light bulbs must be Energy Star rated
- Needs to be dimmable down to 10%
What are the Benefits of JA8/Title 24 Lighting?
There are many benefits to using JA8/Title 24 lighting regardless of which state you are in! More and more people are switching to lighting products with this rating as they are finding it can save them more money in the long run. The required 15,000 hour or above lifetime means the bulb will last much longer than regular bulbs. Adding this to being energy efficient makes switching an easy decision.
Another benefit is the required high CRI of 90 or above. Incandescent bulbs, while not lasting as long, are known to have a CRI of 100. LED technology has been developing to try to get as close as possible to that standard and with the JA8 rating you can be certain you will have the best on the market. Higher CRI brings out the vibrant colors of your home and you won’t have to sacrifice light output to get it.
With so many benefits to JA8/Title 24 lighting, it’s easy to see why they would be a great choice for your home or business. So make the switch today!
