ISO/TR 5911:2023

Light and lighting – Commissioning of lighting systems in buildings – Explanation and justification of ISO/TS 21274

This document provides information to support the correct understanding, use and national implementations of ISO/TS 21274. It gives explanations on the procedures and background information. It also provides justifications of the choices that have been made. It gives detailed examples to illustrate the overall workings of ISO/TS 21274.

Lumière et éclairage — Mise en service des systèmes d'éclairage dans les bâtiments – Explication et justification de l'ISO/TS 21274

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Oct-2023
• ICS: 91.160.10 - Interior lighting
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 274 - Light and lighting
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 274 - Light and lighting
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 31-Oct-2023
• Due Date: 28-Jul-2023
• Completion Date: 31-Oct-2023

Overview

ISO/TR 5911:2023 - "Light and lighting – Commissioning of lighting systems in buildings – Explanation and justification of ISO/TS 21274" - is a technical report that explains and justifies the requirements in ISO/TS 21274. Its purpose is to support correct understanding, national implementation and practical application of commissioning procedures for building lighting systems. The document clarifies background rationale, provides detailed examples and expands on roles, activities and documentation needed to deliver lighting systems that meet design intent.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and purpose: Guidance to interpret and implement ISO/TS 21274 for commissioning lighting systems in buildings.
• Commissioning benefits & need: Addresses complexity introduced by LED technology, digital controls, IoT integration and human‑centric lighting, and the role of commissioning to secure quality and design intent.
• Commissioning content: Explanations of typical commissioning tasks including:
  • Installation checks (equipment type, placement, aiming for sensors/luminaires)
  • Operation checks (local and remote controls, simulated sensor inputs, control logic verification)
  • Performance tests (system behaviour under designed operating conditions)
  • Calibration and configuration (problem analysis, parameter tuning)
• Methods & selection: Classification and selection criteria for commissioning methods appropriate to system complexity and project requirements.
• Roles & responsibilities: Guidance for owners/tenants, design teams, contractors/subcontractors, and the commissioning team.
• Phased activities: Pre‑commissioning, installation, field commissioning and post‑occupancy stages.
• Documentation requirements: Clarifies deliverables required by ISO/TS 21274 such as the commissioning plan, commissioning specification, inspection/calibration reports, issues log, training plan and final commissioning report.
• Normative references: ISO/TS 21274, ISO 52000‑1 and CIE S 017.

Practical applications and users

ISO/TR 5911:2023 is practical for professionals involved in the lifecycle of lighting systems:

• Facility owners and tenants specifying performance and acceptance criteria
• Architects and lighting designers aligning design intent with commissioning requirements
• Electrical contractors, integrators and suppliers executing installation, controls and configuration
• Commissioning agents and building engineers running tests, calibration and handover processes
• Facility managers and operators receiving training and documentation at handover
  Use cases include projects with LED controls, integrative lighting, energy‑performance objectives, and buildings that require verified lighting performance for comfort, safety or health.

Related standards

• ISO/TS 21274 – Commissioning of lighting systems in buildings (primary technical specification)
• ISO 52000‑1 – Energy performance of buildings (framework)
• CIE S 017 – International Lighting Vocabulary

Keywords: ISO/TR 5911:2023, ISO/TS 21274, commissioning lighting systems, lighting commissioning, building lighting, LED controls, commissioning plan, commissioning specification.

Standards Content (Sample)

TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 5911
First edition
2023-10
Light and lighting – Commissioning
of lighting systems in buildings –
Explanation and justification of ISO/
TS 21274
Lumière et éclairage — Mise en service des systèmes d'éclairage dans
les bâtiments – Explication et justification de l'ISO/TS 21274
Reference number
© ISO 2023
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
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or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 General aspects . 2
4.1 Benefits of commissioning for lighting systems . 2
4.2 The need for commissioning . 2
4.3 Content of commissioning for lighting systems . 2
4.4 The acceptance of commissioning deliverables . 3
5 Commissioning methods and selection . 3
5.1 Classification of commissioning methods . 3
5.2 Selection of commissioning methods . 4
6 Roles and responsibilities . 4
6.1 General . 4
6.2 Owner or tenant . 5
6.3 Design team . 5
6.4 Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers . 5
6.5 Commissioning team . 6
7 Commissioning activities. 6
7.1 General . 6
7.2 Pre-commissioning phase . 7
7.3 Installation phase . 7
7.4 Field commissioning phase . 8
7.5 Post occupancy phase . 9
8 Documentation requirements of ISO/TS 21274.10
8.1 General . 10
8.2 Commissioning plan . 10
8.3 Commissioning specification . 11
8.4 Commissioning observation inspection and calibration report . 11
8.5 Issues log .12
8.6 Training plan . 12
8.7 Commissioning report . 13
9 Contractual completion .13
Annex A (informative) Example for commissioning specification of lighting systems.14
Bibliography .17
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
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The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
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www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 274, Light and lighting.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
The increasing use of solid-state lighting technology e.g. LED lighting, the growing scientific insight
on the impact of light on humans and the diverse individual demands for lighting function bring
a significant incentive for the application of lighting control. However, the resulting complexity of
installed systems needs more professional skills to design, install, and maintain.
Commissioning is a very important measure that can be taken to guarantee the quality of lighting
systems as close as possible to its design intent. ISO/TS 21274 specifies requirements for the
commissioning of lighting systems in buildings to meet design specifications, including roles and
responsibilities, commissioning activities, documentation requirements and system handover.
This document presents explanation and justification to support the correct understanding, use and
national implementations of ISO/TS 21274.
v
TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/TR 5911:2023(E)
Light and lighting – Commissioning of lighting systems in
buildings – Explanation and justification of ISO/TS 21274
1 Scope
This document provides information to support the correct understanding, use and national
implementations of ISO/TS 21274. It gives explanations on the procedures and background information.
It also provides justifications of the choices that have been made. It gives detailed examples to illustrate
the overall workings of ISO/TS 21274.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/TS 21274, Light and lighting — Commissioning of lighting systems in buildings
ISO 52000-1, Energy performance of buildings — Overarching EPB assessment — Part 1: General
framework and procedures
1)
CIE S 017, ILV: International Lighting Vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 52000-1, ISO/TS 21274 and
CIE S 017 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
lighting system
system designed to provide lighting
Note 1 to entry: A lighting system can be dedicated to:
a) the support of one or more specified visual tasks under specified conditions considering other requirements
such as human comfort, safety, the appearance of the surrounding environment and energy consumption;
b) the support of other than human tasks.
Note 2 to entry: A lighting system can include a set of light sources, other physical components, communication
protocols, user interfaces, software and networks to provide control and monitoring functions.
Note 3 to entry: The light source(s) and the related equipment can be integrated in a single item, e.g. an LED
module, a lamp or a luminaire.
Note 4 to entry: A lighting system can be networked to provide central or remote control and monitoring
functions.
1) Online version: CIE e-ILV: https:// cie .co .at/ e -ilv
Note 5 to entry: A lighting system can be connected to or integrated with other systems or devices.
[SOURCE: CIE S 017:2020, 17-27-010]
4 General aspects
4.1 Benefits of commissioning for lighting systems
For traditional lighting solutions of interior spaces using discharge, halogen and incandescent
lighting technology, the systems are relatively simple, so commissioning can be implemented after
appropriate preparation. LEDs’ capabilities of instantaneous response, dimming, colour tuning, and
stable performance under frequent switching conditions, offer good opportunity to create a lighting
environment of high quality with more energy efficient solutions.
The integration of new technology including IoT, digital control and IT into lighting systems, and better
knowledge on the influence of light on human wellbeing, means that lighting technology continues
its advance into IoT and advanced digital applications, adaptive lighting and integrative lighting. The
transformation of lighting from simple to complex systems, providing tailored lighting conditions for
diverse individual needs and demanding tasks, the trend for more hardware functions to be realized
with software, and interactions with other building automation systems make the lighting system
complex to design, install and put into service.
In a perfect situation, the owners/tenants clearly communicate their needs and desires, the design team
is united around a concept and clearly express design intent, and installation and startup occur without
error. The owners/tenants benefit from a high-quality control system. But in reality, a deficiency in one
or more components can prevent the correct operation of the lighting system. If something goes wrong
during the construction process, measures can be taken to assure that the final lighting system will
satisfy the owners/tenants needs.
According to ISO/TS 21274, commissioning is necessary to manage the growing complexity of lighting
systems. Commissioning for a lighting system is more than just an energy saving strategy, but also a
quality control process ensuring that the operation of a lighting system meets the design specification,
by integrating the functions of design, construction, and operation, with the involvement of the project
team during each phase of the project.
4.2 The need for commissioning
With the discovery of ipRGCs and the non-image-forming pathway, the aim of lighting in buildings
has been expanding from visual performance and visual comfort to integrative lighting for creating
physiological and/or psychological benefits for humans, which means that the design specification can
differ from project to project for the reason of different occupant profiles, activity profiles, daylight
conditions, and design philosophy etc. Therefore, the scope of commissioning can be decided according
to the owner or tenants requirements, and the complexity and scale of the lighting system, design
specification, and budget.
This document gives some general principles for commissioning regarding roles and responsibilities,
activities, documentation, but not technical specification of lighting systems, which are supplemented
by design specification as Annex A shows.
4.3 Content of commissioning for lighting systems
Commissioning is a very important measure to ensure the lighting system can work as closely as
possible to the design specification. The strategy of commissioning can be different from system to
system. The content of commissioning can include but is not limited to the following items:
— Installation check: The commissioning team can develop equipment installation checklists on the
basis of design documents, with which they can conduct the inspection to ensure that all equipment
are of the correct type and quantity, and located and connected correctly as the design documents
specify. For sensors and adjustable luminaires, ISO/TS 21274 also recommends to check the aiming
of these devices, with no blocking in the specified direction.
— Operation check: The operating function of a sampled proportion of devices (including luminaires,
solar shading systems, daylight redirecting systems and other systems in the building connected
with the lighting systems) is checked to ensure all the control functions of local and remote-control
devices operate correctly. For lighting systems with sensors, the simulated sensing signal can be
used to verify the activation of different design control modes. The communication and control
logics are verified during this stage.
— Performance test: Performance testing involves ensuring the installed system meets the design
specification under the designed operating conditions and control modes. A step-by-step test
procedure is used from components, systems to points of interaction between technical building
systems, and all the problems discovered during this stage are recorded in the issue log. The
possible reasons for these problems is analysed and confirmed as the basis of further calibration
and configuration.
— Calibration and configuration: Calibration and configuration is a very important measure for
problem solving during the commissioning process. A systematic analysis of any problems found
during check and test is made with all related stakeholders, and design assumptions, device
performance, and control parameters are verified. On the basis of these analyses and verification,
calibration and configuration can be made accordingly.
4.4 The acceptance of commissioning deliverables
The process for each activity and deliverable includes an acceptance step as defined in the
commissioning plan (Cx plan). This step formalizes the acceptance of the commissioning deliverable by
the owner or tenant.
5 Commissioning methods and selection
5.1 Classification of commissioning methods
The term commissioning comes from the shipbuilding industry. A commissioned ship is a ship with
all the equipment installed and tested, problems identified and corrected, and the prospective crew
extensively trained.
Since its adoption by the building industry, commissioning has been widely recognized as a valuable
mechanism for quality assurance, ensuring building systems are fully integrated, tested, and function
properly.
Initial commissioning can be conducted during the installation stage and operation stage. It helps ensure
that the performance of the lighting system meets the design specification. This type of commissioning
is specified in ISO/TS 21274:2020, as Method 1, the basic method.
The growing demand on the building environment has resulted in moving from simple to complex
lighting systems, which enables one to develop more efficient and flexible solutions, but also leads to a
higher level of complexity.
With the increasing complexity of building systems, a lack of familiarity by the designers, installers, or
end-users can lead to the misapplication of technologies and result in poor performance. How to ensure
the commissionability of the lighting system and reduce the potential cost of further modification
and commissioning due to minor defects in the lighting system design has become more challenging.
According to ISO/TS 21274, the commissionability of lighting systems is designed so that when
installed, all designed control logic can be accessed and checked easily, which requires that the cause
and effect relation of control logic of lighting systems should be provided to the commissioning team,
and they should have all the necessary access authorization to make configuration and calibration on
the lighting systems.
A broader concept of commissioning has been introduced, which starts from the pre-design phase,
goes through the installation phase, and continues during the post-occupancy phase, and is a quality
assurance process to ensure the performance of the building meets the design documents. This type
of commissioning is specified in ISO/TS 21274:2020, as Method 2, the full life-cycle commissioning
method.
5.2 Selection of commissioning methods
According to CIE 222:2017, lighting controls are electrical devices added to the installed lighting circuit
to adjust the light output of the luminaires according to a pre-planned program or automatic detection
regime or to operator managed actions. They play an essential role in all lighting systems, providing
the functions of switching and/or dimming. In past decades, fast advancement of technology, higher
requirement on energy saving and deeper understanding on the influence of light for human wellbeing,
all push the lighting control strategy from simple to complicated. According to the control strategy, the
lighting controls can be classified into the following types:
a) Manual control
These respond to human commands and are typically operated by hand. The forms of manual control
can vary from simple switches used to turn the lights on, to dimmer switches and remote-control
devices. It is the most popular control strategy in lighting application at the moment, and relatively
simple for installation. So, the basic method for commissioning can be sufficient, and one point for
consideration during the commissioning process is to ensure that users of the system can readily
understand the function of any such control devices.
b) Automatic control
Here, the lighting system can switch or dim designated loads automatically in response to events such
as a time schedule, illuminance, or occupancy, etc. The automatic control lighting system can have some
manual control interface.
At the very beginning, the control function is realized by hardware such as a relay, which is pre-set
during the manufacturing stage. The function of controls is more product-dependent, and relatively
simple. The control parameters are generally difficult to modify in the field. The complexity for design,
installation and commissioning of the system is relatively low, so there is no high demand for a full life-
cycle commissioning method.
With the fast development of IT technology, software is playing a more and more important role in
realizing the function of automatic control. Advanced performance can be achieved with the improved
processing capacity of programmable control devices in lighting systems. It also gives much more
flexibility, and the control function can be updated by reconfiguring the program or updating the
control software without change in any of the hardware of the lighting systems. This is a very big step
for lighting application, it is also the basis for connected lighting and integrative lighting.
However, the above-mentioned items also increase the complexity of lighting systems, and
multidisciplinary knowledge to realize the system. A lack of familiarity by the designers, installers,
or end-users can lead to the misapplication of technologies and result in poor performance. So,
ISO/TS 21274 recommends a full life-cycle commissioning method, which starts from the pre-design
phase, goes through the installation phase, and continues during the post-occupancy phase.
6 Roles and responsibilities
6.1 General
Lighting systems are becoming more sophisticated. The design, installation and operation complexities
increase along with capabilities and benefits. There is a need for cooperation between the owner,
design team, contractors (including subcontractors and suppliers) and commissioning team in a
highly collaborative way. ISO/TS 21274 specifies the roles and responsibilities of all the responsible
parties related to commissioning, including the owner or tenant, the design team, the contractors and
subcontractors, suppliers and Cx team.
6.2 Owner or tenant
The owner or tenant acts as a coordinator and final decision maker in the commissioning process.
They make the final decision on the scope and targets of the commissioning task, the selection of the
commissioning team regarding the balance of budget, and level of performance assurance and lighting
system complexity, typically with input from the design team.
They review and approve the documents such as the commissioning plan and training plan.
They make the decision on the follow-up procedures for any reported items that cannot achieve the
design specification in a timely and economic way during the commissioning process.
They also coordinate actions among the relevant participants during the Cx process.
6.3 Design team
The lighting system design process is an iterative process to design lighting system solutions for
sustainable lighting quality and energy efficiency based on specifications in the relevant lighting
application standards, for the wellbeing of users and for a pleasant built environment.
NOTE See CEN/TS 17165 for more information.
As the design is the basis for the entire project and defines how effectively it can be commissioned, it
is important that the design team is aware of the commissioning requirements of the lighting systems.
So, two-way communication and coordination between design team and commissioning team is very
important and necessary in the following aspects:
a) The design team shares the design documents with the commissioning team as the basis for
the development of the commissioning plan and commissioning specification, and also for their
comments to maximize the functionality, operability, maintainability and ease of commissioning of
the lighting system.
b) The design team makes a review of the commissioning plan and commissioning specification to
ensure that these documents comply with the design documents. ISO/TS 21274 recommends that
they should participate in all of the relevant activities during the commissioning process.
c) The design team also transfers all the information on the functionality, operability, maintainability,
and ease of commissioning of the designed lighting system into design documents, so that all
related contractors, subcontractors and suppliers for implementing the Cx plan during the
installation stage can provide the necessary support including the access to hardware, software or
onsite technical support to assist the Cx effort.
6.4 Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers
The role of the (sub)contractors is to execute the installation process, and they are responsible for
proper installation, and functional testing of all of the components and equipment of the lighting
systems according to the design documents. The (sub)contractors should manage their functions in
the commissioning process and work closely with the Cx team to document the performance of the
commissioned lighting systems.
The equipment documentation includes the instructions for installation, testing, operations, and
maintenance. Suppliers are also responsible for providing the necessary operating interface for
hardware, software or onsite technical support. For some complex lighting systems, the supplier can
participate in the start-up and testing of the system and training.
6.5 Commissioning team
The commissioning team manages the commissioning process. ISO/TS 21274 recommends that the
commissioning team should be selected at an early stage of the project. The commissioning team is
expected to participate during the entire project for programmable control lighting systems and can
provide continuity and technical guidance. Due to these factors, the commissioning team ideally reports
directly to the owner of the project. ISO/TS 21274 recommends that the commissioning team should
have good communication and organization skills, along with experience and up-to-date technical
knowledge on design, installation and operation of the lighting system to be commissioned.
For a lighting system with a higher complexity, ISO/TS 21274 recommends the commissioning team
reviews the design documents and makes comments fo
...