Archives of SBM News
Scheeser-Buckley-Mayfield LLC Opens Columbus Office - January 2009
SBM is pleased to announce the opening of a branch office in downtown Columbus. This new office
was officially opened on January 5, 2009. The branch office is be located on the third floor of the
One Marconi Place building in the Arena district.
The office will be led by Joshua J. Roehm. Josh is an Associate with the firm and has been with the
firm since 1996. He is a Professional Engineer, is LEED® accredited, and is one of only 150 ASHRAE
HFDP (Healthcare Facility Design Professionals) in the country.
Josh and his family will be relocating to the area.
Please add this office to your contacts. The contact information for the new office is:
300 Marconi Blvd, Suite 306
Columbus, Oh 43215
The phone numbers for the office include
Office: (614) 448-1498
Office Fax: (614) 448-1498.
Alternatively you will be able to reach Josh via his cell phone at (330) 310-6270.
More Alphabet Soup? - January 2009
A.I.A., P.E., LEED AP, R.C.D.D,
H.F.D.P., A.S.I.D, NiCET,
H.E.L.P.!!!!
Wow! The available list of appellations
continues to grow now doesn't it. It's certainly
difficult to keep up with all of them and
determine which ones are important. Of
course, our industry will always have it's
mainstays. We need the A.I.A. (American
Institute of Architects) and the P.E.
(Professional Engineer) but we are seeing
others becoming more and more prominent.
One of these that continues to increase in
importance is L.C.. This article is intended to
provide a little detail on what a L.C. means to
your business.
What is L.C.?
L.C. is an appellation that stands for "Lighting
Certification". It is an accreditation that is
earned through the "National Council of
Qualifications for Lighting Professionals"
("NCQLP" for short) and was established in
1991 to provide a basis for the design
community regarding the capabilities of a
person to perform lighting design. This basis is
established through initial testing to obtain
certification and then mandatory continuing
education requirements. The continuing
education requirement includes obtaining 36
LEU (Lighting Educational Units) over a three
year period. This continuing education helps
ensure that the L.C. remains current with new
lighting technologies. An alternate method of
certification exists through a minimum of 25
years of service in the lighting industry. Those
certified with this alternate method is required
to fulfill the continuing educational
requirements.
Why do I need an L.C.?
The answer to this is actually pretty simple.
The L.C. adds value to the project. There are
many designers who can adequately provide
lighting design services. In fact, most electrical
consulting engineering firms provide lighting
design as part of their basic services. A L.C. is
someone who has demonstrated, through
testing and continuing education, that they
have the technical knowledge and experience
required to provide a design which meets the
project needs and requirements.
Does the L.C. really mean anything?
Absolutely! Even the U.S. government is
recognizing the need for certified lighting
professionals. The U.S. General Services
Administration "GSA" requires that the lighting
design performed on projects be performed by a
certified L.C. in their “Facilities Standards for
Public Building Service” standard. This attests
to the level of seriousness that the U.S.
government is putting to credential. Some
other state and local levels agree and are
requiring a L.C. perform the lighting design on
the project. For example, effective January 1,
2009, the city of Bloomington, Minnesota is now
requiring all exterior lighting plans be signed by
an L.C. Their requirements and enforcement
includes the holding of the building certificate of
occupancy until the site has confirmed that the
final design and actual installation meets the
city requirements.
Does a P.E. stamp take precedence over the
L.C. credential?
The L.C. is an accreditation, not a license. The
L.C. is a certification which indicates
specialization in lighting. Currently, the P.E.
stamp is not a substitute for the L.C.
certification.
Who governs the NCQLP?
The NCQLP is governed by a board of directors
that includes the major players in our industry.
These include the likes of the Illuminating
Engineering Society of North America (IESNA),
International Interior Design Association (IIDA),
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
(NEMA) and the U.S. Department of Energy
Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP).
What is the future of the L.C.?
As previously indicated, many more Federal,
State, and Local agencies are requiring the use
of L.C.'s on lighting projects and the trend is
unlikely to change. This may require the work
to be subcontracted to design firms with an L.C.
The number of L.C.'s taking the exam and
renewing their certification has continued to
increase in an effort to keep up with the need.
As of the end of 2007, there were 1753 L.C.
certificate holders in the United States.
Universities that offer lighting design as part of
their curriculum are now becoming eligible to
offer the Intern L.C. exam. These universities
include the University of Nebraska, Penn State
University, and Parsons School of Design.
Here at SBM.
SBM has three L.C.'s on staff to meet both
current and future needs. These include James
Eckman, Ron Radabaugh, and Dave Holbrook.
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