On Sun, 27 Sep 2015 20:32:23 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

That applies to *outlets* (180VA per single/dual), not circuits that are
used exclusively for hardwired lighting devices.

Understood.
This would be a dedicated lighting circuit, or circuits. Absolutely no outlets on it. Outlets will have separate circuit(s) and breaker(s).


Not to be pedantic but any termination of a circuit where energy is
used is an "outlet". not to be confused with a "receptacle" where you
plug things in or a "lamp holder" or "luminaire" where you install a
"lamp" (AKA light bulb). Those are just types of outlets.
A "device" is a piece of equipment that does not consume energy, like
a switch, breaker or any of those other little pieces of hardware in
an electrical installation like the wire nuts, connectors etc. The
lamp holder itself is a device but the location is an outlet.

If we are going to talk code, lets speak the language so nobody gets
misinformation. ;-)
The reason why you get away with having all of those lighting outlets
on one circuit is 210.23(A)(2) specifically exempts "luminaires" (AKA
light fixtures) from the fixed in place equipment.
You also have the protection of 240.4(D) (AKA idiot protection) that
artificially derates 14,12 and 10 gauge wire so the breaker is only
80% of the actual conductor ampacity. Your 80% protection is built
into the 14a breaker on 14 gauge wire, which is actually 20a wire in
310.16.

They know nobody actually reads those labels and you may use LEDs,
CFLs or you might screw in 150w PAR-38s. The breaker will trip before
the wire overheats. Being in the dark is another "design issue" not a
code issue.
Personally I would split them up but I couldn't make someone do it
with a red tag.
The same is true of loading too many outlets on a circuit. The code
just says you have to allow 3VA per square foot in residential but it
is not specific about how you wire it other than the ambiguous "Load
Evenly Proportioned Among Branch Circuits" in 210.11(B).
That is hard to determine until you see how the homeowner arranges
their furnishings and equipment so it is pretty much meaningless.