The Fabric of our Society

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October 2024

DALI Update at NYControlled: Interoperability in the Digital Age 

Carol Jones
NA Market Development Manager
DALI Alliance

Last fall, I enthusiastically attended the NYControlled inaugural conference. As a longtime controls geek, I felt it was well past time that we have a conference dedicated to everything lighting controls. NYControlled is not about luminaires and “oh by the way, we need controls.” The focus is squarely on lighting controls, which (let’s be honest) is a growth edge for specifiers. The organizers are precise about the boundaries that apply to manufacturers to ensure the focus on different controls technologies, systems, applications, use cases, and more.

Learning curve? Of course, there’s a learning curve (as with all things that matter). You may have to ask the same question more than once. But if you want to elevate your competency, improve your delivered projects, and differentiate yourself within a competitive field, then ask as many questions as you need, as many times as you need.

Cue the DALI Summit

This year, we’ll have another inaugural event, located at the same venue. The day after NYControlled will be the first-ever DALI Summit in North America. The summit is a single-day educational event that will give you the what, why, and how of DALI lighting controls. We have listened to feedback from the market, and we’re responding by committing resources to North America and offering education and training along with technical materials.

We won’t be just singing the praises of DALI. You will learn how DALI products are interoperable, and exactly why that is necessary for growth in the market. You will also learn

No one is naive about the challenges of driving North America toward DALI as common practice. Our current market has standardized on 0–10V and holds to the belief that DALI is too complicated and too expensive. That said, I submit that this perspective is not based on a well-informed comparison. Perhaps it’s due to a comfortable status quo, where familiar is preferred because it’s familiar.

Objectively speaking, it takes knowledge and experience with both options to know the pros and cons. The consistent and significant growth of DALI in other regions proves its viability and performance.

Something for everyone

It’s important to note that there have been many improvements since the initial launch of DALI version 1, that are largely unknown in the NA market. While the DALI communication protocol and the specifications represent the core of the technical products, the launch of the DALI-2 certification program has been a game-changer.

Specifications and standards by themselves do not guarantee product performance. From the perspective of owners and facility managers – as well as those who install, program, and integrate lighting systems – it is certification that builds confidence in interoperability. Having product options from multiple manufacturers reduces supply chain challenges and supports long-term maintenance.

The DALI Alliance and its members have continued to develop many specification parts, extending value to different types of stakeholders, from design and specification through construction and occupancy. Called “parts,” these specs have been developed and added to the DALI-2 certification program in eight phases over the past 7 years.

In short, DALI-certified products enable features and functionality that just can’t be achieved with 0–10V. While 0–10V systems provide the basics of lighting functionality such as dimming, daylight harvesting, occupancy sensing, and energy savings, the differences and use cases enabled by DALI-2 are clear.

Standardized and interoperable

It is important to acknowledge that some controls manufacturers have invested in digital lighting control systems and components that accommodate numerous use cases. We certainly have some high-value and sophisticated lighting control options today.

The fundamental difference is that DALI-2 certified products are standardized and interoperable. In the big bad world of buildings, beyond the lighting ecosystem, proprietary systems are a significant pain point for owners and operators. Being candid, owners and managers are generally resentful. They do not want to be locked into a single lighting controls vendor. Interoperable components mitigate risk, reduce costs and delays, and empower staff to handle maintenance in-house.

Generally speaking, DALI-2 wired is most common in new construction and major renovations within existing buildings. Meanwhile, D4i with integral sensors and a wireless layer, is a great fit for interior retrofits as well as smart street and area lighting. Wireless mesh networks are the most common communication backbone for luminaire-level lighting control (LLLC), where sensors are integral to luminaires and capable of dimming individually.

True to the spirit of being interoperable and scalable, DALI has developed interfaces (“gateways” in DALI parlance), to enable wireless communication and functionality with Bluetooth Mesh and Zigbee. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) recently released a full stack standard for wireless lighting control entitled Bluetooth® NLC. Notably, product testing is required to achieve Bluetooth NLC qualification. This ensures interoperability for Bluetooth NLC qualified devices and, for the first time, enables multi-vendor sensor replacement. Sensor-rich lighting systems can deliver powerful IoT capabilities like indoor navigation, integration with HVAC, room reservation systems, shading, and more.

The Zhaga Consortium has standardized the form factors for integral sensors and connectors. Look for both the Zhaga and D4i labels for mechanical interoperability of sensors, and device interoperability of luminaire drivers, and other controls components.

See you at the Metropolitan Pavilion

As net zero and decarbonization regulations tighten (like Local Law 97 in NYC), streamlining renovations and retrofits becomes even more crucial. The DALI Summit will give you the tools to specify designs that, at long last, are interoperable and standardized. NYControlled gives you the chance to see lighting controls products of every type— in person rather than online—and to talk directly to the experts.

My expectation is that next year’s NYControlled event will see even more manufacturers showcasing their DALI-certified products. And keep an eye out for more education, products, integrations, and demand for DALI systems in North America.

After all, digitization is here to stay. And the changes will only come faster. Out of all the industry events, these back-to-back conferences stand apart by giving you the most current and in-depth education for lighting controls. So, I’ll see you at NYControlled in Chelsea October 29, and at the first-ever North American DALI Summit October 30.