As lighting evolves, interoperability becomes paramount

by Erik Missio | April 25, 2016 10:02 am

HORIZONS
Audwin Cash
Lighting systems are becoming more sophisticated to meet the requirements of building owners. Through innovative and advanced capability, lighting and controls provide code-compliant energy savings while also reducing maintenance and increasing adaptability for future needs. As the industry evolves from a world of devices to an interacting system, concerns about complexity and interoperability arise. Specifically, the interoperability of system components becomes an area of focus—high-level features depend on the functional relationships between luminaires, drivers, and control devices.

Attributes of networked lighting systems include:

• dimming;
• color-tuning;
• remote monitoring;
• mobile app connectivity;
• rezoning;
• task tuning;
• system alerts; and
• energy reporting.

Whether a centralized or distributed system, these are software-driven features depending on the underlying networked devices to function smoothly. Increasingly, advanced features are available and enabled through light-emitting diode (LED)-based luminaires. To overcome one of the historical challenges with LED lighting, control, and driver compatibility, some practitioners turn to open standards. Given the technology and variety of devices, coordination between multiple vendors becomes complicated and costly. Additionally, once advanced control features are layered onto the network, standards alone will not be sufficient to ensure performance.

There is good news, however. New luminaire systems integrate controls, taking the guesswork out of coordinating and installing smart lighting systems. Instead of simply being installed and programmed, these luminaires and controls were contemplated and designed for each other and validated via testing and qualification long before manufacturing. This significantly reduces specification, design, submittal, manufacturing, shipping, and installation time. The result is lower overall costs and reliable deployment of desired system features.

The new trends
There are some compelling reasons to look for these ready-to-install systems.

LED lighting and the Internet of Things
As the lighting business moves decidedly toward digital LED-based solutions, there is a strong case for lighting systems to serve as a major component of an Internet of Things (IoT) scheme.

LED lighting systems address key IoT concerns on practically every front. Overhead lighting systems are ubiquitous in a building or facility layout, and are organized spatially in a manner optimal for both wired and wireless networking. Additionally, lighting is always powered and where people are. Each fixture can be easily outfitted with smart sensors that capture environment and space utilization data and feed it to analytical platforms.

Sophisticated control systems are needed to connect and communicate with the array of sensors and other networking and data components that make up a lighting-based IoT platform. There are interesting near-term developments further integrating LED lighting into building automation system (BAS) platforms. Sensors in the lighting system interact with HVAC, access controls, life safety (smoke and fire), and other building management systems.

As such, achieving compatibility and interoperability among fixtures, drivers, and controls becomes even more valuable against the backdrop of complexity. Ready-to-install solutions are more attractive as time-to-deploy is reduced and time-to-benefit from the system intelligence is accelerated.

Wireless technology
Everything is going wireless, including lighting control systems. Wireless networking enables faster and less costly installation, opening the door to user-friendly controls on mobile devices. Today, it is common to see even the most standard control systems operated through phones and tablets. Reaping the benefits of a wireless lighting scheme can also be fast-tracked by choosing a fully integrated solution.

Dynamic, tunable lighting
Color change lighting such as tunable white, RGBW, and warm dimming are increasingly being used to enhance spaces. Further, tunable white lighting is proving beneficial in driving human performance in education[1] , as well as in the commercial, industrial, and healthcare sectors. Achieving the optimal intensity and color levels to create an ambience or positively affect performance requires exacting precision in the controls—another argument for embracing integrated systems designed and tested to a specific lighting application.

Conclusion
It is an inescapable truth LED lighting and controls are enabling both advanced functionality and deeper complexity to lighting systems. However, specifiers can look forward to innovation in system design that includes integration and full interoperability testing, which means the heavy lifting is already done. It is a good idea to opt for controls and luminaires from the same manufacturer where possible, or insist on tested, proven pairings to mitigate compatibility risks.

Audwin Cash has been actively shaping the course of digital lighting for the past 15 years. As the vice president of controls at Acuity Brands[2], he guides development and deployment of energy-saving and performance control and network solutions for a wide variety of customers. Prior to Acuity, Cash took on leadership roles in sales, marketing, and engineering at Dialight, SOL, and Lutron Electronics. He can be reached at audwin.cash@acuitybrands.com[3].

Source URL: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/as-lighting-evolves-interoperability-becomes-paramount/

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