The DALI Alliance has joined IP-BLiS, the IP Building & Lighting Standards market interest group, to support convergence towards using Internet Protocol (IP) transport and security mechanisms to simplify deploying, provisioning, and securing complex building systems.
IP-BLiS was launched in June 2020 by BACnet International, KNX Association, Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF), Thread Group and the Zigbee Alliance. Together, these standards organizations support the widespread adoption of a secure, multi-standard, IP-based infrastructure as the backbone in commercial buildings for lighting and building-automation solutions.
The use of IP as the common networking protocol allows IT systems and building services, including lighting control, to operate on a secure, all IP-based configuration. As a result, building operators can expect end-to-end addressing and security; easy connectivity between previously-isolated applications as well as limitless scalability, according to DALI Alliance.
“On behalf of all the leading lighting companies that comprise our membership, we are excited to join IP-BLiS and help to address the complexity and connectivity roadblocks in smart buildings,” said Paul Drosihn, general manager of the DALI Alliance. “Internally, our team is making strong progress towards our first DALI over IP specification, which will enable DALI networks with wireless connectivity, as well as IP addressing and security.”
“DALI, as the leading digital lighting-control protocol, joining IP-BLiS is highlighting once again the importance of making commercial buildings more responsive to the needs of users by promoting a secure, multi-standard, IP-based harmonized IoT solution, which is fully inline with the vision of IP-BLiS. With DALI as a new member, we see IP-BLiS confirmed in its previous activities and success in the IP-BLiS roadmap for the future,” said Casto Cañavate, chair of IP-BLiS.
While IP-BLiS has a unified voice to promote IP-based networking with common transport and security requirements, the organization will not create its own standards. Each participant is responsible for specifying its own technology, as this strategy allows companies to decide which solution or solutions work best for their business and use cases.
IP-Building and Lighting Standards (IP-BLiS) is described as a “multi-party liaison” between the existing standardization organizations who have joined it, and who are working together to promote the move to a secure IP infrastructure. The IP-BLiS liaison parties, through collaboration and cooperation, aims to educate and influence the market regarding application framework standards over IP for commercial building connectivity through marketing and communications.
The DALI Alliance is an open, global consortium of lighting companies that drives the growth of lighting-control solutions based on internationally-standardized Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) technology.
