July 31, 2019 – The Zhaga Consortium and the Digital Illumination Interface Alliance (DiiA) have unveiled a joint certification program for plug-and-play interoperability between products for ‘connected lighting’ applications.

Starting this summer, ‘Zhaga-D4i’ certification—combining the Zhaga Book 18 connector system (pictured) with DiiA’s D4i specifications for intra-luminaire Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) technology—will be launched for outdoor luminaires, sensors and communication nodes, indicating they are ‘future-proof’ with Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.

“Based on open standards, the certification program will result in value creation and reduced complexity for outdoor lighting and ‘smart city’ projects,” says Dee Denteneer, Zhaga’s secretary-general.

Complementary specifications from the two organizations cover mechanical fit, digital communications, data reporting and power requirements. To meet these specs, LED luminaires will need Book 18 sockets and D4i-certified drivers, while compatible sensors and wireless communication nodes will need Zhaga connectors.

All certified products will be eligible to carry both Zhaga and D4i logos to clearly indicate multi-vendor interoperability and will be listed on the Zhaga website. Similar certification for indoor LEDs is still in development.