LIGHTING & LIGHTING CONTROLS
Mind the gap: bridging the divide between lighting and building systems
Ed Wilkes – head of smart building solutions, Zumtobel Lighting (UK) explains how modern controls can bring lighting into a wider building ecosystem rather than it being treated as a standalone system
T
here has long been a gap between how buildings are designed, installed and how they actually operate. On paper, systems are designed to meet compliance targets across lighting, heating and cooling, ventilation, and security. Each specified to meet demand and deliver the required level of functionality. Yet in reality, they often operate in isolation, missing opportunities to optimise performance and deliver meaningful insights over time. Lighting control sits at the centre of this gap, yet it is still often treated as a standalone system rather than part of a wider building ecosystem. That is beginning to change. A new generation of controls strategies, supported by advances such as environmental sensing and standards such as DALI Part 306, is helping to close the gap. The result is not just better lighting, but better buildings. Traditionally, lighting controls have relied on
a relatively narrow set of inputs. Occupancy detection, daylight sensing and time-based control have enabled energy savings and a basic level of automation but now form only part of the picture. Buildings are dynamic environments. Light levels change with daylight availability, temperature fluctuates, air quality varies, and occupancy patterns shift throughout the day. In many buildings, much of this data has sat outside the lighting system, handled by separate systems or only loosely integrated. Lighting controls can now access and utilise a much broader set of environmental data. With multi-sensors, systems can monitor temperature, humidity, air quality, and air pressure alongside occupancy and light levels, creating a far richer understanding of how spaces are used and how they perform. Crucially, this is not about adding more infrastructure. By consolidating sensing within the lighting system, the number of devices can be reduced, resulting in cleaner ceilings, simpler installation and lower maintenance. Historically, different building systems have
required their own dedicated sensors, each installed independently, adding complexity, cost and visual impact.
By consolidating sensing capabilities within the lighting infrastructure, it becomes possible to reduce the number of physical devices required. At the same time, the data captured becomes
more valuable because it is no longer siloed. Occupancy and environmental data can be shared across systems, informing not only lighting behaviour but also heating, ventilation, cleaning schedules and space utilisation strategies. This is where lighting controls move beyond lighting.
A key enabler of this shift is the evolution of open, interoperable standards such as DALI-2. DALI has long provided a robust platform for lighting control. The introduction of DALI- 2, and specifically Part 306, extends this by standardising the range of data that sensors can measure and communicate. This includes environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity and CO2
, enabling
consistent data exchange across devices and manufacturers. Without this level of standardisation, integration can introduce complexity and compatibility issues. With it, specifiers and operators gain confidence that systems will work together as intended. It also supports efficient reporting, ensuring data is available when needed without placing unnecessary demand on the network. In practical terms, lighting can act as a sensing layer within the building, sharing data with dashboards and building management systems to support more informed and responsive operation. With richer datasets available, lighting systems can provide actionable insights to other platforms, informing HVAC zoning, ventilation and maintenance strategies. Lighting control dashboards, such as Zumtobel’s LiteCOM LightingGO, provide visibility that was previously difficult to achieve, helping facilities teams understand how spaces are used and make informed decisions about building operations. This creates a more joined-up approach to building performance, where systems respond collectively rather than independently. This shift is also being reinforced at a regulatory level. The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) places greater
emphasis on smart-ready buildings, requiring systems to support energy efficiency, automation and integration. Through measures such as the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), buildings are increasingly assessed on their ability to use technologies like sensor- based lighting controls, data monitoring and integration with wider building systems to improve performance, comfort and long-term efficiency. It also reflects a growing focus on lifecycle performance, including monitoring, predictive maintenance and the role of digital product data. A recent workplace project in Leeds highlights how this shift is beginning to take shape in practice.
The brief called for a lighting approach that could support a range of environments, from focused workspaces to collaborative and informal areas. Rather than treating controls as an add-on, they were embedded from the outset. Presence detection and daylight management ensured lighting responded to occupancy and available daylight, while scene-setting supported different modes of use.
Importantly, the project also demonstrates
future flexibility. Environmental sensing has since been introduced without changes to the existing DALI-2 control infrastructure, allowing additional data to be integrated and used to improve operational performance. This illustrates the wider opportunity. When lighting controls are considered as part of a broader system, buildings can adapt more effectively to how people actually use them. This is where many projects continue to fall short. Adding more data points and functionality alone does not guarantee better outcomes. Poorly implemented systems can become difficult to use, maintain and ultimately underutilised.
The goal is not the most advanced system, but the most effective one. That means selecting interoperable solutions, focusing on clear use cases, ensuring proper commissioning and providing interfaces that facilities teams can use with confidence. Importantly, consolidating sensing into fewer devices should simplify systems, not complicate them. When done well, it reduces points of failure and streamlines operation. While energy savings remain important, the
real value of lighting controls now lies in the data they provide. As a sensing layer within the building, they enable more informed, responsive operation across multiple systems. The gap between design and operation will not disappear overnight. But by connecting lighting, sensing and building systems through interoperable platforms and standards such as DALI Part 306, it is beginning to close.
16 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2026 Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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