DALI emergency: What & why

About DALI emergency

Traditionally the emergency control standards used to monitor emergency devices has been locked away behind propriety standards. The introduction of DALI as an international lighting control interface has led to the creation of the DALI emergency control definition.

DALI emergency is defined within the extended commands of DALI with the DALI emergency device defined as TYPE 1 within the DALI protocol. Ballast are defined as TYPE 0 while halogen converters are defined as TYPE 3. This standard allows the use of emergency lighting devices on the same DALI line as other DALI devices such as ballasts, transformers, led lighting and other lighting types.

The DALI emergency standard allows for emergency devices to run two key emergency tests as well as feeding back many other pieces of important information.

Duration test

A duration test will test the battery periodically (either initiated from the attached control system or through a calendar inside the emergency device itself). This test can give feedback on the device’s current battery status, lamp status and if the device discharged for the required time before the battery was exhausted.

Function test

A function test gives quick feedback on the current status of the device, battery and lamp. This test can be initiated via the attached control system or through the emergency calendar inside the emergency device

DALI emergency requirements

The requirements for DALI emergency control is almost the same as those of normal DALI devices, and the minimum requirements can be summarised to the following items:

• DALI power supply
• DALI emergency device
• Control system that can communicate with DALI emergency devices.

For more information on the requirements please refer to the DALI requirements in the DALI section.

Why DALI emergency

DALI emergency is an open standard defined under EN62386. This standard ensures that all DALI compatible emergency control systems work in synchronization and that the technology is available to multiple device manufacturers. This in turn delivers more choice to the end user and guarantees price driven competition.

Another benefit to using DALI emergency is that when used in conjunction with standard DALI devices it reduces wiring. Moreover, the amalgamation of two independent control systems (emergency and normal) into a single control system decreases installation and maintenance costs, and the ability to monitor emergency lighting and normal lighting in one step can lead to a safer lighting solution.

In summary DALI emergency offers the following benefits:

• Open source highly supported technology
• Choice of supplier
• Reduced wiring
• Reduced number of control systems
• Reduced training and maintenance costs
• Safer lighting solution