The Hidden Cost of Commissioning
Commissioning is the process of installing and connecting lights in a building; it is recognised as one of the top issues developers of connected LED lighting systems experience. The process can account for at least as much effort and expense as the physical installation, so it shouldn't be ignored; it makes it expensive to specify anything truly sophisticated. When budgets and timelines get squeezed, it is the first thing to get compromised.
Yet, with an increasing amount of money invested in making the lighting smart, why is it so often done badly? Surely it doesn't have to be this way…
Currently, many (most) available lighting control systems are based around variations of a programmed, rule-based system. Each controller is programmed with rules that link sensor values changes with changes to intensity (or colour temperature) of defined groups of lights. Such systems have a direct control algorithm - a mapping between each sensor's state and a group of lights. Each of these groups must be set up, have its lights associated with it and the rules configured. This bespoke programming is expensive and time-consuming, and little can be re-used from project to project.
The high cost of programming leads to a reduction of scope either at the specification phase or, more commonly, on implementation. As the overall project budget comes under pressure, the lighting design is simplified to reduce programming cost. This simplification has a long-term impact - increasing energy use and leading to a poorer quality of lighting for the installation's lifetime. The ship is spoiled for a ha’p’orth of tar.
If the resulting lighting behaviour is not as required, the programming must be re-visited, making snagging relatively costly.
Likewise, if the office layout changes during a refurbishment, for example, the programming of the lighting control will likely have to be updated to reflect this. Even small changes have to be done with most systems by a system specialist programmer, usually on-site; a costly requirement.
But there is now an alternative approach that overcomes these problems. The lighting requirements are captured as an abstract description, a Light-Scene independent of the sensor and fixture available. This means that all that requires to be commissioned are the sensors, fixtures, and location by simply entering them into the system. The system then handles everything else, mapping the selected lighting experience onto the devices' capabilities and delivering the required lighting outcome automatically.
No time-consuming and costly programming is required, whether this is at the initial commissioning stage or for subsequent moving, adding or removing of fixtures. This can save up to 75% of the time and cost compared with other lighting systems in the setup and commissioning stage.
amBX Commissioning Tool
If the behaviour of a space needs to change, all that is required is that a new Light-Scene is run in the space. This can be performed by facility manager tools and requires no re-commissioning.
Dramatically reducing the commissioning time and complexity by removing the programming stage makes such an installation easier to deliver and accessible to the masses. It also makes it easier to change and adapt to evolving circumstances ensuring that initial savings continue and the building is best served by it’s lighting installation for many years.
Perhaps it is time to revisit the bespoke programming of current systems and embrace an abstract model approach to lighting management to allow smart lighting to really achieve its potential.