Zhaga | Smart Lighting | Nov 11, 2025

Zhaga Expands Smart Lighting Standard with New Edition of Book 18

The Zhaga Consortium has released Edition 4 of Book 18, the most widely adoptedspecification in the Zhaga portfolio and a cornerstone of its certification program. This new edition extends the Zhaga-D4i ecosystem to support heritage and decorative luminaires, addressing the growing need for smart, connected and circular lighting solutions across outdoor and industrial environments.

Zhaga Book 18 "Smart Interface Between Outdoor Luminaires and Sensing/Communication Modules" defines a standardized mechanical interface, intra-luminaire communication protocol, and power budget for control devices such as sensors and communication nodes. It provides the foundation for interoperable, serviceable, and upgradeable outdoor lighting systems, forming the backbone of modern smart and sustainable city infrastructure.

Edition 4 introduces important updates designed specifically for applications where traditional luminaire designs must meet today's digital requirements. It now:

  • Allows pole-mounted bracket assemblies, making smart connectivity possible for heritage and decorative luminaires with diverse shapes and forms.
  • Addresses installation challenges by supporting longer connection cables between the luminaire and bracket assembly, while ensuring robust and reliable communication across these extended distances.
  • In the context of the joint Zhaga-D4i certification program developed together with DALI Alliance, defines surge protection functionalities for this specific configuration, ensuring reliability in demanding environments.*

"Book 18 Edition 4 answers a clear market need," said Heinrich Thye, Secretary General of Zhaga Consortium "Cities want to preserve their historical and decorative lighting designs while embracing smart technologies. This update enables that by combining aesthetic preservation with interoperability and circularity”.`

As cities increasingly invest in sustainable and connected lighting, the expansion of Book 18 represents a significant step toward fully interoperable smart outdoor lighting, from modern streetlights to historic luminaires.

Book 18 Edition 4 is now available to all Zhaga Regular and Associate Members through the Zhaga member portal.

For more information, please visit: zhagastandard.org

About Zhaga Consortium
The Zhaga Consortium is a global lighting-industry organization that standardizes interfaces of components of LED luminaires, counting more than 600 members. Through its specifications and certification program, Zhaga enables interoperability, serviceability, and sustainability across the lighting value chain, helping the industry accelerate innovation and circularity.

*The D4i trademark is owned and exclusively used by the DALI Alliance.


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