THE CHALLENGES

Maintaining reliable 24/7 lighting control across three interconnected multi‑storey hospital buildings.

Managing multiple lighting types and schedules using only local commands and time programs, without sensors

Integrating DALI lighting with the Niagara N4 BMS and mission‑critical operating theatre systems.

LOYTEC delivered a comprehensive lighting control solution based on DALI‑2 and BACnet/IP, ensuring long‑term flexibility and seamless native integration into the hospital’s automation infrastructure.

The system was implemented identically across three lots, each corresponding to a separate building. All buildings are interconnected via fiber‑optic networks to ensure reliable, high‑performance communications.

Approximately 6,000 DALI lighting fixtures were deployed, including night and emergency lighting, to manage inpatient departments—covering both patient rooms and corridors. A total of 36 LDALI‑ME204U multi‑protocol controllers/gateways were installed, along with 36 LDALI‑PWR4‑U DALI power supplies and 72 LDALI‑RM8 relay modules.

The relay modules were primarily used to control exterior lighting in the connecting terraces between buildings—areas that required dedicated control logic and scheduling distinct from interior spaces.

To ensure local operational control, each floor in every building was equipped with two LDALI‑BM2 push‑button modules installed in the nursing control rooms. This setup allows staff to manually override lighting states according to operational needs, while still maintaining centralized supervision.

All lighting functions are managed exclusively through local commands and scheduled programs, in accordance with hospital operating procedures and without the use of sensors. The DALI lighting system was fully integrated into the Niagara N4 BMS via BACnet/IP, enabling centralized monitoring, supervision, and scheduling.

Furthermore, DALI lighting control was also integrated into the controllers dedicated to the operating rooms, contributing to coordinated management of both lighting and microclimate. Operating rooms are highly complex environments from a microclimatic perspective and require high‑quality lighting to ensure optimal visibility and comfort during surgical procedures.

The LOYTEC solution provided the hospital with a robust, standardized, and easy-to-manage lighting automation system across all buildings and project phases. Centralized control and scheduling improved operational efficiency and consistency, while local override capabilities gave medical staff the flexibility required in daily clinical practice.

The use of identical system architecture across all lots simplified commissioning, maintenance, and staff training while reducing long-term operational risks.

Exterior and terrace lighting benefits from precise scheduling and reliable switching through dedicated relay modules, improving safety and energy efficiency.

Integration with the Niagara N4 BMS and operating room controllers ensured that lighting became an integral part of the hospital’s overall automation ecosystem, supporting both patient comfort and critical medical procedures.

This project at Hospital San Gerardo demonstrates how open, DALI-based lighting automation can successfully meet the demanding requirements of large healthcare facilities. By combining centralized BMS integration, reliable field-level devices, and local manual control, LOYTEC delivered a future-proof solution tailored to hospital workflows and safety standards.

The scalable architecture, standardized implementation across multiple buildings, and seamless integration with critical systems position the hospital for long-term operational excellence, while reinforcing LOYTEC’s expertise in delivering high-performance building automation solutions for mission-critical healthcare environments.