Book Development and Approval
Zhaga's role is to standardize interfaces between components of LED luminaires, including LED light engines, LED modules, LED arrays, holders, electronic control gear (LED drivers) and connectivity fit systems. It does this by creating a set of interface specifications, known as Books.
The lighting industry requires a range of different component form-factors that are suitable for a range of different applications. This has resulted in a series of Zhaga Books rather than one single specification.
In developing new Books, Zhaga looks at the industry's requirements for standardized components, but also avoids the standardization of too many component form-factors with arbitrary and unnecessary variations.
Zhaga Books start life as proposals made by Zhaga-member companies. Using these proposals, the members work collaboratively to create specifications that serve the lighting industry’s best interests.
NEW BOOKS
The Zhaga Consortium has adopted a five-step process for developing new Books, as described below.
Phase 1: Collecting proposals
At any time, Zhaga members are able to submit proposals new specifications.
Phase 2: Merger of proposals
The members study the merits of similar proposals and try to merge them into a single proposal. The goal of this phase is to avoid unnecessary and arbitrary variations.
Phase 3: Specification development
A Work Group adopts the merged proposal and writes a draft specification. Members build prototypes and verify interchangeability. The testing and certification procedure is put in place. At the end of this phase, the members vote to approve the new Book.
PUBLICATION: At this stage, the full specification is made available to all Zhaga members. It is not published to the market.
Phase 4: Maintenance by Zhaga
The Work Group monitors the Book and creates revised Editions where necessary. These revisions clarify the specification and fix problems reported by the members, while maintaining compatibility with earlier Editions.
Phase 5: Maintenance by an SDO
Zhaga intends to transfer all its Books to a Standards Development Organization (SDO) such as, for example, the IEC. That transfer will take place once a Zhaga specification is stable and widely used.
BOOK PUBLICATION
When a new Zhaga Book is approved, it is available to the Regular and Associate Zhaga members exclusively for one year. After that period, the Community members can download it. The Book does not become available for the market in general.