Sonotechnic installs 600 theRonda DALI presence detectors from Theben at the Haute-Garonne Department Council to control the lighting zones in 600 offices.

The headquarters of the Haute-Garonne Department Council in Toulouse is currently being equipped with a new automatic lighting management system. Over the next two years, 600 offices across five floors will be fitted with 600 theRonda P360-330 DALI presence detectors from the European manufacturer Theben.

As part of a consistent commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR), the project's goal was to implement environmentally friendly solutions with the lowest possible CO₂ footprint. According to initial feedback, the energy-efficient lighting measures are expected to reduce electricity costs by up to 10%.

Another key project requirement concerned the luminaires: the old fluorescent tubes were to be replaced with LED strips, while retaining the existing aluminum "wing profile" mounts to keep waste to a minimum. This solution will reduce lighting energy consumption by 65%.

The project was reviewed on site together with Sébastien Boularouah (Head of Building Management at the Haute-Garonne Department Council), Eric Victor (Project Manager for the Tertiary Sector at Sonotechnic), Pascal Imperial (Site Manager for the Tertiary Sector at Sonotechnic), and Jérémie Villalonga (Sales Engineer at Theben).

Renovation of the lighting system at the Haute-Garonne Department Council

The headquarters of the Haute-Garonne Department Council is located in Toulouse, right next to the Canal du Midi. The site includes two buildings from 1998 and another one built in 2012, covering a total area of 80,000 m².
“The main objective of the lighting system renewal project was to achieve energy savings,” recalls Sébastien Boularouah, Head of Building Management at the Haute-Garonne Department Council. “We wanted to use high-performance, durable systems manufactured in Europe to reduce the project’s CO₂ footprint.”

“We joined the project in 2022,” explains Eric Victor, Project Manager for the Tertiary Sector at Sonotechnic. “One of the environmental criteria required by the Department Council was also to ensure the old luminaires would be recycled.”

The complete installation of the new lighting solutions is scheduled for completion by 2026. The top three of the total five floors have already been equipped — covering around 450 offices.
“The second floor will follow this year, and the first floor in 2026 — which adds another 150 offices,” says Boularouah.

7-month practical test in a model office

Already during the planning phase, Sonotechnic proposed using DALI technology (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) to control and manage the lighting.
“DALI is an open, interoperable protocol offering many advantages — especially in terms of cabling,” explains Eric Victor. “This technology is ideal for optimizing working conditions in offices.”

A model office was equipped with a theRonda P360-330 DALI presence detector from Theben to carry out tests and determine the optimal settings.
“After seven months of testing and several evaluations of energy savings, we approved Theben’s detector in coordination with the Territorial Social Committee (CST) and ultimately ordered 600 devices to equip all offices,” reports Boularouah.

A Theben detector "DALI / DALI-2" for controlling up to 3 lighting groups

The passive infrared presence detector theRonda P360-330 DALI is perfectly suited for the Haute-Garonne Department Council project, as it can be integrated into various building automation systems — ensuring efficient, flexible, and future-proof lighting management. With its circular detection area of 360° and a diameter of up to 24 m, it is particularly suitable for larger spaces such as offices and open-plan areas.

“Our detector can control up to three lighting groups using just one DALI cable,” adds Jérémie Villalonga, Sales Engineer at Theben. “In the future, it will also automatically detect and configure new devices such as push-buttons, switches, or luminaires. Lux levels and delay times can be conveniently adjusted via Bluetooth™ remote control using a smartphone. In addition, the theRonda P360-330 DALI is DALI-2 certified, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices.”

theRonda P360 DALI-2

A Theben module for controlling the fan coil units

In addition to the presence detectors, the installation includes other Theben products: SU 1 DALI-2 switching actuators to control the fan coil units, as well as 5G25 cables.
“The additional Theben module is installed directly inside the fan coil units. This allows them to switch off automatically as soon as the Theben DALI/DALI-2 presence detector detects no occupancy after five minutes. When someone re-enters the room, the fan coil units are reactivated,” explains Sébastien Boularouah from the Haute-Garonne Department Council.