Dimension scores are derived from public data and fields; weighted into the composite. Reference only.
GLDF (Global Lighting/Luminaire Data Format) is a unified data format for the lighting industry, developed and maintained by DIAL and RELUX. It is not a general-purpose IDE or coding platform, but a specialized data exchange specification designed to let luminaire, sensor, photometric, 3D geometry, and BIM-related information be created, validated, exchanged, and imported into software in a standardized way.
At its core, GLDF uses XML files validated against a consistent, documented, and versioned XSD Schema. Its data structure is divided into modules such as metadata, product parts, and the product itself, allowing reusable elements and combinations of multiple product variants. It covers a wide range of fields, including multi-emitter luminaires, sensors, conventional/LED light sources, spectra, embedded or linked files, emergency lighting, maintenance factors, control gear, mounting points, dimming curves, and around 350 CEN/TS 17623 - ZVEI BIM attributes.
For 3D data, GLDF can be used together with the L3D format, supporting multiple levels of representation from basic shapes and parametric models to detailed 3D geometry. It can also describe luminous surfaces, sensors, and movable parts with joints. The .gldf container compresses and packages product and geometry data together, making it easier to import into DIALux, RELUX, and other supported software.
The main documentation clearly states that GLDF is open and free for everyone, and provides access to GitHub, the XSD Reference, downloads, and Releases. It is closer to an open industry standard and developer specification than to a commercial SaaS product charged per seat. The crawled content did not show details on a specific license, paid support, API billing, or enterprise editions.
The strengths are its professional, industry-specific format, broad coverage, and mature XML/XSD technology stack, which makes validation easier and helps it fit into existing engineering workflows. Backing from DIAL and RELUX also gives it a natural connection to the lighting planning software ecosystem. The downsides are that it has a relatively high domain-specific learning curve and is not very general-purpose for developers outside the lighting industry. The documentation pages also indicate that content will be expanded over time, and parts of the Getting Started material are still pending. In addition, there is no clear mention of an official SDK, API, SLA, or commercial technical support.
GLDF is suitable for luminaire manufacturers, lighting design software developers, BIM/CAD/facility management system development teams, and teams that need to export standardized product data to tools such as DIALux and RELUX. The source content does not provide information about access from China, so it is not possible to determine whether it can be reached directly. Since it is free and open, payment methods are not involved. Older comparable formats mentioned in the main text include ROLF and ULD.
⚠ This review is compiled from public sources and does not constitute a purchase recommendation. Verify all facts on the vendor's official site. Verify on gldf.io official site.
gldf.io is an Unknown Dev Tools provider. TG4G tracks its product information, an overall rating of 7.0/10, and a China-accessibility score of China direct-connect friendly. Click "Visit Official Site" to reach gldf.io directly.