Current technological advances make it possible to optimize the management of buildings and increase their efficiency.
Along with the increase in Smart Buildings, comes the advancement of Building Management Systems. These systems are here to stay, their implementation becoming mandatory from 2025, at least, throughout the European Union.
Controlling the entire building from a common interface is now possible. For this reason, in this article we tell you what it consists of and what advantages the application of an evolved development entails: Integrated Building Management Systems.
What is an Integrated Building Management System (iBMS)?
An Integrated Building Management System or Integrated Building Management System (iBMS), is a system that allows centralized management and control of all building systems, also including control of its environment: parking spaces, accesses, video surveillance, stations electric charge, among others.
The iBMS thus becomes a single control point for the entire building, optimizing a multitude of tasks and processes that until now were managed independently and unconnected; facilitating data analysis and decision making.
How does an Integrated Building Management System work?
The components that make the correct operation of the Integrated Building Management System possible must interact with each other in order to offer the best service.
These components are:
Information collection points
They are sensors capable of capturing the data that the system needs to provide service. They can measure humidity, temperature, light, the occupancy level of a room and detect fire, among others.
“Controllers”
The “controllers” receive the information that the previous component transmits to them. They are responsible for sending orders to all systems connected and involved in the operation, based on the type of information received. Like the air conditioning system, light bulbs, air purifiers, alarms, etc.
“Output Modules”
Once the data has been processed by the “controllers” and the orders have been sent, the “output modules” are in charge of executing them.
Communication protocol
It is the exchange of information between the different components that makes the operation possible. They communicate using a specific language, in favor of data security.
Interface
Plasma all the data and information collected. It is from where the operators and managers access it, being able to make manual changes and adjustments, in addition to consulting the data in real time.
Is it mandatory to have a Building Management System?
Building Management Systems will begin to be mandatory throughout the European Union from 2025. Buildings that must comply with this regulation are those with a nominal power greater than 290 kW. In addition, they must have a record of the data of the last 6 years.
The Building Management Systems shall, at a minimum, monitor measurements of:
• Electric power for air conditioning systems.
• Renewable energy production at the individual level.
• Equipment with a power greater than 12 kW, individually.
• Thermal or electrical energy to be able to calculate the performance of generating units with a nominal power greater than 70 kW, at an individual level.
• Fuel consumption for each generation equipment with a power greater than 100 kW, individually.
• Meters, to be able to break down the energy consumed by the different functions, such as heating sanitary water or swimming pools.
• Lighting system and general air conditioning by energy source.
• General energy, of any kind.
Advantages of an Integrated Building Management System
Having an integrated Building Management Systems place not only helps to carry out better management, in a simpler and more efficient way, but also provides many more advantages:
• Reduction of energy consumption. Thanks to having these management systems implemented, it is possible to reduce energy consumption by up to 30%, as well as increase sustainability.
• Increased occupant comfort. As the processes are automated and the necessary information is available, it improves temperature control and other indicators of air quality.
• Infrastructure automation. Having all the information centralized makes it possible to better manage and monitor assets. By automating the installations, possible failures are reduced and efficiency is increased.
• Reduction of the environmental impact. Smart buildings with an integrated management system are more sustainable and efficient. They can react to an unforeseen event in some system faster and better than with simple human management.
• Cost reduction. Having all the necessary building information makes it possible to reduce maintenance costs and supply consumption, as well as optimize the processes that are needed at all times.
• Extends the useful life of assets. The system detects when a resource is in use and when it is not, so it can stop its operation and slow down wear.
The advantages provided by an Integrated Building Management System compared to not having one are of great value.
What elements or areas of a building can be controlled?
Comprehensive Building Management Systems can control different areas of the building. These are:
• Air conditioning. The temperature is adjusted automatically thanks to the sensors that are distributed in the different rooms.
• Lightning. It has the ability to control lighting based on the time of day and building occupancy.
• Security. It combines various methods to ensure the highest possible security. Check if the alarm is on or off, the video surveillance cameras and access control to know the number of people who have entered and left the building.
• Air quality. Based on the measurements it makes, for example, of the concentration of people, it controls ventilation more effectively than the human being.
• Irrigation. Control the hours and the volume of water used in the irrigation of the garden areas.
• Supplies. Monitoring and control of supplies such as water, electricity, gases, among others.
• Power systems. It combines and manages the use of energy based on demand, optimizing energy consumption. It controls the energy generated by solar panels, as well as that used in the different rooms of the building or that used in electric vehicle charging stations.
• Weather Station. Monitoring of external environmental conditions.
• Fire detection. It integrates fire detection systems and controls the status of the measurements in real time.
• Parking spaces. Control of capacity and use of places.
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