BAC Certification secured.

The EnOcean SmartServer has been successfully certified by the BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL). This milestone underscores the company´s commitment to delivering open, interoperable building automation solutions that meet global standards, expanding possibilities for customers worldwide.

BACnet certification verifies that SmartServer meets rigorous international standards for building automation and control networks. The certification ensures that the SmartServer offers customers several key benefits. It enables seamless integration with BACnet-certified devices, offering flexibility and eliminating reliance on proprietary systems. System integrators benefit from faster deployment into existing systems, reducing installation time and complexity. Long-term compatibility with BACnet’s global standard safeguards customer investments as the industry evolves. Independent testing has confirmed the reliability and compliance of SmartServer, minimizing implementation risks.

“The BACnet certification underscores our commitment to providing robust and future-proof solutions for building automation. Customers fully benefit from the SmartServer’s advanced capabilities with confidence in its interoperability and reliability,” emphasizes Rich Blomseth, Director of Product Management for EnOcean.

Technical excellence for seamless integration.
The SmartServer offers advanced features designed to simplify integration and enhance system performance. It provides multi-protocol support, including BACnet and LON for standard building automation networks, EnOcean for energy-harvesting wireless sensors and switches, Modbus for industrial control systems, and LoRaWAN for long-range IoT devices. With native support for EnOcean-based devices, SmartServer enables direct communication with battery-free sensors, ensuring seamless data collection and automation. In addition, the SmartServer enables universal data access. This allows users to consolidate data from multiple systems into a single management interface. Communication between different protocols is also possible and data formats can be standardized for seamless integration with analysis and optimization tools.

Versatile edge computing platform for building automation.
The BACnet certification strengthens the SmartServer as a versatile edge computing platform for building automation. EnOcean thus underscores it’s innovate strength and empowers building managers and system integrators to achieve seamless communication across diverse automation networks.

Bridging cloud intelligence and building automation.
The SmartServer plays a key role in reducing energy consumption. It connects cloud platforms like Undagrid and EnOcean Studio with existing building management systems. This bridge enables older properties to adopt modern building practices. By translating cloud insights into concrete actions, the SmartServer helps drive efficiency across HVAC and automation networks.

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@EnOcean @BACnetIntl #Pauto #Environment #Standard

Wireless in buildings digitisation.

Interest group teams up with wireless experts and setting new benchmarks for buildings with large-scale digitisation.

Global leaders in smart building technology, Legrand, Schneider Electric and Siemens Smart Infrastructure have announced the formation of a strategic interest group to tackle critical challenges in providing ultra-resilient and interoperable wireless connectivity everywhere in buildings using the new NR+ technology standard. Supported by wireless industry experts such as last mile semiconductor, Nordic Semiconductor ASA, DSR Corporation and Wirepas, and embedded security expert Kudelski IoT, these companies aim to establish NR+, the new technology standard purpose-built for IoT, as the interoperable connectivity for digital buildings. 

This sets a new global standard for long range wireless infrastructure in smart buildings. Recognising the limitations of current siloed building management systems, the group will collaborate under the hosting of the DECT Forum.

“DECT Forum is proud to host the NR+ interest group, which represents a groundbreaking step toward addressing the connectivity challenges in buildings. NR+ is purpose-built for large-scale, dense sensor networks, capable of adapting to various systems while meeting high standards for scalability, cost and reliability. Bringing together global leaders in technology and wireless innovation confirms the potential of NR+ to set a new standard in buildings,” said Andreas Zipp, Chairman of the DECT Forum. This is the worldwide association of companies and organisations in the DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) wireless industry. Dedicated to the advancement of DECT and related wireless standards, the DECT Forum promotes innovation, interoperability, and the development of future-proof wireless communication solutions.

Today, 75% of buildings are not energy efficient; they account for 30% of global energy consumption and are responsible for much of the inefficiency within the built environment. The NR+ interest group sees an urgent need for robust connectivity solutions like NR+ that enable cost-efficient, scalable, and reliable digital transformation. The demand for wireless devices in buildings is expected to grow to hundreds of millions annually in the coming years. By implementing NR+ as a global standard, the group seeks to facilitate a transformation toward more sustainable, more energy-efficient buildings capable of adapting to user needs in real-time.

The NR+ interest group will be working closely with silicon vendors, stack vendors, access point providers and smart building standards organizations as well as advocating regulatory adoption to bring the NR+ standard to the forefront of the smart building sector. By aligning technology development with the needs of smart buildings, this initiative will drive a new level of digital transformation for building owners, operators and system integrators.

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@DECT_Forum @Wirepas #Wireless #5G #BAS

Shading control.

Advanced security features and energy-saving capabilities for a smarter, more sustainable building.

An advanced portfolio of KNX-based Blind/Roller Shutter Actuators has been announced for ABB's smart building and home automation solutions, as part of its façade control portfolio. The latest additions to the range will enable seamless integration into a KNX system for reliable, automated control of blinds and shutters, as well as provide enhanced security and energy-saving features to enable more sustainable buildings.

The growing emphasis on "smartification" and energy-saving potential, highlights the increasing importance of shading control solutions in modern building design and automation. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), buildings with smart shading and natural light controls can see reductions in heating and cooling loads by 10–20 percenti. Sensor-controlled roller shutters and blinds with sun position-controlled louvers allow for optimal lighting and room climate conditions. The actuator's energy-saving capabilities enable efficient management of natural light and temperature, contributing to a more sustainable living & working space.

The extended range also has ease of installation at its heart, thanks to improved templates within the ETS application, which allows for simplified commissioning. Time is saved during parameterization thanks to the availability of a template functionality. Through KNX Data Secure, the highest standards in data protection are ensured to avoid unauthorized access to the KNX system.

With seamless integration into the ABB i-bus® KNX system, the actuators offer a reliable and sophisticated solution for automating and controlling window coverings, allowing users to create or extend functionality to fit all requirements for comfortable living and working spaces.

"With advanced features and seamless integration, these actuators offer building owners a clever, safe, and efficient way to control their window blinds and shutters, ultimately enhancing their overall living and working experience. By optimizing the ETS application, we have also added new functionalities and features, designed to make installation and commissioning easy for electrical installers and system integrators", said Sascha Gerhardt, ABB Global Product Manager KNX Building Automation.

The updated ABB façade control portfolio offers a number of different options which provide bespoke functionalities to guarantee the perfect device for every solution. The range also includes a shutter control unit that adjusts the blinds according to the position of the sun. The integration of weather data - which measures wind speed, rain, brightness, twilight temperature and receives a GPS signal – is an integral part of building automation, Weather data integration is also essential for building automation, enabling significant improvements in energy efficiency that can reduce building operating costs over the long term.

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@ABBRobotics @ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @abb_automation @NapierPR  #Robotics #BuildingAutomation

Innovation beginning with Building Automation

Digital connectivity technologies in building management systems to help reduce cost, waste, and downtime

Honeywell and Analog Devices have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the digitization of commercial buildings by upgrading to digital connectivity technologies without replacing existing wiring, which will help reduce cost, waste, and downtime. The strategic alliance would bring this new technology to building management systems for the first time.

Many of the commercial buildings in the United States are outdated and inefficient and, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the majority of them were built before the year 2000. Additionally, organizations are relying on networking technology to transmit ever-greater volumes of data, causing a surge in demand for cloud storage and processing speed. Digitizing building management systems will allow managers to reduce energy consumption through real-time decisions, while it will upgrade a building’s network performance and security to current Internet-protocol networks without extensive costs and remodeling.

“For more than a decade, ADI and Honeywell have collaborated on driving the next waves of innovation,” said Martin Cotter, senior vice president, Industrial and Multi Markets and president of ADI EMEA region. “In this next phase of our work together, we are thrilled to see these ADI technologies move beyond factory automation and into Honeywell’s building management system to help customers reduce building energy consumption, which can save money, improve resiliency, and help meet emissions reductions goals.”

"Honeywell is revolutionizing building management systems to help building owners tackle today’s biggest challenges,” said Suresh Venkatarayalu, Honeywell’s chief technology officer. “This collaboration with ADI would offer building owners the ability to upgrade and enhance their wiring without a significant upfront investment, and with less labor and environmental impact.”

Honeywell plans to adopt ADI’s single-pair Ethernet (T1L) and software configurable input/output (SWIO) solutions in its building management systems. ADI’s single-pair Ethernet enables long-reach Ethernet connectivity with the possibility of reusing a building’s existing wiring, reducing installation time and cost, and reducing waste. Single-pair Ethernet complements existing Ethernet connectivity in building management systems, bringing enhanced connectivity from the edge to the cloud, helping eliminate data islands and better utilizing assets.

ADI’s offering would also reduce product complexities by enabling Honeywell to build a single version of the product for different needs, allowing more future-proofed control and automation for when a building is remodeled, or requirements change. This helps increase the speed of product installation, reduces inventory needs, and enables easier and more affordable changes.

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@honeywell @HWusers @ADI_News #BMS #Digitization

Accurate and reliable room sensors.

 LtoR: CDS201, HTS201,  TES201

A new generation of accurate and reliable room sensors has been launched by E+E Elektronik. Tailored to the respective facility automation application, the CDS201 3-in-1 device for CO2, humidity and temperature, the HTS201 humidity and temperature sensor and the TES201 temperature sensor are great choices. Each variant has analogue outputs or a digital interface and a large, state-of-the-art display. The functional snap-on enclosure minimises installation costs and avoids the intake of false air.

Excellent measurement performance, innovative design.
The three sensors impress with their outstanding accuracy in terms of the physical quantities. This results from E+E Elektronik's many years of experience in the production of high-quality sensing elements.

On top of this, the elegant, functional snap-on enclosure design is exciting and available in two sizes (EU and US versions) depending on regional standards. The lower part of the housing only contains the plug-in terminals and can be installed and connected without the cover, which contains the electronics. This means that the active part of the device is not exposed to any contamination and can be fitted on the lower part shortly before commissioning. The innovative enclosure also prevents the ingress of false air and significantly reduces self-heating. The sensors are optionally available with a state-of-the-art, easy-to-read graphic display.

Interfaces and configuration.
The measured values are either delivered via analogue outputs or to the digital interface using the Modbus RTU or BACnet MS/TP protocol. The digital version with its RS845 interface can be set up and configured on a PC using the free PCS10 product configuration software and an optional configuration adapter.

Areas of application.
The new room sensors are highly suited for use in demand-driven ventilation, heating and air conditioning technology, and facility automation.

• CDS201 – The Versatile Choice - The CDS201 combines CO2, temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) measurement in a single device and is particularly well suited for demand-driven ventilation and facility automation in residential and commercial applications. The CDS201's CO2 measurement relies on the contamination-resistant NDIR dual wavelength principle. This technology automatically compensates for aging effects, while at the same time guaranteeing excellent long-term stability. Factory multi-point CO2 and temperature adjustment ensures high measurement accuracy over the entire temperature operating range. E+E sensor coating protects the active RH/T sensing element against contamination and corrosive deposits. This results in improved measurement performance and longer sensing element life in environments with high levels of dust or soiling exposure. In addition, it improves long-term stability by preventing stray impedances caused by deposits on the active sensor surface.

• HTS201 – The Allrounder - The HTS201 is designed for accurate and reliable measurement of relative humidity (RH) and temperature (T) in residential and commercial facility automation applications.
The E+E RH/T sensing element with its patented sensing technology guarantees excellent performance over the entire operating range even in environments with high levels of dust or soiling exposure. Again, E+E sensor coating ensures long-term stability for the measurements.

• TES201 – The Efficient Choice - The TES201 is designed for accurate room temperature measurement (T) for indoor climate control. In addition to proven, high-quality E+E sensing technology, these room sensors impress with their great price/performance ratio.

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• E+E Elektronik products are marketed in Ireland by Instrument Technology.

#EplusE #PAuto #BAS

Building security and safety.

The increasing demand for comfort, safety and energy efficiency in facility management is leading to rapidly progressing digitalisation in buildings. Considering that 90% of buildings are owned properties, wireless solutions are cost-efficient and ideal for retrofitting as they can be easily integrated in existing building automation systems.

For increased building security, SAG Smart Line mortice locks can prevent door motions (actuations of the latch or bolt). The wireless SAG Smart Line locks use an energy harvesting switch from ZF with the established EnOcean RF standard. The ZF energy harvesting switch generates the required energy for RF protocol transmission by mechanical actuation. As a wireless and batteryfree solution and due to the very small and compact size, these switches from ZF offer high flexibility to fulfill individual customer requirements. Hence, these switches are completely maintenance-free and a smart, energy-saving solution for building automation systems. Besides the EnOcean RF standard which is used by SAG Smart Line Door Locks, the ZF energy harvesting switch can also be applied with protocols like KNX-RF, Bluetooth or customer-specific solutions.

By replacing existing mortice locks in a building with SAG Smart Line door locks, doors can be quickly retrofitted at low cost during ongoing operation or integrated into the building automation system. Based on the transmitted RF protocol, information about the room usage can be generated to optimise resources like heating, air conditioning or light. Early warning alerts can also be triggered in case of break-in, fire or water damage which can be controlled by these sensors. In addition, public toilet facilities can display whether they are vacant/occupied, or alternatively track usage to allow preparation of cleaning scheduling.

@zfswitch_sensor  #Safety #Energy 

Air quality indoors.

Extech’s new 42280A series temperature and humidity data logger features a number of notable enhancements over the company’s highly successful legacy model to ensure even higher performance and capability levels in indoor environmental monitoring applications. This latest-generation highly accurate and reliable meter will serve as an invaluable asset at any company looking to monitor the air quality of their production area, for example.

A direct replacement for the popular 42280 series, the new 42280A features the same large, triple LCD display showing temperature, humidity and date/time clock simultaneously. However, continuous improvement is embedded within Extech’s DNA, so the company’s newly developed model introduces a number of added-value functions, including the capability to generate PDF reports or Excel spreadsheets when plugging the device (via integral USB interface) into a Windows-based PC after data logging.

A further important enhancement is an increase in internal memory to 48,000 points/readings, three times more than the previous model, to suit demands for extended monitoring or monitoring at high frequency rates. The Extech 42280A also sees the introduction of a Max/Min mode and the presence of Hi/Lo indication on-screen. Here, the programmable/selectable data sampling rate ensures visual and audible alarm indication in association with Hi/Lo limits.

Adaptable to almost any situation, further features of the new Extech 42280A include a ‘mark’ function that enables users to read out the memory contents starting from a defined time without reprogramming the log. As a point of note, data remains secure within the logger at all times and can be password-protected if required.

They are also releasing their new 42280A-NIST version. This model features calibration traceable to NIST standards for indoor environments where it is necessary to demonstrate accurate and reliable measurements, supported by calibration reports that users can download to a PC.

Critical components of any indoor environmental monitoring system, both the 42280A and 42280A-NIST meters offer a temperature range from -20 to +70°C and a humidity range from 0 to 100%. The devices measure just 120.7 x 88.9 x 38.1mm and weigh only 163g. Users can choose from wall, desktop or tripod mounts in line with individual requirements. Salt bottles for relative humidity calibration are available in kit form (33% and 75%) as optional accessories.

Extech supplies the 42280A and 42280A-NIST complete with Windows compatible software, USB cable, universal AC adaptor, four AA batteries, user guide and two-year warranty for complete peace-of-mind. The meters are shipped fully tested and calibrated and, with proper use, will provide years of reliable service.

@flir @planetextech @mepaxIntPR #Environment #BAS

Pet health and welfare aided by hi-tech building controls.

Pets supplies retailer is enjoying significant energy savings across its entire retail network while ensuring that ideal animal welfare conditions are maintained at all times.

Pets at Home has installed energy efficiency control systems for the air conditioning (AC) in all its 450 stores. Each system was designed by energy management consultants Ignite Energy of Wantage (GB), using a standard template based on Intesis gateway from HMS Networks and installed by integration solutions provider Consyst.

AC's from different manufacturers combined in one Pets at Home branches use air conditioning equipment from different manufacturers, such as Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Toshiba, and others. Consyst has used Intesis gateways to retrieve real-time information from the AC units and control operation, regardless of manufacturer.

Consyst Director, Lior Golani, explains: “The Intesis gateway is powered by the AC unit, allowing straightforward installation. By reading predefined information from the gateways, the integrator can easily duplicate the configuration across different units and sites, which saves a lot of time in commissioning.”

This simplicity enabled Consyst to install each system quickly and efficiently. Indeed the whole branch network was upgraded in less than 18 months, minimizing disruption to Pets at Home’s normal operations.

Ensuring animal welfare conditions Once operating, the gateway constantly transmits crucial information like operating status and error codes to a central controller. A very important factor was that each store’s system includes multiple temperature sensors and controls which ensures that strict pet welfare conditions can be maintained at all times.

“Monitoring and controlling each store’s temperature has significantly reduced energy consumption and, very importantly, ensures optimal welfare conditions for the pets,” says Lior.

Pets at Home now has an estate of energy-efficient stores and Ignite and Consyst continue to work with them to develop further initiatives and to ensure that energy is managed effectively at every level.

Intelligent gateways The Intesis gateways solutions from HMS enable existing devices and equipment from virtually all manufacturers to be connected no matter what protocol or network technology is used. This means all elements of even the most complex building automation project can be integrated into a single unified system.

It can communicate using open standards or proprietary protocols and includes a range of both protocol translators and AC interfaces. The result is simple design, installation and commissioning coupled with robust and reliable operation.

Intesis is scaleable from the simplest domestic requirements to large projects in the commercial, retail, healthcare and education sectors.

@hmsnetworks @IgniteEnergyLtd @mepaxIntPR #BAS #Energy

Remote monitoring of HVAC systems.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems play an important role in the everyday operation of commercial and industrial buildings. They ensure comfortable temperatures and good air quality for occupants, as well as appropriate climate control for merchandise. But how do you know if your HVAC system is operating normally and whether it is running optimally to save energy and money?

According to Moxa remote monitoring systems that allow facility managers to visualize the status of various HVAC equipment and environmental parameters can help prevent potential system failures and improve operating efficiency.

HVAC equipment is usually controlled by a building management system (BMS) or building automation system (BAS). Various sub-systems go into a BMS. The mechanical system is where the actual physical operations of the building take place. These operations include cooling, pumping, and ventilation, involving many pieces of mechanical equipment. The electrical system, as the name suggests, involves electrical and power equipment, such as transformers, panels, generators, and uninterrupted power supplies (UPS). Along with boilers, generators, heat pumps, fans, chillers, and pumping units, all these critical sub-systems need to be monitored to detect any abnormal readings and alert building operators so that they can perform proactive maintenance.

Therefore, connectivity is the first and foremost step in developing a remote monitoring system for your HVAC system. To make the installation and operation of your connectivity solution hassle-free, Moxa suggests you keep the following considerations in mind:

Interoperability Made Easy
The purpose of a connectivity solution is to make remote field information available to building operators. The monitoring devices chosen must be able to retrieve data from numerous HVAC equipment and sensors that communicate through a variety of protocols, such as Modbus TCP or BACnet/IP. For equipment that does not have a communication interface to output status data, additional hard-wired sensors are needed to capture equipment data and environmental conditions. Environmental monitoring applications often require sensors to measure CO2 density, water pressure, airflow, temperature, and humidity. For equipment monitoring, vibration, power failure, and power consumption are also commonly measured in the field. Advanced sensors often come with networking interfaces that can directly connect to the main communication backbone. If such sensors are not available, then remote I/O units might be required.

Connectivity Solutions That Simplify Configuration and Troubleshooting
Depending on the project scope, an HVAC system might require a large number of monitoring devices. The larger the implementation scope, the more installation and configuration effort is required. Wiring is also something to consider when you are planning your monitoring network. Some features, such as Ethernet cascading, could go a long way in increasing installation efficiency.

Configuring monitoring devices one by one can be painstakingly slow if no user-friendly tools are available. Routine maintenance tasks, such as configuration backups or device firmware upgrades, are often time-consuming and cumbersome if performed manually. Therefore, when selecting connectivity devices to monitor your HVAC system, consider solutions that already come with easy-to-use configuration tools and troubleshooting utilities that can help you quickly pinpoint the cause of a communication problem and minimize downtime.

Pay Attention to Cybersecurity
Although enabling remote connectivity for all your devices allows you to benefit from the convenience of real-time information, it also exposes you to additional cybersecurity risks. Always make sure the selected devices come with basic built-in security features, such as password protection, secure network protocols, and data logging for events. Besides security on the device level, the system level should also be protected by firewalls and regular vulnerability scans to minimize potential risks.

Case Study: Supermarket Savings
Moxa has helped customers around the world develop reliable communication for remote monitoring their HVAC systems. For example, in Taiwan, Moxa assisted the operator of major grocery chain in monitoring the power usage in their HVAC systems in order to optimize energy consumption. Specifically, the operator wanted to enable automated demand response control — based on the real-time temperatures in the hypermarket during business hours — to decrease the activation time of chiller systems and help save energy and reduce operating costs. To automatically enable the settings adjustment of the chiller, pump, and fan, Moxa ioLogik 2500 smart remote I/Os were deployed to provide programming-free control logic through Moxa's Click&Go Plus function. Also, Moxa ioLogik E1200 Ethernet remote I/Os were used to collect serial, digital, and analog data from chillers, pumps, power meters, and resistance temperature sensors (RTD). Moxa remote I/Os come with MX-AOPC suite, making the integration of a variety of field data acquisitions into MYSQL or other databases easy.

@MoxaInc #PAuto #BMS #Food

Environmental sensors for air quality monitor.

The next-generation indoor air quality monitor Atmocube from ATMO^® relies on Sensirion environmental sensors for the measurement of CO₂, formaldehyde, particulate matter, temperature and humidity.

In recent times, air quality has become an increasingly important issue. It affects not only the way people live, travel and eat, but also the manner in which buildings are designed. Modern buildings strive to achieve high energy efficiency to save natural resources used for heating. But more airtight buildings can often mean that there is less air exchange through walls, roofs, windows or cracks, reducing access to fresh air that is essential for a healthy indoor environment. The consequence is that airtight buildings are often too insulated for healthy living, trapping not only heat but also increased levels of air pollutants. Monitoring indoor air quality makes it possible to control it by optimizing ventilation to avoid symptoms that come from high air pollution levels, such as sensory irritation, disrupted cognitive abilities and "sick building syndrome".

This is where Atmocube from ATMO^®  comes in. Atmocube, a next-generation indoor air quality monitor, tracks a wide range of air pollutants - such as CO₂, formaldehyde, PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and VOCs - and vital environmental parameters, such as relative humidity, temperature, atmospheric pressure, ambient noise and light levels.

Thanks to Atmocube's hardware design and its linked mobile app, building occupants can easily check the safety of the surrounding environment and be more confident in their health and well-being. Atmocube helps building owners implement their indoor air quality strategies to comply with healthy and green building standards more effectively. The product also helps increase the efficiency of facilities operations, because the device controls HVAC through building management systems. Prior to its official launch, Atmocube's product design was acknowledged by the world's oldest independent design institution, iF International Forum Design GmbH in Hanover (D). Atmocube won the iF Design Award 2021 in the "Professional Concept" category.

"We've been using Sensirion sensors in multiple products, primarily due to their accuracy, overtime stability and small footprint. Having integrated the newest sensors from the Sensirion portfolio, such as the CO₂, and formaldehyde sensors, along with its traditional sensing solutions into Atmocube, we've created an all-in-one monitoring device with extensive functionality and great performance," says Alex Pyshkin, R&D Director at ATMO^® .

Sensirion, the leading expert in environmental sensing, offers innovative sensor solutions that provide detailed and reliable data on key environmental parameters, such as humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide (CO₂), formaldehyde, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Highest-level design flexibility thanks to compact and miniaturized sensor solutions, reliable, long-term and stable technology and the most accurate measurements - combined with unique expertise - make Sensirion the partner of choice and leading provider of environmental sensor solutions.

"Being able to count ATMO^® among our customers fills us with pride. Atmocube is an ideal application for our environmental sensors. Sensirion and ATMO® are united by the will to enable smart and innovative applications that increase the health, comfort and safety of end users," says EunJo Lee, Key Account Manager at Sensirion.

@atmotube @sensirion #Automation, #BAS

Bringing intelligence into buildings.

The EnOcean Alliance and its member companies Eltako, EnOcean and TechData will demonstrate how their solutions enable smart buildings, creating a highly comfortable living and working environment with better health and productivity, a more efficient use of energy as well as a higher level of security on a joint booth at Smart Buildings Show (London GB 6-7 Oct 2021)*. Additional member companies such as Pressac, IA Connects, Beckhoff, Contemporary Controls, Sauter, Schneider Electric, Distech Controls and Belimo will also be represented.

The EnOcean Alliance, which has more than 400 members worldwide, is one of the most successful alliances in the area of smart building monitoring and control. The non-profit organization standardizes and develops intelligent building solutions with integrated energy harvesting technology based on the EnOcean wireless standard (ISO/IEC 14543-3-10). More than one million buildings all over the world now have wireless networks of this type, making EnOcean the international reference technology when it comes to wireless standards for building automation.

The EnOcean ecosystem currently consists of 5,000 product variants that build on 1,500 basic products, with new ones being added all the time. Thanks to their standardized sensor profiles, the products can be combined with each other. These interoperable system solutions lower installation and maintenance costs and provide significant benefits when it comes to energy efficiency, security and comfort. Using EnOcean based maintenance free wireless sensors, data can be provided in real time via an IoT gateway to an IoT cloud platform where the data is analyzed, whilst a dashboard visualizes the results for decision-makers and building owners. 

 * Smart Buildings Show at ExCel, London, connects visitors to the latest information and technology in the smart buildings industry. The event on October 6-7,2021 covers all key aspects of creating and managing a smart building, including building automation, energy efficiency, health and safety as well as security.

@EnOceanAlliance @SBCShow @NeeshamPR #BAS #Smart

Ensuring clean air!

HMS Networks has launched a new IR-based Intesis® AC interface that enables integration of any Air Conditioning unit, regardless of brand, into Modbus or BACnet Building Automation Systems.

The importance of controlling Air Conditioning systems
HVAC systems are usually the largest energy-consumers in a building. Therefore, it is crucial for building owners to monitor and control these systems to save costs and energy. Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic has made it increasingly important to find new ways of installing and using AC units, as ventilation and “clean air” has become a major concern.

The Air Conditioning market is growing fast with new brands and different types of AC units constantly emerging. This makes it challenging for building owners to integrate AC-units into their specific Building Management System (BMS).

A Universal IR interface compatible with more than 100 AC Units
The Intesis offering includes the most comprehensive portfolio of AC interfaces on the market, enabling monitoring and control of air conditioning units from any home or building automation system.

The portfolio is now further strengthened as HMS launches a universal IR-based Intesis AC interface for integrating AC units to Modbus or BACnet-based automation systems. The new interface connects to the AC unit via the IR link which is already used by most AC units to communicate with their remote control. The Intesis IR-based AC Interface is already compatible with more than 100 IR remote controllers and their associated AC units.

Fast configuration and diagnostic thanks to Intesis MAPS
The new AC interface solution is configured using the Intesis MAPS tool, which brings many advantages for the system integrator. With a project-based configuration, all the interfaces installed can be configured in a single MAPS template, making it easy to copy device configurations and set up new projects. Thanks to the diagnostics function, the commissioning process and any post-installation assistance is also simplified. 

@hmsnetworks @intesis @mepaxpr #BAS #HVAC

Connector enables intelligent data transformation.

The EnOcean IoT Connector is an ideal link between maintenance-free IoT data from energy harvesting sensors and IoT applications that makes the integration of EnOcean products easier than ever before. The IoT Connector translates sensor outputs into ready-to-use data for IoT applications and data driven businesses.

Commenting on the recent launch, Marian Hönsch, Product Manager at EnOcean said: “Data is critical to understanding, measuring and improving facility management processes and procedures. Increasingly, data needs to be analysed to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements, security and COVID-19 regulations. Facility and Corporate Real Estate Managers are gradually becoming more dependent on data analysis to identify utilisation patterns, trim costs and make buildings into better places for work. This new solution from EnOcean paves the way by enabling collection of data from billions of sensors in buildings, using energy harvesting wireless sensors to collect data in a secure and maintenance-free way. The essential requirements of quick onboarding, broad applicability and water-tight security are embodied in a new IoT Connector that translates sensor outputs into ready-to-use data for IoT applications and data driven businesses.”

One key feature of the IoT Connector software is that it decodes the IoT data from the EnOcean Protocol and translates it into ready-to-use data in JSON format to be used in the actual application. Algorithms are needed to unravel the data and to make it available for customer applications in the right form. Customer applications consume IoT data in a “key-value pairs“ format, such as JSON. A key-value pair consists of related elements: a key, which is a constant that defines the dataset (temperature, humidity or ventilation), for example, and a value, which is a variable that belongs to the dataset (e.g. 20 °C, 80 %, level 1/2/3). Easy adoption by IoT users is enhanced by implementing JSON data that can be exchanged with an MQTT broker or Microsoft Azure IoT Hub.

In the typical model, the IoT Connector is deployed in an existing connectivity infrastructure: either in edge devices or third-party clouds. Typical use cases are centralised controls such as lighting and building automation. With the new model, the data is processed directly at the final destination like a cloud or server from the customer. For example, this could be Microsoft Azure cloud. Typical use cases are data analytics and IoT applications and the major advantage is that the client has total control over the data flow. With this new model there is no third party or third storage location involved when transferring the data from sensor to cloud. Customers decide what happens with their data, whether visualised, analysed or archived. Here, the IoT Connector is a containerised application and available for deployment at the Docker Hub among others, including all updates. The use of cloud computing relieves the load on the local infrastructure and allows new data-heavy applications to be created, stimulating ideas from customers for new applications.

An easy and cost-effective way to incorporate the EnOcean IoT Connector into IoT applications is by leveraging existing building infrastructures. The infrastructure can easily be upgraded to send EnOcean IoT data, for example with the combination of an EnOcean USB stick and Wi-Fi® access points from Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company. Also, data from existing EnOcean buildings can directly be forwarded to the IoT Connector in raw format (ESP3 – EnOcean Serial Protocol 3). The Aruba access points support the EnOcean USB stick without need for additional software. Furthermore, they talk directly to the IoT Connector running as part of the infrastructure or the final data destination, so no additional gateways are needed. With this complete scenario, customers have exclusive control over the data flow. 

It is a vital solution in helping facility managers to understand, measure and improve their processes and procedures, unlock inefficiencies, improve decision-making and sharpen their operations. 

 @EnOcean @NeeshamPR #BAS #PAuto

Is that a draught?

Is the window open or closed? For smart homes this is a simple question but when it comes to energy efficiency and safety, it is a critical one. Thanks to the battery-free and wireless RF technology from ZF this question can be answered reliably.

With an integrated energy harvesting switch, there is the possibility to record each locking and unlocking actuation of a window. A leading company in the window system industry has revolutionized the connectivity between windows and smart home control systems with an innovative concept.

The window specialist Schüco International KG based in Germany has designed a solution for integrating the ZF RF switch in a locking latch, the so called "SensTrack wireless". This RF locking latch is attached to the window frame. When opening or closing the window, the fitting will be moved. This leads to the extension and retraction of the locking roller which actuates the ZF radio switch in the locking latch. The mechanical activation is enough to generate a small voltage based on induction which leads to the transmission of several telegrams of the EnOcean3.0 protocol. The signal is processed in a smart home control unit which then triggers customised functions such as climate control. In large buildings this can be especially helpful to monitor the window state and therefore save on energy costs.

The concept benefits from the compact design with high energy output of the ZF energy harvesting switch. With its size of 20.1 x 7.3 x 14.3 mm, it is ideal for applications with limited space requirements. In addition, due to its durable use with a lifetime of one million switching cycles, there is no maintenance work required to frequently change the components within the window frame.

The RF Switch is battery-free and the wireless technology provides flexibility in use. It can be utilized with different RF protocols - BLE5.0, EnOcean3.0 or ZigBee. The system can also be implemented for diverse applications in the smart home, building and industrial automation sectors, for applications such as lighting, shutters, and doors. With the help of these ZF products, comfort, safety and energy efficiency can be increased and improved in a smart way.

@zfswitch_sensor #Smart #Pauto #BAS 

Building automation award.

Delta Controls, Inc., has won Frost & Sullivan’s 2020 Global Building Automation Systems Company of the Year Award. The honor by the prestigious market research firm recognizes Delta Controls’ ability to provide superior value to worldwide customers with its industry-leading technologies that offer a full suite of smart features and functionality, as well as with its best-in-class technical support. Delta Controls’ signature O3 Sensor Hub 2.0, an innovative system integrating multiple sensors and IoT interfaces to enable next-generation smart and energy-efficient buildings, served as a key factor in receiving the Frost & Sullivan award.

“Delta Controls exemplifies superior best practices in best-of-breed technology offerings and innovative solutions because it incorporates a convergence of technologies with a dedicated customer service partnership experience,” said Neha Tatikota, an industry analyst for energy and environment at Frost & Sullivan.

Mr. Bill Lo, general manager of Delta’s Building Automation Business Group, said, “We are extremely proud of Delta Controls’ passion in always pushing the envelope. They are a tremendously valued part of Delta – enabling us to collectively create a more energy-efficient built environment for a smarter and greener future.”

Frost & Sullivan called the IoT-enabled O3 Sensor Hub 2.0 “revolutionary,” before concluding “it is beneficial not just for building owners, managers, and occupants, but also accepted by architects, installers, and consultant community as a highly cost-effective installation.” The hub utilizes sensor fusion technology for superior room control and to optimize occupant comfort. The ceiling-mounted device observes its environment and reports interior temperature, occupancy, humidity, lighting, heating and cooling – while serving as a connectivity platform for sensing air quality, ventilation, window contact and shade positions. It also supports multiple protocols that allow for integration with nearly any system, including native BACnet, MQTT and REST API for third-party integration and BLE API for custom app development.

“Winning this award is a testament to the hard work, spirit and dedication that shines across our organization every day,” said John Nicholls, president of Delta Controls. “Our guiding philosophy is to ‘do it right,’ which fuels our ambition to develop only the most innovative solutions.”

@deltacontrols @Frost_Sullivan #BAS #MePAX

Pressure reducing valve on virtual show!

The pressure reducing valve series 9000 Edition G06F, from Goetze, sets new standards on the Building Technology market. Two intensive years of development and innovation result in a new product, which cleverly combine high-quality materials with impressive performance. Customers are now able to discover this product immediately with all its facets in their newly set-up virtual showroom.

The virtual Goetze Showroom enables all customers and interested parties, the possibility to discover the Goetze Products in a digital way. They can study all details of the new pressure reducing valve at leisure: These range from technical details and download options up to tips for correct installation on video. They will also be able to contact product experts, to help find the ideal solution for pressure control in their application.

At the heart of the new virtual showroom is the new pressure reducing valve series G06F. This valve which combines gunmetal and plastic represents a new product for the environmentally and health-conscious user. Due to the use of a lead-free body the drinking water is not contaminated in any way and the environment is not polluted with any heavy metals.

Goetze makes use of a new combination of high quality materials for its new pressure reducing valve series G06F. The body is made of lead-free gunmetal, which avoids the possibility of traces of lead being able to infiltrate the drinking water or installations. On the other hand the valve insert is made of a high quality plastic, which is also used in medical technology applications. In this way, an ideal cavitation-, temperature and medium resistance can be guaranteed.

However, not only in the area of materials employed has Goetze taken particular care with regard to performance. By means of flow optimization and benchmarking of all concepts at a very early stage with the aid of the most modern simulation software the flow capacity was designed for maximum performance. This flow optimization means that a higher maximum flow than those from comparable products is achieved. Due to the use of physical properties in the valve a higher flow capacity at the same pressure drop is possible. This advantage is gained by each and every pressure reducing valve user directly.

The user not only has the advantage of a new kind of material mix, but also easy installation and maintenance. Installation is easily achieved thanks to the setting scale which can easily be viewed from both sides and carried-out without the need for special tools or a pressure gauge.

Due to the 160 μm fine strainer the valve and the downstream plant components are protected against soiling. The filter screen itself can be removed without the need to remove the valve insert or re-setting of the set pressure. Possible soiling can easily be identified by anyone through the transparent filter bowl.

For particularly demanding applications such as in hygienic areas (industrial kitchens, Filling Plants) the sister product G06Fi has been developed. Due to the design in robust AISI 316Ti even in the case of aggressive and complicated media the correct outlet pressure is guaranteed. Consequently, the user does not have to forego the advantages which the unique design of this series offers.

@PresseBox #Goetze #PAuto 

Office safety with COVID-19.

Tenants of serviced offices are starting to ask questions about environmental monitoring in their office spaces. Temperature, humidity, CO2 and ventilation levels are known to have an impact on comfort and even productivity of occupants of an office building. Add in safety concerns about COVID-19 transmission in the workplace and this becomes a trend that Facilities Managers need to be paying attention to now.

Yodit Stanton, CEO of Opensensors.com, has long been championing the use of data to optimise facilities management. She says “Leveraging office utilisation and environmental data is a way to efficiently aid office reopening and manage employees returning to work following COVID-19 lockdown.”

There are many other use cases for monitoring internal air quality: efficient management of reopening offices and reducing the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission is a high priority for the short to medium term. Over the longer term, efficiency is a key consideration for both Facilities Managers and workspace tenants and it’s an area where data monitoring and reporting will continue to grow in relevancy.

Internal Air Quality, or IAQ, depends on what’s going on outside the building as much as what’s going on inside. To optimise ventilation and filtration, you need to know what’s coming in from outside. For example, it’s a waste of energy to increase ventilation by circulating air from outside the building if that results in an overall increase in the polluted air inside. Equally, if you aren’t accurately monitoring air quality within the building (particulates, NO2, VOC’s temperature, humidity and CO2 are most relevant for office spaces) you run the risk of running HVAC systems when they’re not needed.

Optimising usage of the HVAC system pays dividends in many ways. Running the ventilation system when it’s not needed uses more energy. Understanding where in a building the problem areas are, means corrective measures can be applied in those areas only, rather than across the entire building and potentially wasting energy. A low carbon approach is increasingly important for businesses and individuals in our efforts to be conscious energy consumers. Wasted energy also means a direct increase in energy costs. There are also the less obvious costs that build up over time for HVAC maintenance. Greater usage leads to more frequent replacement of filtration equipment, for example, if wear on the air handling units can be reduced by increasing efficiency, this will lead to lower maintenance costs.

David Johnson, Sales Director at South Coast Science believes that with the increased availability of low-cost environmental sensors, the demand for real-time internal air quality monitoring will increase. He says “Because air is pervasive and always moving into and out of the building, to operate HVAC efficiently you need to monitor indoor air quality in real-time and with a high degree of accuracy. To do this, you must also understand the impact of what is coming in from outside. The two are very much linked and this is why we are developing both solutions for building managers and landlords to understand the effect this has on indoor air quality”.

Low cost sensors for environmental monitoring provide a solution for gathering the data needed to optimise systems, realise cost benefits and support energy efficiency in the workplace. South Coast Science is continuing to develop air quality monitoring systems that provide accurate and real-time data both inside and outside the building. When used in combination with occupancy sensors and a visual reporting dashboard, as offered by OpenSensors, a Facilities Manager can easily take action on the data, meet internal air quality targets and provide the evidence to their tenants.

@OpenSensorsIO #SouthCoast #HVAC #BAC

Building automation award!

Delta Controls has won Frost & Sullivan’s 2020 Global Building Automation Systems Company of the Year Award. The honor by the prestigious market research firm recognizes Delta Controls’ ability to provide superior value to worldwide customers with its industry-leading technologies that offer a full suite of smart features and functionality, as well as with its best-in-class technical support. Delta Controls’ signature O3 Sensor Hub 2.0, an innovative system integrating multiple sensors and IoT interfaces to enable next-generation smart and energy-efficient buildings, served as a key factor in receiving the Frost & Sullivan award.

Frost & Sullivan called the IoT-enabled O3 Sensor Hub 2.0 “revolutionary,” before concluding “it is beneficial not just for building owners, managers, and occupants, but also accepted by architects, installers, and consultant community as a highly cost-effective installation.” The hub utilizes sensor fusion technology for superior room control and to optimize occupant comfort. The ceiling-mounted device observes its environment and reports interior temperature, occupancy, humidity, lighting, heating and cooling – while serving as a connectivity platform for sensing air quality, ventilation, window contact and shade positions. It also supports multiple protocols that allow for integration with nearly any system, including native BACnet, MQTT and REST API for third-party integration and BLE API for custom app development.

“Winning this award is a testament to the hard work, spirit and dedication that shines across our organization every day,” said John Nicholls, president of Delta Controls. “Our guiding philosophy is to ‘do it right,’ which fuels our ambition to develop only the most innovative solutions.”

@deltacontrols @Frost_Sullivan #BAS

Building managemnt appointment.

Howard Wilson is the new sales manager for Siemens Building Products in Ireland. He is responsible for promoting the Desigo Building Management System and associated peripheral devices. He also has responsibility for the Siemens Gamma KNX product range and the Cerberus PRO fire detection systems through the expanding Siemens partner network.

Howard Wilson

“Siemens Smart Infrastructure is shaping the market for intelligent, adaptive infrastructure for today and the future. Our Building Products portfolio provides customers with integrated building management software and platforms for automation, fire safety, security and other domains and we intend to grow our network of partners who can supply and deliver these solutions,” he said.

Howard has extensive experience in the BMS industry working for over 14 years for both manufacturers and systems houses. He graduated from the Technological University Dublin with a B.Eng. in Control and Automation Systems.

@Siemens #BAS #Ireland

Autonomous building sustainability solution.

The Honeywell Forge Energy Optimization, a cloud-based, closed-loop, machine learning solution, announced earlier this year, continuously studies a building's energy consumption patterns and automatically adjusts to optimal energy saving settings without compromising occupant comfort levels. It is the first autonomous building solution focused on decreasing energy consumption, may deliver double-digit energy savings, decrease a building's carbon footprint, and can be implemented without significant upfront capital expenses or changes to a building's current operational processes.

During a pilot at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) in Dubai, (UAE), Honeywell Forge Energy Optimization demonstrated an initial 10% energy savings. HBMSU is the first accredited smart university in the UAE and is known for its technology and innovation programs.

Honeywell Forge Energy Optimization was applied to HBMSU's existing building management system, which uses competitor technology to demonstrate the platform's open architecture and hardware-agnostic capabilities. The additional energy savings is especially significant because HBMSU is regarded as a highly smart, energy efficient building with fully connected lighting, cooling, building management, power and efficiency control that is optimized based on real-time occupancy. The pilot also uncovered local control issues with the chiller plant and fresh air handling unit that were not adjusting to set points.

"As a smart university, we look to deploy the latest technology across our campus and ensure our buildings are efficient. We were pleasantly surprised by the results we saw from Honeywell Forge and its ability to drive further energy savings beyond our achievable optimization with the techniques we have," said Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University. "Our further partnership with Honeywell will help to support the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) modeling for building automation and provide our students with first-hand applications of how AI and machine learning (ML) will drive operational efficiencies in buildings. Our goal is to collaborate with leading organizations like Honeywell that support our vision of educating the innovators of tomorrow."

"Buildings aren't static steel and concrete – they're dynamic ecosystems and their energy needs fluctuate based on ever-changing variables like weather and occupancy," said David Trice, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Connected Buildings. "With Honeywell Forge Energy Optimization, we're evolving building operations far beyond what would be possible even with a robust team of engineers and the rules they code in their building management system. By employing the latest self-learning algorithms coupled with autonomous control, we can help building portfolio owners fine-tune their energy expenditures to drive efficiencies and create more sustainable practices for our customers."

Energy consumption in commercial buildings is a significant issue because these buildings account for more than 36% of global final energy consumption and nearly 40% of total direct and indirect CO2 emissions.1 Additionally, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) often presents the largest opportunity for energy savings in a commercial building.2

Honeywell Forge Energy Optimization autonomously and continually optimizes a building's internal set points across hundreds of assets every 15 minutes to evaluate whether a building's HVAC system is running at peak efficiency. When Honeywell's solution finds a need to make an adjustment, it analyzes factors such as time of day, weather, occupancy levels, and dozens of other data points to determine the optimal settings per building and makes calculated decisions 96 times per 24-hour period for every building in a portfolio, 365 days a year across the system of assets. Repeated results have shown double-digit reductions of HVAC-related consumption while not impacting customer comfort.

Traditional HVAC control solutions incorporate varying levels of sophistication. The most basic involve static set points that don't account for variable factors such as occupancy or weather. The second, and most common, rely on scheduled set-point adjustments using estimated occupancy and climate conditions. Finally, set points can be managed by a certified energy manager; however, most facilities have not found this solution to produce a viable return on investment due to the sheer volume of variables involved and the difficulty in producing accurate calculations in any scalable manner.

Honeywell Forge Energy Optimization is simple for building portfolio owners to deploy with plug-and-play capabilities. No changes to business mechanics are needed and there's no need to rip and replace systems to add Energy Optimization to a building.

@honeywell @HBMSU #BAS #HVAC #Environment