A Brief About Building Management System?

A Building Management System is a computer-based control system that is

installed in the buildings in order to control and monitor the mechanical and
electrical equipment of the building including lighting, fire systems, ventilation,
security systems etc.

There are two elements when a Building Management System is concerned -

Software and Hardware. The software is usually organized in a tiered way. It may
be patented, using protocols like C-bus, Profibus etc. These days, you can find its
integration with open standards like XML, Modbus, DeviceNet, LonWorks, SOAP
etc.
The most common implementation of Building Management Systems is in large
projects with wide-ranging mechanical, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems.
Systems linked to a Building Management System typically represent about forty
percent of a building's energy usage; if lighting is included, this percentile nears
seventy percent. Such systems play a crucial role whenever managing energy
demand is essential. If the system is not configured appropriately, they might cost
you an additional twenty percent of building energy usage..

Other than controlling the internal environment of buildings, Building Management

System can also be linked with access control and other similar security systems. If
you’re familiar with CCTVs and motion detectors, you know where we are pointing
at. Application can also extend to fire alarm systems and you can connect the
elevators. In case a fire is detected, then only the fire alarm panel can shut off
dampers in the ventilation system to avert smoke from spreading and send all the
elevators to the ground floor and park them to forbid people from using them.

On a genral scale, a Building Management System can be used for the following
purposes:
 Lighting control
  Electric power control
 Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC)
 Security and observation
 Access control
 Fire alarm system
 Lifts, elevators etc.
 Plumbing
 Closed-circuit television (CCTV)
 Other engineering systems
 Control Panel
 PA system
 Alarm Monitor
 Security Automation

Following are some of the benefits of using a Building Management System:

Building tenant / occupants

 Great control over the internal comfort conditions.
 Power to control each room separately.
  Enhanced productivity of the staff.
 Effective monitoring and targeting of energy consumption.
 Active response to HVAC-related complaints
 Possibilities of saving time and money during the maintenance.

Building Owner
 Higher probabilities of higher rental value.
 Flexibility on change of building use.
 Individual tenant billing for services facilities time saving
 Remote Monitoring of the plants.

Maintenance Companies
 Easy availability of information on the problems faced.
 Computerized maintenance scheduling.
 Effective use of maintenance staff.
 Early detection of problems.
 Greater satisfaction levels of occupants.

For more details, please visit Endeavour Africa’s Website.