Holistic approach to integration delivers big business benefits

Making a proper business case is the key to progressing with integrated building automation, says JEROEN MULDER . The benefits are improved productivity and reduced costs.The integration of building services control, made possible by today’s innovative automation technology, offers facility mangers, security chiefs, building owners and occupiers big benefits to their business. Standalone control systems for HVAC, energy management, fire protection, access control and lighting are limited, not being able to provide the full benefit possible, with the availability of information often restricted to isolated areas. Response times accordingly can be slow, with the consequence that facts become blurred. The implementation of an holistic approach to building management eliminates those weaknesses. In an integrated system, information is shared between departments, enabling vital building functions to be centralised. An integrated solution — a data management engine, effectively — delivers to the user the big picture. This enables automated building-control systems to utilise all available information within the different systems. That is when the real benefits can be realised — increasing productivity, reducing costs (those of energy, installation and operation) and mitigating risk. The impossible dream? Many organisations seek to enhance the performance of their buildings and reduce operating costs. The current growing need to tighten security and the necessity to comply with regulations and EU directives, e.g. the new EU norms regarding energy savings and the EU Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD), all typically within an environment of reduced resource allocation, only exacerbate their dilemma. The existing practice of specifying and purchasing fire, security and HVAC/energy-management systems separately does little to help. With the construction industry currently set up to buy this way, this traditional approach only solves parts of the puzzle and fails to tap the full value of investments made in automation controls. No matter how complex the situation might at first appear to be, emerging automation control technology enables companies to satisfy the seemingly conflicting goals. Access to the big picture provides the capability to optimise the business of building management, both now and in the future, and of reaping the benefits. Unlike non-integrated and partially integrated systems, which are characterised by separate control, scant data exchange and high operating costs, facility integration enables the inter-action between building management (energy management, HVAC and utilities for example), security and fire safety systems. A fully integrated system provides a common platform to develop applications that are scalable, inter-operable, available and manageable from a single point — a PC. With this facility comes many benefits: peer-to-peer control; full data management; centralised events storage; lower operating costs; reduced risk and improved functionality/efficiency. A further step can then be taken to an enterprise-wide integration, which supports the transition from sharing to managing information. A common, enterprise-wide business model supports workflow processes, complete systems inter-relationships, central alarm management and maximum control, security and fire safety. It supports performance improvement — and all without any detriment to service provision. Factors critical to success The technology supporting an integrated building-management solution is, however, usually more straightforward than the boardroom politics and procedural processes required to make it happen. Indeed, the path to successful facility-wide integration of automated building-management solutions must not only include a case for how this will benefit the business as a whole but also how it will help the individual stakeholders (departments) who must come together to make it happen. Generally, artificial barriers to change can be overcome with the help of a comprehensive life cycle cost/benefit analysis. For property developers it is a clear-cut case. Smart buildings are proven to be good revenue boosters as they can be let more quickly than traditional buildings and then command higher rental returns. Where to start Achieving integration requires two initial steps on the part of the client organisation. • Identifying the needs of the business and understanding the technology that is available. • Taking an holistic approach by linking all core building automation controls. That done, the customer can select a provider/partner that understands the integration philosophy, the need for regulatory and legislative compliance and the organisation’s business ambition. An integration partner must not only understand integration at the highest levels, they must also take into account other crucial variables. • Desired financial outcomes. • What the business drivers are — including the requirement to validate for regulatory compliance. • The bottom line. It is also important to implement automation controls that support the development and implementation of a long term plan — controls that create flexibility and provide for future expandability. The customer will need an operations centre from where the integrated building management functions will be managed. This will mean physically assembling a group of managers in the same room to share information about site-wide operations. Also, the selection of an integration platform that uses standards such as TCP/IP networking and web-based interfaces is necessary. The integration platform must connect with the appropriate building systems and IT databases with open standards such as BACnet, LonWorks, OPC and OCBC. Unparalled benefits For companies considering an integrated building automation control platform, it is vital that they convince decision-makers in the organisation that the benefits are unparalleled — that integration doesn’t cost but rather that it delivers measurable return on investment. With departments often battling for limited resources, working together towards the same goal is key. Choose an integration provider to help develop return-on-investment models that can be shared internally. With the business case made, most people cannot help agree that integrated building automation is far too compelling to ignore. Jeroen Mulder is integration leader with Honeywell Building Solutions, Honeywell House, Arlington Business Park, Bracknell, Berks RG12 1EB.
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