As the Paris Olympics 2024 get underway, millions of fans will travel to the French capital city to attend one of the world's largest sporting events. Thanks to the latest technology from Johnson Controls, they will enjoy a more comfortable experience at some of the smartest and most energy efficient stadiums on the continent.

Dan Hopkins, Technical Manager at ebm-papst UK Ltd, discusses how a Building Management System can deliver a healthier outcome for occupants.

Ian Ellis, Marketing and Sales Specialist Manager at Siemens plc, explains how smart technology is creating more comfortable working environments while boosting a building’s energy efficiency.

Paul Wetherfield, CEO of Global Associates, explains why traditional BMS applications continue to play a key role in data driven smart buildings.

We breathe, on average, 12 times per minute, 720 times per hour, and 17,280 times a day but how do we know our buildings are safe and healthy when it comes to air quality? Here, Laura Carminati, Product Line Manager – Sensors and Occupant Interfaces at Distech Controls, looks at some solutions.

With one of the hottest summers on record behind us and the country in the middle of a cost of living crisis, Graeme Rees, President of the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA), discusses the increasing value of smart buildings in making our buildings both comfortable to occupy and more energy efficient.

GEZE UK, the UK subsidiary of GEZE GmbH, a leading manufacturer of door and window control systems, has introduced the After Sales Solutions brochure that details the after sales services GEZE UK offers for manual and automatic doors and windows.

GEZE have completely upgraded their control panels for smoke and heat extraction systems.  Control units are the brain and the power supply of the smoke and heat extraction systems in a building.

FIN Stack from J2 Innovations, A Siemens Company, is an open framework that supports all the open protocols commonly used in buildings including BACnet, Modbus, KNX and MQTT, which simplifies smart building management by helping you engineer faster and perform better. 

Programmable logic controller (PLC) software TDB provides the user with the capability to create custom control algorithms for any BMS application. 

Distech Controls has launched a new Developer Portal.

BACnet International, KNX Association, OCF, Thread Group and the Zigbee Alliance today announced they are working together to better align commercial buildings with users' connectivity needs and to improve the integration of smart building products. The organisations behind the leading technology standards in the field of building automation are collaborating on this new initiative: "IP Building and Lighting Standards" (IP-BLiS). Together they are promoting a secure multi-standard IP-based infrastructure as a backbone in building automation to replace the inefficient, still-widespread use of siloed solutions. For this purpose, the operation of leading technology standards is to be harmonised, the fragmentation in smart building connectivity reduced and a broad acceptance of coexistent solutions promoted.

BACnet International, KNX Association, OCF, Thread Group and the Zigbee Alliance today announced they are working together to better align commercial buildings with users' connectivity needs and to improve the integration of smart building products. The organisations behind the leading technology standards in the field of building automation are collaborating on this new initiative: "IP Building and Lighting Standards" (IP-BLiS). Together they are promoting a secure multi-standard IP-based infrastructure as a backbone in building automation to replace the inefficient, still-widespread use of siloed solutions. For this purpose, the operation of leading technology standards is to be harmonised, the fragmentation in smart building connectivity reduced and a broad acceptance of coexistent solutions promoted.

A new way of working – and a new attitude towards integration – is required if we are really serious about delivering smart buildings, says Karl Walker

Smart buildings are getting personal. Mike Hook looks at how. 

When dealing with changes caused by the Pandemic, building managers need to look forwards as well as at immediate adaptations. Nick Sacke of Comms 365 looks to the future. 

New working practices will require the installation of complex data networks in existing buildings, says Brett Smith

J2 Innovations has partnered with global controls specialist, Coster Group to embed FIN Framework (FIN) into a new generation of plant and building control solutions.  

Introducing Trend’s new building energy management controller, IQ™X and enhanced building Supervisor interface, IQ™VISION

Malcolm Anson, President of the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) is urging the industry to embrace wellbeing in our business culture to boost productivity in the workplace.

Only a systems integrator that understands all the capabilities of a building energy management system can fully exploit its potential. Alan Johnstone examines the importance of choosing the right partner.

Although updating a building management system is a valuable investment for energy efficiency, it’s not always feasible to update an entire BMS at once. Ian Ellis explains that today’s controls technologies make it possible to focus on better control for a single function, for example the fan coils or VAV units, in a building.

Businesses constantly adapt the working environment to optimise performance. Building controls have to be equally flexible, easy to reconfigure and able to deliver control quickly and effectively. Alan Hickman discusses these challenges and how the latest controls technology can ease the strain of change as the new normal for buildings.

Andy Bartlett explains why the market can expect to see controls intelligence pushed further out into the network beyond the head-end, and what this means for end-users.

BEG has developed a wellness multi-sensor that controls lighting based on time, presence and circadian rhythm. The product provides lighting control with occupant wellbeing.

Aimteq has completed installation of a Schneider BMS at a new £10.8 million defence logistics centre for BAE systems. The project provides control of functions such as domestic hot water, radiant heating and the site’s cold store for carbon fibre material.

Carlo Gavazzi has appointed award winning digitalenergy as a partner. The company will offer the Carlo Gavazzi Energy Management range which compliments its own Energy Software Solution.

BG Energy Solutions (BGES) has developed a real-time energy optimisation solution, Vista

Malcolm Anson, president of the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA), explains the need to highlight the valuable skills that our industry stalwarts bring and why trade associations are doing more to recognise them.

Controlco, a BMS company that has been established for 17 years, has created a new brand, including a forward-thinking web site. The new image is described as ‘capturing the DNA of Controlco and showing a true reflection of the extensive capabilities and valuable services offered to new and existing customers’.

Carlo Gavazzi’s WM20 smart modular power analyser offers faster communication for building automation networks using Modbus, BACnet over RS435 or TCP/IP and Profibus, along with superior functions such as load monitoring measurement and comprehensive alarm management. — all in a compact plug-and-play modular format that streamlines installation and simplifies inventory management.

Indoor air quality has a major influence on the health, comfort and wellbeing of a building’s occupants. Graeme Rees of Trend Control Systems explains how a building energy management system can optimise comfort conditions and help keep people healthy and happy.

Reznor’s SmartCom intelligent energy-management controller is compatible with radiant-tube, warm-air and many other types of heating system. It is straightforward and easy to use and has a wide range of energy-optimising features.

Priva has published a guide that shows how it is possible to future-proof heritage buildings with the same control-based techniques found in modern structures. The guide explains in clear language how Priva’s technology — which is in use at sites such as St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Rosslyn Chapel — is delivering significant energy savings, improved indoor climate conditions and greater visibility of energy use.

The hardware of building management system and the Internet of Things is merely an enabler for software, as Simon Garratt of Schneider Electric explains.

Belimo has expanded its product range with the addition of innovative sensors to complement its actuators and valves, optimise system performance and improve energy efficiency. The sensors can be seamlessly integrated into all major building automation and control systems.

Specifying a building-management system (BMS) at the beginning of an energy-reduction initiative frequently provides the most effective route to optimised usage — but the installation of BMS at a later stage can still deliver major benefits, says Gareth Barber of BG Energy Solutions.

The ISO 50001 energy management standard faces its first revision six years on from its introduction. Alan Hickman of Carlo Gavazzi UK, looks at the benefits of ISO 50001 and outlines how an energy-management system can be put in place.

Helvar’s iDim Orbit DALI sensor package is fully IEC 60669-2-5 compliant, thanks to the use of Wago push-in cage clamp pluggable connectors. The standard guarantees safe operation within manufacturer’s instructions and allows Helvar’s lighting system to be specified for a wider range of projects and applications. These pluggable connectors are up to 50% quicker to install than screw types.

Dealing with obsolescence is a major concern for any industrial sector — and building controls is no exception. Stephen Payne, of BEG Ltd and KNX UK Vice President, discusses the key considerations when identifying technology for today’s building-services projects.

Titan Products has modernised the enclosures for all its surface-mounted room sensors to provide a more attractive appearance while remaining at a size that will not draw attention, due to its non-reflective, discreet finish. The rest of the products remain the same — as does the price.

CPN Lighting has supplied a comprehensive lighting-management system for the new £15.7 million Remembrance Centre at the National Memorial Arboretum. The system uses a range of products to tailor the lighting control to the needs of each space, whilst minimising the environmental impact of operating the building.

High-performance, recessed ceiling-mounted PIR presence detectors from Timeguard are designed to be easy to fit, easy to set up and easy to adjust. The procedure is to connect the wiring box, slip it through the ceiling aperture and plug in the RJ11 connector before spring clipping into the ceiling. Up to five slave connectors can be controlled from a single master, with an overall capacity of 240 W of LED or fluorescent lighting and 2.3 kW of halogen.

Given the importance of controls in achieving the requirements of Part L, Malcolm Anson, president of the Building Controls Industry Association, reflects on the role of the engineer and future training needs to tackle the building-performance challenge.

The power of the IoT (Internet of Things) to realise integration and automation through cross-system communication to make possible real-time monitoring, optimisation and automation can improve out approach to managing all aspects of a building’s operation. Kas Mohammed of Schneider Electric takes up the story.

SH Controls has been appointed as a Carlo Gavazzi specialist energy partner in recognition for its success in using Carlo Gavazzi energy meters, logging devices and software solutions on numerous projects over recent months. In its role, SH Controls will continue to provide the full range of Carlo Gavazzi energy-management solutions to monitor, manage and reduce users’ energy consumption and carbon footprint.

The integration of multiple controls systems should be driven by the needs of a building’s occupants and the potential business benefits — believes Mark Vincent of Prolojik.

Toshiba’s new-generation RBC-TSI1 Black Pear air-conditioning controller includes a range of built-in modes to suit particular applications. They are hotel mode and two eco modes, one based on a timed fan operation and the other with separate setpoints for heating and cooling.

Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch, east London, has added a Trend IQView8 touchscreen to its Trend BEMS to enable the system to be monitored in real time and adjustments made to energy use as and when necessary. Terry Abbot, head of facilities at the theatre, explains that he was previously unable to see what the BEMS was doing and relied upon Trend’s engineers to make adjustments when they visited the site for maintenance and service work.

As technology partner for Carnegie Hall in New York, Siemens installed the new systems for an infrastructure upgrade to Studio Towers, a central focus of which was the installation of the new 5600 m2 Resnick Education Wing on the hall’s upper floors and the refurbishment of backstage areas.