KNX adds to capabilities of residents and carers in care home
The comprehensive capabilities of KNX technology for building automation have been used extensively in a care-home property for a leading housing association. They include controlling heating and lighting, security and monitoring, central automation, and energy and load management. Other aspects include remote control and maintenance, visualisation and operation, as well as interfacing to the nurse assistance call system and the main fire-alarm system.
The installation was carried out by Ohms & Watts, a systems integrator and member of KNX UK.
Working closely with the housing association, Ohms & Watts provided a customised solution with many examples of innovative KNX technology. They include a pillow vibrator designed for those hard of hearing or asleep to provide an alert if a smoke-detector alarm is sounded.
Another novel application is linking attack alarms carried by carers to the PC-based control centre. Carers can alert the control centre simply by pushing a button on their alarm.
KNX also interfaces with the access-control system to automate the opening and closing of doors in open areas as well as doors in en-suite bathrooms. One benefit of this system is that clients in wheel chairs can control doors using infra-red controllers.
Such applications of KNX technology enable a person in sheltered accommodation to have some degree of freedom and also makes the work of carers considerably easier.
