A BMS (Building Management System) plays an important safety function, controlling,
monitoring, optimising, and reporting on facilities (ventilation, lighting, power, fire, security),
as well as giving owners ability to optimise comfort/efficiency. Systems linked to BMS
represent on average 55% of a building's energy usage. BMS comprises software+ hardware;
leading to global opportunities for products and services.
This $30bn industry employs over 0.5m staff and serves 150 countries. Over 10000 UK
companies operate in this market. Almost every industrial and domestic building has at least
one BMS Controller - a purpose-built unit that manages data (temperature, humidity, pressure,
current, etc) which it uses to communicate instructions to BMS devices.
Products that reduce energy and carbon emissions in buildings will be in increasing demand.
Europe’s Energy 2020 document and Lisbon Treaty states “Energy efficiency is a key
priority” and “the price of failure is too high”. Europe's Energy Performance of Buildings
Directive (EPBD) targets enhancement opportunities at building controllers. Further, the
Display Energy Certificates (DEC), Carbon Reduction Credits (CRC), BREEAM and
IS016001, all require the use of a BMS – supporting estimates that the UK Energy market will
reach £200bn by 2020 from £43bn now. BSEN 15232 was created to measure impact of
intelligent building controls on energy in buildings - expected mandatory in future.
This project addresses these problems. Following two successfully funded TSB grants (POM
and POC - File Refs 700289 and 710518 respectively), we address the problems by
developing a DOP Stage ‘Universal Controller that maximises interchangeability amongst
BMS equipment, requires no wiring, no dedicated ‘expert’, uses common software, and
maximises interoperability via the cloud. A low-cost ‘Plug and Play’ approach has been
identified, based on SmartPhone tech that could satisfy current /future needs, and open
significant $bn markets.