Intelligent buildings in industry – is automation a necessity?
When you talk to owners of production plants, the topic of intelligent building rarely appears at the very beginning. First, there are the problems: rising energy bills, financial losses, and unpredictable outages.
Only later does the question arise: What is the problem and how to prevent these losses?
And only then does the conversation about intelligent buildings begin. Because sooner or later, if a company is to grow and generate the highest possible profits, a very sensible and conscious decision.
An intelligent building is a way of managing
Imagine a production hall where:
- the temperature is always within the required range, without manual corrections,
- ventilation adapts to the actual load,
- the lighting works automatically,
- devices do not consume energy outside of working hours.
This is the effect of implementing automation, i.e. investing in an intelligent building.
BMS is fundamental here, i.e. a system that allows nsupervise installations and makes the building cease to be a collection of independent elements and begins to function as a whole.
In a typical building, every installation, colloquially speaking, takes on a life of its own. The HVAC operates according to settings from several years ago, and the lighting is off when not needed. In a smart building, the situation is different. The system collects data, but more importantly, automatically sets parameters so that energy consumption is as low as possible at a given moment.
There is no need to react to a problem because the system often eliminates it before it occurs.
Case study, or how BMS supports a production plant
We spoke with a client in which the monthly losses in the food plant amounted to many thousands of zlotys. The temperature in the hall could fluctuate, which affected production quality. Ventilation operated at a constant level, and could often be much more intense during production hours and much weaker when the hall was partially empty.
After analysis, it turned out that the best solution would be a BMS system.
The system started:
- adjust HVAC parameters to the actual load,
- synchronize installations according to schedule,
- eliminate the operation of devices outside of working hours.
What were the effects?
| Area | Before implementation | After implementation |
| Energy consumption | High and unstable | a decrease of 20% |
| Production conditions | variables | stable |
| Control | manual | automatic |
It's often said that a smart building is one that collects a lot of data. This is only partly true. Data itself doesn't change anything. The effect appears only when the system starts to act on their basis.
This can be simplified to one comparison in the table below.
| Stage | Traditional building | Intelligent building |
| Data | are (often scattered) | are (consistent and central) |
| Analysis | manual or none | automatic |
| Decisions | man | system |
| Reaction | delayed | immediate |
It is this last stage – reaction – that brings enormous benefits to business.
Why do companies implement smart buildings?
Most often it comes down to three things.
Costs
Energy is one of the biggest costs today, and without automation it is difficult to control.
Stability
In many industries, indoor conditions impact quality and safety. Systems must operate precisely and continuously.
Predictability
Companies don't have to put out fires, but they can respond to problems before they happen.
Who can benefit from smart buildings? BMS and automation
Primarily for owners whose facility operates continuously and generates high costs. These are most often production plants, industrial halls and logistics centers, in which even small energy losses translate into large amounts of money on a monthly basis.
BMS and other building automation systems are also implemented by companies from food and pharmaceutical industries. Maintaining appropriate environmental parameters directly impacts product quality. BMS also benefits owners of office and commercial buildings, who want to increase comfort and reduce energy costs.
Intelligent systems are also used in large-scale facilities. Shopping centers fall into this category, where lighting, air conditioning, and security management must operate coherently. Developers who want to increase property value also implement these systems, as they provide modern building management standards.
In fact, the larger and more complex the object, the more sense it makes to implement automation, because manual control does not bring good results.
If you'd like to see how a BMS will work in your building because you know you're wasting energy unnecessarily, contact us. Become the owner of a smart building and control all your costs!
FAQ
1. How does an intelligent building management system work??
A smart building system integrates heating, ventilation, and lighting into a single system. It uses the Internet of Things and sensors to monitor indoor conditions.
2. What role does technology play in modern construction?
Technology in construction increases the efficiency and functionality of facilities. It also enables reductions in operating costs through process automation.
3. Is the alarm system part of intelligent solutions?
Yes, an alarm system is often integrated with a building's security system. Combined with IoT and sensors, it provides active building protection.
4. Do intelligent systems improve energy efficiency??
Yes, smart solutions analyze usage levels and adjust device operation accordingly. This reduces operating costs and energy consumption.
5. How does remote control work in intelligent buildings?
Remote control allows you to control your installation from a computer or tablet. Users can manage heating, lighting, and air conditioning, for example, from anywhere.
6. How does the integration of different systems in office buildings work?
Integration allows heating, ventilation, and security systems to be combined into a single ecosystem. This makes office buildings more functional and integrated.