Building Systems Engineering

Building system technology, also known as building automation, smart home or bus system, comprises an advanced concept of electrical installation in which as many electrical components of a building as possible (e.g. lighting, heating, sockets, switches, ventilation, blinds, etc.)  can be connected to each other via a special data network (bus system). While in classic electrical installations the power supply of the corresponding consumer is switched directly by the operation of switches (switching technology), in a building automation system this information is transmitted via the data network. This makes it possible to trigger a wide variety of switching processes manually, automatically or remotely, even across disciplines. These possibilities can increase the safety, comfort, flexibility and energy efficiency of a building.

More about building system technology

different possible applications, e.g.:

• security (e.g. presence simulation, burglary protection, child lock, protection against severe weather, fire protection), see lexicon article ► Building system technology, security applications

• Comfort (e.g. central shutdown, Light scenes, time functions, measurement data collection, flexibility, remote access), see lexicon article ► Building system technology, comfort applications

• Energy efficiency (e.g. radiator control, heating system control, sanitary control, automatic switch-off, smart grid), see lexicon article ► Building system technology, energy efficiency applications

Conventional electrical installation and building system technology: As a basic system, building automation consists of at least the so-called sensors and actuators, which exchange commands and information via a bus system. Theoretically, each sensor can trigger any possible action of an actuator present in the system.

In addition to this basic installation, there are many different options for expanding the system, which enormously increases the benefits and possibilities of intelligent building technology and thus fully opens up the actual functions of building automation. The following figures illustrate the differences between a conventional electrical installation and an installation in the context of building automation:

1. Conventional electrical installation:

When switch 1 (2) is switched, the circuit for light 1 (2) is closed and the light is illuminated. This assignment cannot be changed.

2. Building system technology (basic system):

When the sensor A (B) is switched, a corresponding information is sent via the bus connection. Actuator 1 (2) then closes the circuit for light 1 (2) and the light lights up. The assignment of whether actuator 1, actuator 2 or both actuators switch at the command of a sensor can be changed at any time by reprogramming.

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Notes on construction

process: The installation of a building automation system is roughly divided into two phases:

• In the first step, the technical prerequisites must be created, i.e. the sensors and actuators must be installed and connected to each other accordingly.

• In the second step, all participants (sensors, actuators, ...) of the data bus must be configured or programmed in order to assign the actions of the different actuators. Ideally, all required components are programmed in advance and marked with their future installation location in order to achieve a functional system as soon as possible after installation.

Documentation: For building automation systems, detailed documentation of the installation and configuration of the system components is very important. Detailed handover and training of the client is also necessary. In addition, the client should be provided with a copy of the project data to allow for future changes or adjustments to the system configuration by themselves or by another installer.

Standards and Literature

DIN 18015-4, Electrical Systems in Residential Buildings - Part 4: Building Systems Engineering

DIN EN 14908-2, Company-Neutral Data Communication for Building Automation and Building Management - Building Network Protocol - Part 2: Communication via Paired Twisted Cables

DIN EN 14908-3, Company-neutral data communication for building automation and building management - Building network protocol - Part 3: Communication via power supply lines

DIN EN 14908-4, Company-neutral data communication for building automation and building management - Building network protocol - Part 4: Communication via Internet Protocol (IP)

DIN EN 50090-1; VDE 0829-1, Electrical System Technology for Home and Buildings (ESHG) - Part 1: Structure of the DIN

EN 50090-2-2 Standard; VDE 0829-2-2, Electrical System Technology for Home and Building (ESHG) - Part 2-2: System Overview - General Technical Requirements

DIN EN 50090-9-1; VDE 0829-9-1, Electrical System Technology for Home and Buildings (ESHG) - Part 9-1: Installation Requirements - Cabling of Two-Wire Cables ESHG Class 1

DIN EN 13321-2, Open Data Communication for Building Automation and Building Management - Electrical System Technology for Home and Buildings - Part 2: KNXnet/IP Communication

DIN V 18599-11, Energy Assessment of Buildings - Calculation of Usable, Final and Primary Energy Requirements for Heating, Cooling, Ventilation, Domestic Hot Water and Lighting - Part 11: Building Automation

ISO/IEC 14543-3-10, Information Technology - Home Electronics Systems (HES) - Part 3-10: Wireless Protocol for Short Data Packets (WSP) Optimized for Energy Harvesting - Architecture and Lower Protocol Levels

Source: bauwion