Smart Building
A smart building starts with the network
Climate control that adapts to occupancy. Doors that open with your phone. Meeting rooms you book with a single click. That is a Smart Building. But it only works if everything is properly connected.
What is a Smart Building?
In a Smart Building, the technical systems work together via the network. Sensors measure what is happening in the building: how many people there are, how warm it is, how much energy is being used. The systems adapt accordingly.
The devices and sensors that make this possible are collectively known as the Internet of Things (IoT). A thermostat, an access reader or an occupancy sensor is not smart on its own. It only becomes a Smart Building when those systems share data with each other.
An example: a meeting room is booked via the app. Fifteen minutes before the meeting, the heating comes on. The visitor automatically gets access to the front door. Afterwards a sensor detects that the room is empty, and the lights and heating switch off.
The systems in a smart building
Eight systems you will find in many modern commercial buildings. For each: what it does, and what we look at.
Climate control
Heating, cooling and ventilation that adapt to occupancy and outdoor temperature.
We check: whether the system is on the network, can be managed remotely and shares data with other systems.
Lighting
Lights that switch on and off based on presence and daylight, per room or zone.
We check: whether lighting can be controlled centrally and is linked to occupancy or access.
Access control
Doors that open with a pass, code or phone. Configurable per person: who can go where, and when.
We check: whether the system runs on its own separate part of the network and is linked to visitor registration.
Cameras
Security cameras in and around the building that send and store footage over the network.
We check: whether cameras are separated from the tenants' network, and whether there is enough capacity and power over the cable.
Occupancy sensors
Sensors that detect whether a room or desk is in use. The basis for smart climate, lighting and cleaning.
We check: whether the sensors are reliably connected and share their data with other systems.
Room booking
Book meeting rooms and desks via an app or a screen by the door.
We check: whether bookings are linked to climate, lighting and access, so an empty room is really switched off.
Visitor registration
Visitors sign in digitally and automatically get access for the duration of their appointment.
We check: whether registration is linked to access control, and how visitor data is protected.
Energy monitoring
Smart meters and sensors that show how much energy is used per room or installation.
We check: whether the data is available centrally and can be used to run the building more intelligently.
Why the network is the foundation
All those systems run on the network. If that network is not set up properly, the building is not smart but vulnerable. These are the points that matter:
| Separate networks | Cameras, access and climate systems do not belong on the same network as tenants' laptops. See network segmentation. |
| Security | Many IoT devices are poorly secured. A firewall and clear arrangements for updates prevent a thermostat from becoming a back door. |
| Power over the cable | Sensors, cameras and access readers often receive power via the network cable. See PoE and CAT6A. |
| Cabling and coverage | Sensors are everywhere: in ceilings, by doors, in technical rooms. They all need a reliable connection. |
| Monitoring | With continuous monitoring you spot a failed sensor before anyone notices. |
| One control layer | A building management system that brings the separate systems together, so they really work as one. |
Smart Building in the IT-Label
Smart Building is one of the six components of the IT-Label. The Integration component also looks at how well the systems work with each other and with the network.
Descriptions based on it-label.com.
What does it deliver?
For owners
A building that adapts to how it is used wastes less energy. You spot faults sooner. And a demonstrably smart building is a strong argument for tenants and buyers. An IT-Label makes that visible.
For tenants
More comfort, less hassle. Booking a desk, registering a visitor or adjusting the temperature takes just a few clicks. And you know in advance what the building can do, so you do not have to invest in systems that should already be in place.
For investors
Smart systems are increasingly expected. When buying, you want to know what is in place, whether it is set up securely and what still needs to be done. We map that with digital due diligence.
Questions
What is a Smart Building?
A building in which systems such as climate control, lighting, access, cameras and room booking work together via the network. Sensors measure what happens in the building, and the systems adapt accordingly.
What is the difference between IoT and Smart Building?
IoT (Internet of Things) refers to the individual devices and sensors connected to the network. A Smart Building emerges when those devices actually work together, for example when the heating in a meeting room only switches on if the room is booked.
Does Smart Building count towards the IT-Label?
Yes. Smart Building is one of the six components of the IT-Label. A fully integrated Smart Building belongs to the highest level, IT1+. Integration, how well systems work together, is a separate component.
Does a building have to be a Smart Building to get a good label?
No. The IT-Label does not say whether a building is good or bad. A building without smart systems can work perfectly well for a tenant. The label simply shows what is in place.
How smart is your building really?
During a pre-inspection we look at which systems are in place, how they are connected and whether they work together.