What is Building Automation?

If you can measure it you can manage it. If you manage it you can reduce costs.

The world is projected to consume four Earths’ worth of resources by 2050 amidst immense pressure on conserving energy and reducing carbon emissions.

As buildings become more connected, complex, and dynamic, there is a growing need for intelligent building technologies that provide data-driven insights to maximize operational efficiency, cut energy waste, and lower overall costs.

In our homes we are encouraged to conserve energy by turning appliances that we do not need off, turn down energy hungry appliances such as geysers, turn off lights when we leave rooms, employ Solar Energy and more.

Building Automation Systems offer a solution to controlling, measuring, managing and reducing energy in your factory, public building, university, museum stadium, hospital without having to constantly educate your users, employees, students and visitors.

The purpose of a Building Automation System (BAS) – also referred to as a Building Management System (BMS) – is to improve occupant comfort, maximise the efficiency of building systems, and reduce energy consumption and operating costs.

A Building Automation System employs sensors, meters and control mechanisms to measure and control the systems in a building along with providing feedback to management on how efficient (or not) processes and machinery within the building are.

Building automation offers automatic centralised control of a building’s Heating, Ventilation And Air Conditioning (HVAC), Electrical, Lighting, Shading, Access Control, Security Systems, Metering, Solar Production, Water Consumption and other interrelated systems.

All of these systems are combined in one reporting and display interface accessible on site or online from anywhere in the world.

Typically Building Automation Systems will be installed in new buildings. Retro fitting in older buildings is possible and carries a higher price tag as existing components and wiring will have to be removed, rewired and reinstated.

Potential energy and money savings are on a case by case basis owing to the many different energy consumption profiles and equipment that may be replaced.

Advanced building management systems will incorporate state-of-the-art communications and utilise open-platform integration technologies in a scalable and modular way.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) present new opportunities to unlock process innovations to develop sustainable, environmentally-friendly materials; decarbonize energy; tap digital innovation for doing more with less; and extend the life cycle of goods within a “zero waste to landfill” framework.

After proper implementation of a BAS one can expect:

Reduced use of natural resources and energy;
A lower carbon footprint worldwide;
Technology advancements that optimize efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability across the full manufacturing life cycle, including the supply chain; and
The building of a strong foundation for a global circular economy.

Port Elizabeth based BA Systems has many years of experience in installing and managing BAS.

Some of the unique applications developed and installed by BA Systems include:

Remotely driven Clarion of Bells programmed to play any tune on the Campanile in Strand Street, Port Elizabeth
Monitoring systems to keep students awake in the lecture halls of the NMU Business School in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth
Lighting controls for before, during and after major sporting events at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Graphical User Interface and pump controls for Grey Water and Borehole system installed at the FNB Provinical Headquarters on Cape Road, Port Elizabeth

BA Systems is a national award winning automation implementation agency installing Building Automation across the Eastern Cape.

BA Systems prefer to specify products from the C-Bus home and building automation system – which is is commercialised under Clipsal by Schneider electric. It is a powerful, fully integrated system that can control and automate lighting and many other electrical systems and products. Implemented for commercial or residential buildings automation, it brings control, comfort, efficiency and ease of use to its occupants.

Visit https://basystems.co.za for a sample of projects completed by BA Systems.