What does building automation mean?
What building automation controls
- Heating. How warm the water fed to the radiators or the floor heating is, according to the outdoor temperature and the measurements in the flats.
- Ventilation. The power of the fans, the temperature of the supply and exhaust air and heat recovery, according to the hours of use, carbon dioxide and humidity.
- Domestic water. The temperature of the hot water, so that it is hot enough for safety but no hotter than needed.
- Alarms. When a pump stops, a temperature drops or pressure falls, the system reports it to the monitoring.
In larger buildings, automation also controls cooling, lighting and access control. In a housing company the emphasis is on heating and ventilation, because they are the largest consumers of energy.
What it consists of
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sensors | Measure temperature, pressure, humidity, carbon dioxide and consumption |
| Controller | Compares the measurements with the set values and decides what the actuators do |
| Actuators | Valves, dampers and frequency converters that carry out the controller's decision |
| Monitoring system | The view in which a person sees the situation and can change settings, nowadays usually in the cloud |
| Connection | The subscription over which the controller and the monitoring system exchange data |
What building automation is not
It is not a thermostat. A thermostat adjusts one radiator according to one room. Building automation adjusts the heat distribution of the whole building according to all the measurements.
It is not a smart home. A smart home controls the lights and devices of one flat at the resident's wish. Building automation controls the technology of the whole building by decision of the housing company.
It is not just a meter. Consumption metering tells how much energy was used. Automation changes how much is used.
Why it matters to a housing company
The largest single cost item of a housing company is heating, and it depends on how well the heat distribution is controlled. Without measurement in the flats, the control is made according to the coldest flat, and the others are heated too much. Automation based on measurement evens out the heating, so consumption falls without anyone being cold.
Frequently asked questions
Is building automation compulsory?
In new buildings there is automation in practice always, because without it the energy efficiency requirements are not met. In an older housing company it is not compulsory, but there is always some kind of controller in the heat distribution centre, and the question is how well it works.
How old is too old for automation?
When spare parts are no longer available, when its program cannot be changed, or when measurement data cannot be obtained from it. Age in itself does not decide: a 15-year-old controller for which spare parts are available and which can be connected to remote monitoring may be better kept than replaced. When to renew automation
Who in a housing company uses the automation?
Usually the maintenance company and the property manager. The board sees the data in Kiinteistöpilvi. Residents do not use it directly, but they notice it as even warmth.