Building management system or BMS is an intelligent way of monitoring all the operations taking place in a building. Regardless of the size of the building, it can be installed in buildings of all sorts. The building owners all over the world deploy it to ensure that all operations are carried out smoothly.
Besides, a building management system, also called BMS, helps reduce energy expenditure too. It acts as a regulator, allowing the user to manage all the functions of the building. The user-friendly system makes it ideal for monitoring and maintaining each aspect of the building.
The importance of a building management system is reflected in various aspects. Since buildings are valuable assets, keen attention needs to be paid to them. In the case of negligence, severe losses may occur. Therefore, automated management systems such as BMS help do the chores.
Such management systems help in the safety of the valuable pieces of equipment of a building. Moreover, they sync operations taking in a building so that the building's overall functionality is optimum.
BMS allows building managers to have tight control of all the building's functionalities and systems installed in it. Therefore, this facilitates the management of a building. Most importantly, a BMS aids a building operate in a more cost-efficient way through automatic scheduling and occupancy controls.
The data gathering and report generation functionalities embedded in a building management system detect issues at initial stages.
As a result, the fault can be corrected before it could cause trouble resulting in financial losses. Many building owners have now integrated it with building information models (BIM).
As a consequence, it speeds up the process of identifying potential problems. Building information models also includes information about the maintenance of building components. It also tells about the current status and the historical information, analysis, and control reports.BMS is also used as interfacing between individual smart building applications
Given the wide range of benefits of a BMS, it is vital to look into how the management system works. It revolves around the HVAC of a building. HVAC is a technical term that is an acronym for Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. It is responsible for controlling and monitoring the internal environment of a building. This includes thermal comfortability, optimum air pressures and air quality. To deeply study how a building management system works, we need to look into its components' functionalities.
The main components are :
The light control system of a building management system monitors the most tiresome system of a building, the lighting. It is quite usual for a building to face sudden crashes in its light system. Such problems need to be dealt with on an urgent basis. Therefore, by providing intelligent automated lighting, the lighting system operates smoothly, without causing trouble for building residents. Another added advantage of this system is reduced energy consumption and improved sustainability. Advanced lighting control systems also generate analytical data and graphs via continuous measuring and monitoring.
Electric power controlAn electrical control system is one of the essential components of a building management system. It allows the physical interconnects of the core electrical and mechanical devices present in a building. The input and output variables to these systems are signals. Examples of such systems include circulation pumps, compressors, manufacturing systems, refrigeration plants, and motor control panels.
HeatingTo maintain an excellent living environment for the building residents, it is essential that the Heating of the building be maintained. Thus, this is done by the heating management system. The system takes into consideration the external temperatures and adjusts the internal building temperatures accordingly. Besides, it also schedules the heating system's power on and off to prevent wastage of power.
Security and observationAll buildings require a proper working security system that could ensure the complete security of its inhabitants. Therefore, regardless of whether it is a home, office, or a shopping centre, the building's security remains equally important. The building management system also comprises security surveillance systems that consist of security cameras and video recorders. These measures guard buildings against intruders and thefts.
Fire alarm systemThe fire alarm system is the unignorable aspect of a building management system. It uses visual and audio signals to warn people about a possible fire or smoke in a building. The additional functionalities of the system include indications of severe weather, terrorism, and hazardous chemical incidents. Moreover, they utilize the speaker systems to provide voice instructions for protection.
Plumbing and water monitoringThe building management system also looks after the hydraulic flows of a building. Since water provision is the basic requirement of a building's inhabitants, it needs to be properly managed. The water monitoring and plumbing component manage the opening and closing valves, monitoring temperature deviations too. The system determines water quality by checking the flow, temperature and pH, etc.
Ventilation systemMulti-storied buildings require ventilation systems to maintain optimum air quality for the residents. Thus, a building management system incorporates a ventilation system too. The system monitors the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen, mixing in the fresh air with waste air to increase the oxygen level. These systems also incorporate air handling units, leading to an even healthier environment for the inhabitants.
Drawbacks Of A Building Management SystemWhere a thing offers various benefits, it is bound to have some drawbacks too. Building management systems are expensive, with high recurring charges required for its maintenance. The limitations in the data provided might not help building owners achieve targeted energy savings and operational efficiency. The building automation system is a combination of various systems. This means the failure of one system may affect the other, leading to disastrous aftermath.