Building Management Systems (BMS)
From Swikipedia
Introduction
Building Management Systems (BMS) are used in buildings to create a central computer controlled method of controlling, monitoring and optimizing facilities such as heating, air-conditioning, lighting and security. These systems allow easier operation of facilities and reduce energy waste as facilities are only used when they needed.
Brief Description
BMS is most commonly used for large buildings, as they serve as a critical component to managing energy demand. Systems linked to a BMS typically represent 40% of a building's energy usage; if lighting is included, this number approaches 70%.
An excellent example of the use of BMS is in the TCIL (Telecommunications Consultants India Limited) Bhawan which is designed and equipped as an intelligent building (a building which provides a productive, cost effective environment through optimization of structure, systems, services and management as well as inter-relationship between them).
Functions of BMS:
The main functions of BMS include controlling, monitoring, and optimizing the building’s facilities, mechanical and electrical equipments for comfort, safety and efficiency.
Primary Function: To control heating and cooling, manage the systems that distribute this air throughout the building (for example by operating fans or opening/closing dampers), and then locally control the mixture of heating and cooling to achieve the desired room temperature.
Secondary Function: To monitor the level of human-generated CO2, mixing in outside air with waste air to increase the amount of oxygen while also minimizing heating/ cooling losses.
Benefits of BMS:
• Increased levels of comfort and thus, more satisfied occupants
• Possibility of individual room control
• Increased productivity
• Effective monitoring and targeting of energy consumption
• Improved plant reliability and life
• Effective response to HVAC-related complaints
• Low operating cost
• Efficient use of building resources and services
• Rapid alarm indication and fault diagnosis
• Good plant schematics and documentation
• Ease of information availability problem diagnostics
• Computerized maintenance scheduling
References:
http://www.designbuild-network.com/glossary/building-management-systems.html
