How do building management systems work?

We can summarize building management systems, or BMS, as consisting of:

• Information collection points: these are sensors that are capable of capturing the data the system needs to provide the service. For example, there are sensors that measure temperature, humidity, light and occupation, fire or carbon monoxide detectors, and energy meters placed in strategic elements.
• Controllers: these are the "brains" of the system and receive the inputs from the information collection points. They analyse this and then send instructions to manage the connected systems.
• Communications protocol: they are the communication languages that connect all the system components.

What should a BMS monitor?

• The electricity consumed by the climate control system.
• The production of renewable energy.
• Energy consumption by individual equipment with more than 12kW power.
• The thermal and electrical energy from generators with a power rating of more than 70 kW to calculate their performance.
• Individual fuel consumption by individual generators with more than 100kW power.
• The readings of the corresponding meters to break down the energy associated with each of the different functions, such as the heating for the hot water supply or for warming the water in swimming pools.
• General measurement of lighting and climate control by energy source.
• General measurement of electrical, thermal and other types of energy.

Advantages of using a building management system or BMS

The main advantage of using a system of this kind is to reduce energy consumption by up to 30%, which means lowering the carbon footprint of the buildings.

Besides energy savings, these systems help to make their users more comfortable, by allowing them greater control over their ambient temperature and other indicators of air quality in real time.

BMS systems also create savings by improving the management of maintenance, because all the building's assets will be better employed when we have all the information about their operations and use.

Efficiency that will be mandatory

As explained in the current Regulation on Thermal Installations in Buildings (RITE), non-residential buildings with a power rating that is used for heating and cooling installations, or combined heating and cooling installations, or for installations that combine heating with ventilation of more than 290 kW, must be equipped with automation and building control systems by 2025 at the latest.

When it is higher than 290 kW there must be a building management system.

Don't wait until it becomes an obligation and take advantage of the savings and the reduction of your carbon footprint that you will achieve by installing a building management system. At Endesa we have experts who can offer you various solutions for your business, in accordance with your needs.