Building Management System

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Building Management System (BMS) is a computer based control system installed in buildings that controls and monitors the building’s mechanical and electrical equipment such as air handling and cooling plant systems, lighting, power systems, fire systems, and security systems. A BMS consists of software and hardware. The software program, usually configured in a hierarchical manner, can be proprietary using such protocols as C-bus, Profibus, etc. Recently however new vendors are producing BMSs that integrate using Internet protocols and open standards like SOAP, XML, BacNet, Lon and Modbus.

A BMS is more typical in a large building (>50K sq ft). Its core function is to manage the environment temperature, CO2 level and humidity within a building. As a core function in most BMS systems, it controls the production of heating and cooling, manages the systems that distribute this air throughout the building, and then locally controls the mixture of heating and cooling to achieve the desired room temperature. A key secondary function is to monitor the level of human generated CO2, mixing in outside air with waste air to increase the amount of O2 while also minimizing heat/cooling losses.

Systems linked to a BMS typically represent 40% of a building's energy usage; if lighting is included this number approaches 70%. BMS systems are a critical component to managing energy demand. Mis-configured BMS systems are believed to account for 20% of building energy usage, or approximately 8% of total energy usage in the United States.

BMS systems are delivered as fully integrated systems and services through companies like Siemens, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, TAC and others. Independent services companies use solutions from companies like Delta, Distech, Circon and KMC controls. New more flexiable solutions that link BMS systems to enterpise management software like SAP, OpenView, Archibus, Maximo and others including Tridium and Gridlogix.

For example in an Organization BMS comprises 'Access Control' (which controls the employees restricted movability in the Organization), CCTV facilities, etc.