SAFETY, SECURITY & SMART HOMES


Integrated building control benefits


Self-builders are at the forefront of some of the most cutting edge building techniques. They now need to lead the way in quality building automation and control solutions, says Paul Foulkes of Theben Automation


R


emaining in control is important. Not having to worry about if something is being done engenders a sense of security: knowing your car will start, knowing the fridge is working, knowing your boiler is supplying heat and hot water. If these things are interrupted, or fail to happen, then the consequences can be challenging, possibly dangerous, maybe even fatal. In aircraft, for example, there are multiple redundant control systems with failsafes. For commercial buildings that isnt cost effectie, and its definitely not in the residential self-build market sector. For buildings, the solution must be able to withstand challenging installation conditions and be capable of supporting


constant high levels of usage. This is an age when no building owner can risk having their building control systems compromised, so security is vital to maintain, reducing risks ranging from local infiltration up to sophisticated DS type IP attacks.


This all means that systems that


are installed in buildings should be dependable, robust and secure. It is an accepted strategy, and makes sound commercial sense, to upgrade systems, to keep them functional and fit for purpose. Commercial installations are high cost and are organised to assess and mitigate these risks. At residential level, the way that building automation is carried out needs to be very different, however.


For some time in the residential market, there has been a reliance on internet and wifi-based products. This has been driven by the well known manufacturers seeing the value in this market. Their business plans are based around the consumer replacing their hardware every three years. The evolving nature of this market can become further complicated by ever changing wifi standards, the promise of eer faster mobile networks that will displace the home wifi network, and a lack of standardisation.


Updates and upgrades are commonplace, but this can have its downside too. Eventually the hardware is no longer capable of running the new software; it becomes obsolete. That cost


Self-builders ideally need a solution that is easily installed at the construction phase and fully functioning from the outset, not dependent upon waiting for the phone connection jul/aug 2023


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