INDUSTRY INSIGHT A


BMS is designed to integrate and automate control of HVAC, lighting, and renewable assets. However, common issues with


incorrect set-up and operation result in a number of problems, including uncomfortable occupants, a lack of harmony between the diff erent building services, and unnecessarily high energy consumption. According to the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, poor energy management in non-domestic buildings wastes £3.1 billion each year. Ensuring a BMS is working properly is an important part of the solution to this problem.


BMS blunders


Common energy wasting blunders include confi guration errors, particularly around heating and ventilation schedules. We often see set-ups where heating schedules start too early and aren’t adjusted for periods of inoccupancy; something that’s become more prevalent with the rise of hybrid working and a particular issue for buildings with long downtime periods, such as schools. The same is true of ventilation systems. Over-ventilation wastes power and causes unnecessary heating. Under-ventilation may result in the need for extra cooling, while risking occupant health. The proper automation of CO2 and occupancy sensors is therefore essential. In general, checking and maintaining sensors


is key to getting the best from a BMS. We recently helped a large organisation recouped over £80,000 a year by reconfi guring schedules and fi xing faulty sensors. Where new assets have been added, poor integration can lead to unrealised benefi ts and wasted investments.


Fit for the future


In many cases, sorting the BMS out is as simple as tweaking what’s there - we use a RAG-rated survey to assess BMS health:


Common BMS blunders:


¡ Heating schedules starting too early, bringing buildings and/or individual rooms up to temperature hours before occupation as a matter of course. ¡ Heating, cooling and ventilation not set to account for hybrid working. Many workspaces are underoccupied, but HVAC settings don’t refl ect reduced occupancy. ¡ Plant item sensors left in hand mode, bypassing automated controls ¡ Space sensors set too high – just 10C too much can result in 10% wasted energy ¡ Unmonitored air quality, leading to over- ventilation and wasted heating or cooling ¡ Lack of maintenance resulting in faulty sensors/valves causing incorrect data to be fed back to the BMS ¡ New HVAC systems added to a building but not included in the BMS. In some cases, this can mean heating and cooling happen at the same time.


www.heatingandventilating.net


Getting the best from your BMS


Building Management Systems (BMS) are now a staple in commercial properties, yet their full potential is rarely realised. Kevin McGuane, energy services director at DMA Group has seen fi rst-hand how even the most advanced systems can be underused or misconfi gured. He says the irony is that many clients already have the


right technology but just aren’t taking advantage of everything it can do


¡ Validate which systems are active, working, or bypassed. ¡ dentify gaps in monitoring and reporting. ¡ Rectify critical issues like faulty sensors, manual overrides, or scheduling errors. ¡ Align building services to actual occupancy times. Older BMS, that lack the adaptability and data


analytics of modern technology, will need to be upgraded. It is a false economy to try and make incompatible legacy systems fi t with the latest software. Continuous and accurate data collection, for example, is essential to facilitating a predictive approach to maintenance and will support a successful transition to AI integration. As we move towards net zero, and the way we use commercial buildings evolves, fl exibility and adaptability must be at the core of operations.


30 December 2025


Future-proof BMS platforms use machine learning to adapt to occupancy patterns, weather forecasts, and energy tariff s, delivering ongoing savings and operational certainty, returning any investment within a relatively short window.


Audit, confi gure and save


A well-confi gured BMS is a crucial part of a well- run building, supporting energy conservation and carbon reduction, while ensuring occupant comfort. Many building owners and maintenance teams have barely scratched the surface of what their systems can do. With the right approach—starting with an audit, fi xing the basics, and embracing integration— substantial savings and sustainability gains are within reac


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