In the Netherlands, commercial buildings with a large heating or cooling installation must have a building automation system. This requirement comes from the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). What does it mean in practice?
What is a building automation system?
A building automation system, also called BACS, controls the installations in a building centrally. Think of heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting. The system also monitors energy use and reports anything unusual.
Who must comply?
The requirement applies to commercial buildings with a heating or air conditioning system with an output of more than 290 kW. Among other things, the system must be able to monitor energy use continuously and detect deviations. Europe will lower the threshold in the coming years, so smaller buildings will also be covered.
Always check the current rules and exceptions with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Rules can change.
Why the network matters
A building automation system is only as good as the connections underneath. The system must receive data from sensors and meters, and send commands to installations. If the network fails, or parts are not connected, control does not work as intended.
Security matters too. A building system on the same network as the tenants' computers is vulnerable. It belongs on its own, separate network.
Also when it is not mandatory
Is your building below the threshold? Then a building automation system is not mandatory. But it can still pay off. Especially in smaller buildings, installations often run on fixed times while use varies.
What we do
During a pre-inspection we check whether the digital foundation is ready for building automation. And in the IT-Label, how well building systems work together counts towards the score.
