Building Management Systems (BMS) are defined as “a system that controls and monitors the building’s mechanical and electrical equipment such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting and security systems.”
A BMS typically consists of software and hardware that is used to collect data from various sensors and devices within a building, then analyze and present that data in a way that is meaningful to building operators and occupants. The goal of a BMS is to optimize the performance of a building’s systems in order to achieve energy savings, improved comfort levels, and increased safety.
There are many different types of BMS on the market today, but most share common features including:
– A control panel or display for monitoring purposes
– One or more input devices for collecting data from sensors
– A database for storing collected data
– Analysis software for turning raw data into actionable information
The hardware components of a BMS are typically installed in a central location within the building, such as a server room or network closet. The software component is typically hosted on one or more computers in this same location.
