FOCUS SMART BUILDINGS
28 NOVEMBER 2019
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
Used properly, smart building technology can transform the effi ciency of central
plant systems, says Barry Jones, Operations Director at 4D Monitoring
There has been a sea change of thinking
at executive level, as organisations
look to move away from traditional
models of facilities management towards
a smarter, leaner, data-led approach. The
move to digitalise the estate has been
made across the board, by corporate
property owners, managing agents, and
public sector institutions such as the NHS.
Facilities managers are key to the
successful roll-out and utilisation of new
technology. With the right data, facilities
managers can drive change across the
properties they are responsible for.
The benefits are extensive. Facilities
managers can take credit for more e icient
buildings, a reduction in utility costs,
a better environment for tenants, and
improved service charges. It means closer
collaboration with maintenance providers,
and gives facilities managers the ability
to make timely, informed decisions about
technical issues.
It’s essential that facilities managers
participate in the digitalisation journey and
are equipped to use new technology in a
meaningful way. But what, exactly, should
they be measuring? What data is the ‘right’
data? And how can facilities managers
leverage it in a convenient, meaningful
way?
It is now widely understood that data,
used properly, can unlock the potential of
any building. As a result, those responsible
for running estates are increasingly
searching for advanced technology that
will support the delivery of smarter, more
sustainable properties. Proptech is the
collective term used to describe the wave
of technological innovations set to disrupt
real estate markets – and the sector is on
the rise.
On the ground, FMs are under increased
pressure to deliver energy savings, improve
occupant wellbeing and reduce running
costs. However, a historical lack of visibility
into building operation means it has
been di icult to make quick, informed
decisions that will have a positive impact
on these issues. Complex, legacy building
management systems (BMS), coupled with
a lack of technical understanding of central
systems (such as HVAC systems) are o en
responsible.
This means facilities managers have
to rely heavily on BMS consultants and
planned preventative maintenance (PPM)
checks to highlight operational issues
– or wait for something to fail and react
accordingly. Indeed, lack of visibility is a
significant barrier to the creation of smart,