What is KNX?
05Nov
posted by: Mark Warburton, Ivory Egg & Mark Booth, Gira UK
Figure 1 – The new Gira G1 is an intelligent central control unit for operating entire building technology like lighting, blinds, temperature and more.
Mark Warburton, Technical Director, Ivory Egg says “As energy costs continue to rise, so has society’s agenda to be more careful in terms of tangible energy use and wastage.
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Consequently, the construction industry has shown a growing desire and need for new ‘smart’ solutions that optimise building convenience, security and energy management.”
“Promoted as the next breakthrough technology for building convenience, by applying the KNX standard, system integrators are now able to integrate all intelligent building applications into one single KNX installation: whatever the space. This allows for easy yet comprehensive monitoring via an independent intuitive control system. Technology like KNX means we can achieve a truly connected building where all building services operate as a single control technology.”
So what is KNX? Put simply, KNX is a control system that was developed to allow products from various manufacturers to work seamlessly together. The system operates on a standardised bus cable with a common language, allowing different products to all work seamlessly together.
KNX technology allows complete control of all aspects of home and building control such as: lighting, heating, cooling and ventilation, blinds/shutters, security and door communication systems, audio and video, and metering.
With KNX there are no more problems of isolated devices or systems not being able to talk to each other. It also means that all building control functions can be controlled through the one central system without the need for additional control centres.
KNX can be installed in new or existing developments, be it a new build or retrofit project, residential or commercial. With wired, wireless, IP and powerline communication mediums it is possible to use the system within any building type.
“Interestingly, due to KNX having the ability to talk to other systems, it is commonly used as a backbone in linking together proprietary control systems, standardised controls. This brings a host of benefits such as simple operation, flexibility, along with daisy chain topology so multi-manufacturer products can work together and talk to other control systems. All in all, this type of intelligent build solution enables full building control which in turn, results in low operating costs and time saving execution” says Warburton.
Figure 2 – A user-friendly interface, the Gira X1 App helps the user access and control the functions of the KNX installation.
KNX was developed in 1990 after noting the issue of control systems not being able communicate to one another, creating timely and costly issues for integrators. Since then, it has become the worldwide standard for intelligent building control with over 400 manufacturers, nearly 50,000 partners and almost 400 training centres, all across the globe. “Ivory Egg specialise in this field, adding extra connectivity within a buildings environment which can include access control, alarm systems and multi-room audio entertainment which can be controlled, operated and managed in-residence or remotely. We have been partners with Gira UK since we began in 2005, with 13 years of sharing business acumen, leads and customer feedback and supporting system integrators to deliver Gira projects.’’
Gira, has established itself as an award-winning innovator in the field of perceptive ‘Intelligent Building Technology’ and specification. Mark Booth, Managing Director, Gira UK says “We have a notable aptitude for perfecting both form and function, but above all else, making buildings safer, work more efficiently, convenient and function with 21st century intelligence.
“Autonomous technology is definitely a sign of the future, with the ability to anticipate individual behaviours and scenarios without instruction and ultimately, user control. If we consider Renault’s latest car/house concept then it only proves how technology is more than just functionality, it has become a lifestyle choice and one many end users are exploring as solutions become more advanced.
“Smart technologies really have no limits and if a need is identified or even created, then it is the job of leading manufacturers to drive the end user to these intuitive products and solutions, to encourage greater market acceptance and presence. For anyone with a genuine interest in the specification of or training on intelligent build solutions, simply contact our leading KNX experts, Ivory Egg.”
About the authors:
Mark Warburton has worked in the smart home industry for over 12 years in both NZ and the UK, in various roles including system integration, project management and sales. As Technical Director, he is responsible for ensuring Ivory Egg continues to be the most knowledgeable KNX distributor.
An experienced Sales & Marketing Director, Mark Booth has a well-developed and extensive knowledge gained from within the luxury sector. Offering support for marketing initiatives and acquisition, Mark is involved in the fundamentals of UK sales, technical support, retail distribution, system integration and B2B.
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