June 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
23
environment
THE CONVERGED SYSTEMS
must be
compatible with current needs and future
technologies, while being able to support
an increasingly complex mix of users.
When done correctly, this network and
connected systemsmeet the specific needs
of an organisation, offering combinations
of speed, convenience and flexibility that
traditional systems simply cannot match.
Plus, building operators are provided with
a single point of control that allows for
enhanced building management that
drives more than just security strategies.
One large multinational corporate
executive put it succinctly: “For this build-
ing, the system is akin to the neural
network in our body. It is the core of the
building’s disaster and control centres.
It directly determines the cost and efficien-
cy of operationsmanagement and ensures
safety and comfort within the building.”
Successfully converging systems re-
quires the design and maintenance skills
of an experienced and proven service or
solution provider. These system-wide so-
lutions must support not just the security
of people and assets, but also ensure that
the building environment is conducive to
productivity and facilitates the smooth
runningof operations. Furthermore, itmust
drive cost containment and meet other
demands, such as energy efficiency or work
safety policies.
These converged systems have many
benefits. Chief among them is the ability to
constantly monitor and refine the operation
of many disparate building systems simulta-
neously. Integrated and converged systems
are helping building managers take more
control and become more responsible for
overall building operations. Authorised users
can access the network from anywhere, any-
time and with any Internet-enabled device,
tapping into security devices or components
such as CCTV cameras, as well as control and
retrieve data from other integrated systems.
This provides them with insight into overall
performance of the facility or alerts when
pre-configured thresholds are or are not met.
Here is an example of how converging
building systems can work to improve the
outcome of a situation. As soon the fire alarm
system detects a fire, the building automa-
tion system signals the HVAC system to stop
delivering fresh air to the area and pressurise
the path of egress to clear it of any smoke.
The access control system will unlock doors
along the escape route and train CCTV cam-
eras on the fire area to give first responders
a live video feed.
And with the single network making
more data readily available, innovations in
Vital building functions converge
By Neil Cameron, general manager, Johnson
Controls Systems and Service Africa.
One of the latest trends in major commercial buildings – especially
among those of multinational corporations – is the convergence of
the security function and other vital building systems onto a single
network. While well worth the effort, it is not an easy task.
management are emerging. Developing the
requirements for a security systemor for facili-
ties management is important to meet busi-
ness policy, drive operations, enable strategy
and even comply with industry regulations.
It has, however, been difficult to monitor
and manage these systems proactively. One
solution is to link to a cloud-based service
where all facility data is constantlymonitored.
If configured thresholds are exceeded (energy
consumption peaks or a security risk presents
itself), identifiedusers are alerted, procedures
are automated (non-critical power usage is
closed down or sectors in a building isolated)
and the problem is escalated to ensure a
speedy resolution.
But usage and other patterns, along with
pattern divergence, can also be discerned.
As more organisations subscribe to monitor-
ing and management services, facility and
security performance benchmarks are being
identified to drive a new level of problem
resolution and raise the bar for performance
of these systems.
One of the key issues organisations need
to focus on is buying into and acquiring
security and other building solutions that
are built on open platforms. The best plat-
forms for integrated and converged security
and building operations are those that best
enable the use of solutions from numerous
vendors.This allows facilitymanagers to pick
the best of fast-advancing technologies and
drive standardisedpolicy adherence through-
out the organisation.
The days of separate, standalone security
and building control systems are numbered.
IT professionals, security directors and facil-
ity managers see the value of converging
potentially dozens of building systems onto
one network with a single control-point op-
tion. System convergence has arrived and
will only gain momentum for its ability to
more effectively and proactively manage
large buildings.
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