HVAC
Chiller plant sequencing, AHU and fan-coil control, temperature and humidity schedules, and pressure control for clean areas.
Honeywell building management systems
Building management systems
One view of every system in your building. Honeywell BMS for HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire alarm, access control and lighting, engineered and commissioned by MA Engineering.
- Monitoring & control
- Energy management
- Open integration
- Honeywell
The basics
What is a BMS?
A building management system (BMS), also called a building automation system (BAS), is the control network that runs a building’s services. Sensors measure temperature, humidity, pressure, flow and energy. Controllers use that data to start, stop and adjust equipment. Operators see it all on one screen.
A typical BMS controls the chillers, pumps, cooling towers, air handling units and fan coils, and monitors electrical, plumbing, fire alarm, access control and lighting systems, bringing their alarms together in one place.
The result is lower energy bills, fewer breakdowns and faster response when something goes wrong. Research for the US Department of Energy found that re-tuning building controls typically cuts energy use by 5–20%.
How it works
From sensor to screen
A BMS is built in layers, from devices in the plant room to the operator’s screen.
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01
Field devices
Sensors, meters, valves and actuators on chillers, AHUs, pumps and panels measure conditions and carry out commands.
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02
Controllers
Programmable controllers run the control logic locally, so equipment keeps running correctly even if the network goes down.
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03
Network and integration
Controllers communicate over open protocols such as BACnet and Modbus, which also connect third-party equipment such as chillers, drives and energy meters.
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04
Operator workstation
Graphics, schedules, trends, alarms and reports on a PC or web browser, with secure remote access for the facility team.
What it covers
One system, every service
Honeywell BMS runs on a PLC, web and IT platform that brings every building service together.
Electrical
Monitoring of switchgear, generators and energy meters, with alarms for faults and abnormal loads.
Plumbing
Water tank levels, pump status and leak alarms.
Fire alarm interface
Fire alarm status on the BMS, and automatic actions such as stopping AHUs or starting smoke extraction.
Access control and security
Door status, access events and security alarms shown alongside building data.
Lighting and energy
Lighting schedules and occupancy control, plus energy dashboards and reports from the energy management system.
Is it right for you?
When a BMS pays off
A strong fit when…
- Your building has a central chiller plant or many AHUs
- You run a hospital, hotel, mall, office tower, data centre or factory where downtime is costly
- Energy is one of your largest running costs
- Several services must work together, for example fire alarm and ventilation
- You want to monitor several buildings or sites from one place
Simpler controls may do when…
- The building is small with a few split units
- Each tenant controls their own equipment and there is no central plant
- A VRF central controller already gives you the control you need
Related systems we supply:
Why Honeywell
Open, proven automation
Building Management Systems and automatic control solutions — PLC, web and IT integration that forms a solid base for infrastructure automation.
- Monitoring & control
- BMS
- Open integration
- PLC + Web + IT
Honeywell BMS and EMS features
- HVAC monitoring & control
- Alarm & fault monitoring
- Centralized reporting
- Third-party integration
- Energy metering & analytics
- Optimised plant sequencing
Track record
BMS projects
Projects on our list that include a building management system, largest first.
2,500 TR
Hattar · Industrial & Pharma
Coronet Foods (Pvt) Ltd
Supply of HVAC Equipment
2,500 TR
1,800 TR
Peshawar · Commercial & Hospitality
Pearl Continental Hotel
Complete MEP Works
- Chillers
- Cooling towers
- AHUs
- FCUs
- BMS
- Electrical
- Fire fighting
1,200 TR
Karachi Region · Commercial & Hospitality
Metro Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd
Complete HVAC Works
- Chillers
- Cooling towers
- AHUs
- FCUs
- BMS
- MS piping & ducting
1,200 TR
Lahore · Commercial & Hospitality
Metro Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd
Complete HVAC Works
- Chillers
- Cooling towers
- AHUs
- FCUs
- BMS
- MS piping & ducting
1,200 TR
Planning a project
What to consider before you buy
A BMS only saves money when it is designed, commissioned and used well.
Define the points list
List every sensor, meter and piece of equipment to monitor or control. The points list drives controller sizing and cost, so agree it early.
Plan integration
Specify BACnet or Modbus interfaces on chillers, VRF, generators and meters when you buy them, so they connect without costly gateways.
Commission properly
Test every point, loop and sequence before handover. Controls that are poorly set up are a main reason buildings waste energy.
Keep it tuned
Controls drift as buildings change. Periodic re-tuning of schedules and set points, which PNNL research found saves 5–20%, keeps the savings coming.
Train the operators
A BMS is only as good as the people using it. Clear graphics, sensible alarm priorities and training for your facility team make the difference.
Network security
Treat the BMS as part of your IT estate: separate it from office networks, control remote access and keep software up to date.
FAQ
Building management systems: common questions
Can’t find your answer? Ask our engineers.
What is a BMS?
A building management system is a computer-based control system that monitors and controls a building’s services, such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire alarm interfaces, access control and lighting, from one place.
What is the difference between a BMS and a BAS?
In practice they mean the same thing. Some people use BAS for control of HVAC and BMS for a wider system that also monitors electrical, fire and security services.
How much energy can a BMS save?
It depends on the building and how well the system is set up. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory research for the US Department of Energy found that re-tuning building controls typically saves 5–20% of energy use, and that full use of advanced controls across US commercial buildings could cut energy use by about 29%.
What are BACnet and Modbus?
Open communication protocols. BACnet (ASHRAE Standard 135) was designed for building automation; Modbus is a simple industrial protocol widely used by chillers, meters and drives. Open protocols let equipment from different makers work with one BMS.
Can a BMS be added to an existing building?
Yes. Controllers can be retrofitted to existing chillers, AHUs and panels, and newer equipment can often be connected through its built-in interface. A site survey shows what can be connected.
Can I monitor the building remotely?
Yes. The BMS can be accessed through a web browser, with secure remote access set up together with your IT team.
What is the difference between a BMS and an EMS?
A BMS controls and monitors building equipment. An energy management system (EMS) focuses on measuring and analysing energy use through meters, dashboards and reports, and on optimising plant operation to cut costs. The two work together.
Who supports the system after installation?
We commission the system, hand it over to your team and provide after-sales support.
Get a selection
Want to see your whole building?
Tell us about your building, its equipment and what you want to control or monitor. Our engineers will design a Honeywell BMS to suit.