Please click below to download the guide

Please click below to download the guide

Please click below to download the guide

Please click below to download the guide.

Please click below to download the guide.

Please click below to download the guide

Here's your chance to win an Ipod Touch courtesy of the KNX UK Association. Simply answer the question below correctly. You can find the answer on this website. Click the email link below to submit your answer.

KNX is the world's only open standard for home and building control. Is it compliant to:
A. EN 50090
B. EN 333333
C. ISO/IEC 22751


KNX UK, PO Box 4082, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG42 9EQ, Email: admin@knxuk.org

KNX UK invites its members to join the Association in celebrating KNX's 20th Anniversary at Essential Install Live, Manchester City Football Club, Tuesday 12th October 2010.

KNX UK is pleased to be a key sponsor at Essential Install Live! - the only dedicated custom install show servicing the north of the UK.

To celebrate the important occasion, KNX UK will be hosting a Members Networking Event during the show - so come and join us for drinks whilst visiting the KNX, ABB & Somfy stands to find out the latest developments in KNX.

KNX UK will also be present at the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony held on Monday,11th October. If you would like to attend, please contact Tara Gartland: admin@knxuk.org

An official invitation will follow so please reserve this date in your diary - Tuesday October 12th, 2010.

KNX pioneer Theben has introduced an outdoor PIR sensor to the UK market, enabling integrators to create ever more comprehensive systems.

The two-channel Sphinx will control fluorescent, halogen and incandecent lamps and offers a detection up to 30m away over a field of up to 300o. It will also detect anyone trying to creep along a wall under it.

Angled mounts for corners and remote controllers are also available.

Find out more about Theben's KNX range by visiting www.timeguard.com

Ben Lewis' company, KNX Consultants, is a unique member of KNX UK. Using his 30 years + experience in the electronics industry, including 10 years of KNX based project activity, Ben provides a range of independent consultancy and training services not available from any other member.

As a KNX Partner and a certified KNX Tutor himself, Ben provides services to KNX Training Provider Ivory Egg and conducts KNX Certification training on their behalf at the company's West Sussex HQ. And that is just the start of the story because, as Ben says: "Getting KNX Certification is almost the equivalent of passing your driving test - it's just the beginning and it's the time you spend at the wheel afterwards that really teaches you to drive." So Ben's second major role is to offer support to systems integrators when they undertake their initial installations and feel they need his experienced eye and depth of KNX knowledge to assist with any project. "It's almost a mentoring role - and one from which both KNX UK members and non-members can benefit."

Further down the line, systems integrators may find that as their business grows, they need short term support on integration work when times are busy or to cover for staff shortages whilst looking to recruit new team members. At times like these, once again KNX Consultants can step into the breach and bridge the resource shortage.

"Then of course, it's almost come full circle and systems integrators' new team members will need KNX Certification training - so it's back to one of the KNX Association's approved Training Centres, such as Ivory Egg," he says.

In addition, KNX Consultants can also provide one day introductory KNX training courses on site at anyone's premises using portable training rigs - it's great way to get a quick introduction to KNX for anyone from systems integrators to end users - even those not yet using KNX but considering its potential for their business.

Another aspect of KNX Consultants' services is sub-contract design activity whereby Ben and his team will provide a full project installation specification for a KNX system and its installation requirements. This service can be particularly useful to systems integrators who specialise in other fields such as Custom AV Installation (such as CEDIA members)or Interior Architecture, but see the demand to include KNX capability within their portfolio. When undertaking project activity, KNX Consultants concentrates its resources on the delivery of system design documentation and commissioning services, whilst leaving the procurement and delivery of the hardware implementation firmly in the domain of its client, the systems integrator. Most importantly, KNX Consultants is independent of any manufacturer and so any product recommendations are generic and are based on their suitability to fulfil specific requirements whilst taking client preference into account. Consequently, the client can feel in complete control and confident in the integrity of its relationship with KNX Consultants.

KNX Consultants' ultimate objective, of course, is to help ensure that KNX systems delivered by its clients are of the highest standard. Ben's services are helping the KNX community to grow by helping to build a pool of KNX people, trained to the highest standards. His company provides the ideal partnership for KNX capability development amongst KNX UK integrator members and non-members alike.

Contact: Ben Lewis, 3 Knapp Ridge, Ledbury, HR8 1BJ, e-mail: info@knxconsultants.com, www.knxconsultants.com Phone: 0845 009 0438.

Having completed Network Communications and IT training at college, Tom Collins was keen to find employment in a business sector that would allow him to use his training and provide additional interest in building services technology. He has found that involvement with KNX intelligent building control technology has fulfilled all his requirements. Here, he discusses a typical working day as a KNX Engineer for KNX UK Association Systems Integrator, Discovery Systems.

8.15: The team meets up at Discovery Systems' business unit in Rainford on Merseyside. Work schedules for the day are issued and projects are discussed with the company's Director. Once the team has been briefed on the work requirements for the day, the necessary equipment is issued and the teams set off.

8.30: My main task for today starts with setting up and programming KNX devices in the workshop to overcome an issue with a home cinema installation in a large residential property so that the projector lift does not return to the ceiling until the projector has cooled down. However, the projector screen should go back straight away. Having set it up in the workshop, I have calculated the projector needs 15 minutes to cool down and I assemble all of the devices needed to program and rectify the issue.

The customer configuration includes a Philips 9600 Pronto connected wirelessly to a network extender. The KNX system is the connected via a Zennio RS232 converter to a Moxia RS232 Ethernet network converter. I plan to use the scene settings on the Pronto via a 1 byte group address to control the projector lift and screen. Firstly, I will need to connect all of the required devices and start the programming.

10.00: Coffee break! Having programmed the devices and tested that the screen drops down correctly, I set about sorting out the return of the projector and screen. This is a little more complex because as well as cooling down and going back up, I need to cut the power to the projector also (just in-case a stray IR command tries to power up the projector in the ceiling).

For this I use the Jung colour touch IP panel timer function: This now gives me the 15 second delay to then trigger the return of the lift and once it is back in the ceiling I use the acknowledgement object and a dummy switch on the actuator to switch off the power to the projector.

12.30: Lunch!

13.00: Pack up the gear, load the van and set off to the customer's home. Arrive on site, PC in hand, and start to load the devices. The loading goes well as usual and I now need to check the timing of the lift and screen to reconfigure the travel timers as they are different to the screen and lift (motorised window actuator) that were used in the workshop testing.

15.00: Having configured the KNX devices, I begin testing best to ensure everything is 100% correct as it is better to get things right first time than getting called back to the job.

16.00 Demonstration and testing with the customer who is pleased with the result... and starts to discuss his next requirement: a PC in the media room with Internet access to stream content to the home cinema. The best option is a Windows 7 laptop connected via VGA to an HDMI converter directly into a spare port on the NAD AV amplifier. Then, set up a "watch PC" icon on the Pronto. The customer pleased with the idea and asks for it for next week! It's great how solving a problem encourages the customer to ask for more!

17.00: Pack up the gear, open the automated gates and set off home. That's all folks until next week and the PC streaming!

Specialising in the design, installation and support of intelligent building controls for residential and commercial projects, Cambridge-based Baulogic has joined KNX UK and is promoting the KNX standard as a better alternative to limited proprietary lighting control systems.

Baulogic's Director, Mark Gedrych, says: "We've joined KNX UK because we believe in the KNX standard and see KNX as the future, not only for commercial developments , but also for residential projects. Technology is advancing quickly, as are the needs of consumers, and high-end applications that we once saw only in luxury hotels are now making their way into residential developments. At the same time, facilities managers and estate managers are looking to cutting-edge technology to enable greater control and monitoring of their sites, to reduce energy consumption and costs. KNX products bring that level of sophistication."

Regarding energy consumption, Mark continues: "With government legislation on energy conservation already in place, KNX products are a highly cost-effective way to ensure that the necessary standards are met. A KNX-based control system can help to reduce the running costs of a property by up to 40%."

Baulogic is also championing KNX because of its flexibility. The needs of modern buildings, as well as their occupants, are constantly changing, so the building infrastructure needs to be able to adapt. Because the KNX standard spans such a broad range of applications, it allows a building's cabling to be far less complicated. A single KNX control cable connects all of the building's electrical and electronic systems, making it easy to extend and link to new equipment as needs change.

KNX UK President Iain Gordon adds: "KNX UK welcomes Baulogic to the Association. The expertise of companies such as Baulogic will help to ensure any organisation specifying KNX intelligent building projects can turn to systems integrators with outstanding expertise."

Visit www.baulogic.com for more information.

KNX UK's participation at the CEDIA Home Technology Event at London Excel opened the door to many home automation specialists yet to familiarise themselves with the advantages of the KNX open standard.

The Home Technology Event saw KNX UK involved at a number of different levels. Not only was the Association's stand a centre of attraction for visitors, but also KNX technology was highlighted on a number of different stands including Theben, situated right next door and manned by our very own Stephen Payne and colleagues.

The KNX CIBSE CPD was also successfully presented on two occasions and attracted a large number of delegates to the centre's Conference Theatre. Overall, participation at the Home Technology Event fulfilled its aim of creating new market opportunities for KNX technology in the home automation market and also helping to forge closer links with CEDIA.

Hager is a new KNX UK member with its Tebis bus based building services control system. The system is interoperable with more than 2000 approved KNX products from more than 150 manufacturers.

Says Paul Collins, Product Manager at Hager: "By becoming members of KNX our Tebis system and products can be used in larger more complex buildings. It can form part of a system and leaves end users the choice of which products to use. For simpler systems customers can still use Tebis as an easy to install and commission proprietary system using the TX100 programming tool."

For further information contact: Hager Ltd, Hortonwood 50, Hortonwood, Telford, TF1 7FT. Telephone 0870 240 2400. Email technical@hager.co.uk.

Mike Collins decided to use his experience to provide superior services and solutions for home owners including professional consultancy, project management and maintenance to the highest possible standards. This has led him to his current passion and business focus: KNX with Discovery Systems.

Mike furthered his interest in home automation by visiting exhibitions and investing a considerable amount of time and money evaluating products, manufacturers and suppliers. His research also led him to attending training courses offered by manufacturers.

He established Discovery Systems and became NIC and ECA approved electrical engineers. The real breakthrough was identifying what he considered to be, "the best kept secret in the home automation sector: KNX." Discovery Systems quickly became an approved systems integrator for KNX.

Mike says: "The open protocol of KNX has many advantages over proprietary systems in terms of the vast selection of interoperable products to choose from, easier and quicker installation as well as knowing that in the future you will be able to go back to a customer and easily upgrade or expand their system without having to start again from scratch."

Discovery Systems has now installed KNX based home automation systems in many residential and commercial properties. The biggest challenge for Mike is to educate potential clients and customers of the lifestyle and eco energy saving benefits of KNX and home and building control systems. "In the UK the industry was initially focused on the top end of the housing market but the potential of KNX is now also filtering though to lower valued property as well as more niche applications such as accommodation for the elderly or for those with disabilities where KNX can dramatically improve quality of life."

Discovery Systems has also started to realize the potential of opportunities for KNX within commercial buildings where, for example, legislation such as the CRCEES scheme with its commitment to carbon reduction, is putting the onus on building owners to implement energy saving solutions. "KNX is ideally suited to this type of project because it can integrate many different facets of potential energy saving products from lighting control and HVAC systems to facade management and intelligent metering. We now have the knowledge and drive to pursue more commercial projects of this type."

Alan Murphy MIEE, CIBSE) and Honorary Secretary for CIBSE West Midlands Region is a partner in Richard Allen Consultants in Bromsgrove sees sustainability as fast becoming one of the base requirements in all construction projects....and KNX has a role to play.

The KNX Open Standard offers many advantages compared to other protocols in terms of its shear flexibility, range of products/accessories and the fact that the open protocol means almost anything is possible in terms of building control. Energy saving is an important aspect of KNX especially in the commercial environment. Its control options are so varied and so flexible that just about any scenario for occupancy based control can be provided.

In the domestic environment, KNX can sell its self based upon the benefits it offers by enhancing the comfort and control of the home or office environment. With an iPhone in the hand and an IP gateway within a KNX installation, one can control all automated functions remotely and also monitor the status of heating systems, intruder alarms and so on.

Today cost is of course a major factor for clients and there are also plenty of things that can be done within the KNX installation design and configuration to keep costs under control. For example, lighting circuits can be simply switched with KNX rather than dimmed; the switches themselves and other user interface devices can be from budget ranges or conventional push-buttons can be used with push button interfaces and so on.

Also with KNX, the advantage is that once a system is installed, expansion and re-engineering costs are fair - particularly when alternative conventional solutions are no cheaper when additional services such as HVAC, facade control and sensors are added.

The highly successful BCIA Awards evening held in Coventry during May was a great success for KNX UK too.

KNX UK was one of the leading sponsors of the event, hosting the pre - Awards Dinner champagne reception and - most importantly - the after dinner chocolates! (Thanks Tara!). There was really no getting away from the striking KNX logo which dominated a large area of the venue and some of the most important and influential members of the controls industry who attended the eveny can't have faied to notice.

KNX UK was represented at the evcent by several Board Members who took the opportunity to network vigorously with the large numbers of attendees and establish some important connections. KNX UK President Iain Gordon commented: "It was a really good event for us and for the second year running we have put KNX firmly on the map with the controls industry."

The Building Control Industry Association's ConnectFest held at their Members' Conference on May 13 was based around the KNX Standard for Home and Building Control.

This open protocols for building controls allows specifiers and installers to integrate KNX certified products from many different manufacturers within a project. Not being locked into one particular proprietary standard or a specific manufacturer's products has a number of advantages in terms of flexibility and future proofing installations.

The ConnectFest event demonstrated to BCIA members exactly how this worked with representatives from different KNX compliant product showed the advantages and indeed simplicity of this "open" approach.

The availability of global communication without speed restrictions has paved the road to success in the last few years for Ethernet to be used as the preferred medium for automation systems. WAGO, with its KNX IP controller 750-849, offers a product that links the KNX world with Ethernet running WAGO Pro CAA software allowing for a freely programmable KNX IP terminal device.

The new WAGO KNX/TP1 module 753-646 provides the link to KNX Twisted Pair networks. Combined with the KNX IP controller, it provides router functionality enabling remote programming of the TP network via KNX ETS 3 software over the Ethernet network or WAN.

WAGO supports an extensive list of network protocols such as BACnet, MODBUS/TCP/IP and many more on its controllers. Connecting the KNX TP1 module allows TP devices to communicate into higher level networks or combine with lower level devices such as DALI, EnOcean, MP Bus with the WAGO gateway modules, as well as discrete digital and analogue devices. No longer need HVAC and lighting solutions require separate controllers.

KNX IP and BACnet controllers have integral RTC (real time clock) and WEB server, allowing remote access and control of the process via any network terminal, running such as Internet Explorer. There are many free downloadable Function Blocks from the WAGO WEBsite with application notes to make programming easy and stress free.

WAGO with its 16ch digital modules are the most compact devices on the market. The modular approach allows mixing and matching from a choice of over 150 modules of Series 750 with the added speed and security of CageClamp terminations for the field (device) wiring. Modular wiring from the WAGO WINSTA range offers plug and play installation solutions.

Specialising in the design, installation and support of intelligent building controls for residential and commercial projects, new KNX UK member Baulogic is promoting the KNX standard as a better alternative to limited proprietary lighting control systems.

Baulogic's Director, Mark Gedrych, says: "We've joined KNX UK because we believe in the KNX standard and see KNX as the future, not only for commercial developments, but also for residential projects. Technology is advancing quickly, as are the needs of consumers, and high-end applications that we once saw only in luxury hotels are now making their way into residential developments. At the same time, facilities managers and estate managers are looking to cutting-edge technology to enable greater control and monitoring of their sites, to reduce energy consumption and costs. KNX products bring that level of sophistication."

Baulogic is also championing KNX because of its flexibility and also because the KNX standard spans such a broad range of applications, it allows a building's cabling to be far less complicated.

Visit www.baulogic.com for more information

KNX UK President Iain Gordon represented us at the recent KNX Association General Assembly held at the Atomium in Brussels. Iain delivered a 20 minute report based on KNX UK's activities in the past year and our on-going promotion of KNX technology to the media.

Iain also highlighted the high level of specific literature that has been developed for the UK market, including the CIBSE CPD and the Consultants Guide. The potential growth of the KNX market within the UK was also underlined, with Iain openly inviting all manufacturers to have a voice within the UK through the KNX UK Association.

The KNX UK Association is highlighting its leading role as the worldwide STANDARD for home and building control, taking stand G12 at CEDIA's Home Technology Event - the only dedicated product and training event for smart home innovations in the UK.

The event takes place at the ICC London Excel with training running from 14-17 June 2010 and the exhibition alongside on 15-17 June. At the show, a number of CEDIA member companies, who use KNX in the manufacture of their devices for the control of audio and video signals, will also present the latest KNX applications on their own stands: Gira with the support of Ivory Egg returns to the Home Technology Event after a successful 2009 event, alongside first-time exhibitors Theben and FSC.

Delegates are also invited to attend the Show Floor Conference Theatre on the afternoon of Tuesday 15 June and Thursday 17 June, for the KNX Association's CPD course - KNX UK: The Worldwide Standard for Home and Building Control.

The CPD Presentation includes an introduction to KNX UK and KNX technology together with details of international standards. It highlights the energy saving and other benefits of using KNX. It also provides information on KNX certified products and software tools. Applications in both residential and commercial markets are covered and there are references to many of the world's outstanding KNX projects.

So, find out what CEDIA and the KNX UK Association can offer your business by visiting London's ExceL Centre this June, as either an exhibitor or a visitor.

For further information, visit www.hometechnologyevent.co.uk.

Building automation engineers throughout the world already use the KNX ETS (Engineering Tool Software) as a product/manufacturer-independent programming tool when applying KNX intelligent building technology to increase the energy efficiency of buildings. The ETS tool supports KNX installations for all media including twisted pair, radio frequency, Ethernet/IP and power line. The KNX Association has now completely redesigned the tool and included many new functions in the new generation ETS 4. Presented as a Beta version at the April 2010 Light and Building Exhibition in Frankfurt, ETS 4 makes it possible to implement KNX projects more easily and quickly. Furthermore, the use of a standardised open interface allows the exchange of ETS data and integration with other applications.

The new ETS 4 offers a clearly-structured, intuitive user interface to make it easier for those new to KNX technology. Many suggestions for the improvement of the ETS tool were made by manufacturers, systems integrators and users including both KNX professionals and those with little or no KNX knowledge. The result is a state-of-the-art tool that meets the needs of a modern home and building control technology.

Newcomers to BUS technology will appreciate the design of the new user interface. Menus have been individually updated and their presentation clearly improved. Practical selection lists allow fast access to further data. A wizard permits step by step project design whilst improvement of the workflow is achieved through drag and drop, error checks and help functions. Fast downloads, an efficient product finder and copying functions, all contribute to meeting today's demand for speed of operation.

Software is only good if it is technically up-to-date and the new ETS 4 tool is based on the latest technologies, standards and operating systems. Thanks to the universal data exchange format XML, which can be opened and displayed in any text editor or web browser, all information of a KNX project can be read out - a clear advantage when realising visualisation functions. The standardised open interface allows the integration of numerous apps and offers the possibility to extend ETS functionality. Online automatic updates ensure that ETS always is kept up-to-date.

The official launch for ETS 4 is scheduled for October 2010.

Somfy: Dimming Lighting via Scroll Wheel
Hall 9, Stand B10

Somfy's new animeo KNX/EIB radio receiver, in conjunction with the Somfy handheld transmitter Modulis RTS, offers highly effective lighting management.

It is built into the motor controller device that sends the Somfy radio signals to the KNX/EIB-Bus. The advantage is that by using the hand-held sender, the lighting can be switched and dimmed exactly to indi-vidual user requirements.

The scroll wheel makes all this possible by ensuring an exact lighting setting, including the fine adjustment of the blinds' slats. Therefore the animeo KNX motor controllers for 230V, 24V and 24V increment mo-tors can also be used as a universal KNX radio interface.

www.somfy.com

Light+Building 2010: KNX is once again underlining its leading role as the worldwide STANDARD for home and building control (ISO/IEC 14543). Under the headline "20 years as the worldwide STANDARD", the KNX Association will be exhibiting at a total of four different locations at the Light+Building trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany (11-16 April 2010). At the same time, more than 100 KNX member companies will be presenting their latest KNX applications at their own stands at the fair.

KNX TOP Event: 20-year jubilee show and KNX Award Ceremony (in the Forum building). To mark the 20th anniversary of KNX/EIB, the KNX TOP Event 2010 - including the KNX Award Ceremony 2010 and the world premiere of the new ETS4 - will take place on Tuesday 13 April 2010 at 6.30 pm in "Forum" (between halls 3 and 5, entrance by the Maritim hotel). This international event, with participants from more than 50 countries, is being organised in cooperation with Messe Frankfurt, and will feature a wide range of top entertainment acts. Entry is free of charge. Registration at www.knx.org/topevent is required.

Join in the chat and keep up to date: KNX UK is now on Facebook. Simply search for KNX UK.

The KNX UK Association has introduced a definitive guide to KNX intelligent building technology with their new 24 page Consultants Guide. It sets out precisely for M&E consultants and specifiers, detailed information on the KNX standard and the applications of KNX technology. It will assist building professionals in making informed choices on the use of KNX within any building services project.

The KNX Consultants Guide looks at the challenges faced by consultants in delivering sustainable building services designs and optimising the energy consumption of buildings in the 21st century. It goes on to discuss steps to good practice in the specification and application of building control systems. The advantages of open protocol and the KNX Worldwide Standard for Home and Building Control are illustrated through examples of KNX bus cable specifications, system layouts and KNX reference projects.

The philosophy of KNX is to bring together different manufacturers' products on one bus network. The Consultants Guide explains not only the different types of products that can be integrated seamlessly, but also spells out the advantages of this approach to consultants, systems integrators and building owners alike.

All M&E Consultants and building specifiers will find the publication indispensable.

A demonstration of the versatility and flexibility of KNX technology helped Richard Sagar, a young electrician with Eden Electrics in Scotland, to become a Gold Medal winner at the 2009 WorldSkills Competition held in Calgary, Canada.

Having been out of international competition for many years, UKSkills decided to re-enter the WorldSkills competition. After a careful selection process, Richard, who had already won the 2008 UK SkillElectric competition, was selected to represent the UK in the Electrical Installations category. The Freestyle project in this category required an electrical installation using tools and materials from the entrant's home country and KNX UK Association member Siemens agreed to be the sponsors.

The installation to be designed was based upon an imaginary property in a remote area. A gate at the main entrance required a motion detector to open and close it automatically. The owners also wanted to include driveway and garage lights to come on automatically once motion was detected. In addition, a sub-switchboard was to be installed in the garage, with the owner also requiring a power socket outlet for portable plug-in appliances.

David Thomas from the ECA who was Richard's appointed Training Manager for the event, was certain that the best solution would be to use KNX as the underlying technology. Before the event both he and Richard undertook KNX Partner training with Ivory Egg, one of the certified KNX Training establishments in the UK.

Using all the KNX skills he acquired, Richard created the Gold Award winning installation. It was a remarkable achievement as David, Education & Training Manager at the ECA, explains: "To have been out of international WorldSkills competition for eight years and then for Richard to win the Gold Award by competing successfully against entrants from countries such as Japan was a great achievement. Our European competitors were also surprised that we decided to use KNX. For me, however, its simplicity and versatility made the ideal choice for this project. No mechanical controls were needed - just a simple bus installation."

Following the 2009 success, the focus is now on the 2011 WorldSkills event in London where the KNX protocol is expected to play a major role in the Electrical Installation category.

KNX UK member ABB held a very successful Parliamentary Reception on the House of Commons Terrace at the end of 2009. The event was attended by a number of high profile influential political figures and decision makers including John Prescott, Climate Change Rapporteur for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; Paddy Tipping MP, Chair of the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Select Committee as well as many members of other key Select Committees and All-Party Parliamentary Groups.

Mike Hall MP hosted the event and highlighted ABB's work in his constituency and the positive impact that the company has had over the whole of the UK. The event helped to fulfil a number of ABB communications and marketing objectives including the development of some new and potentially valuable relationships. The Reception also successfully showcased ABB's wide range of technical expertise and track record across a number of policy areas.

KNX UK Board Member Gareth Rowlands, ABB's Intelligent Building Team Manager, was able to establish and cement relationships with key stakeholders including policy advisors at the Department of Energy and Climate Change. "This was a great event for everyone in attendance and allowed us to promote both ABB and KNX to a large gathering of relevant Parliamentarians and stakeholders," said Gareth.

Light+Building, held in Frankfurt from April 11-16 2010, attracts more than 167,000 visitors and around 2,200 exhibitors. The international KNX Association will once again be fully supporting the event - indeed it is the biggest exhibition where the organization has a stand.

Highlights will include the presentation of the international KNX Awards and the launch of the new ETS4 programming tool.

Following acceptance into the CIBSE CPD Directory, KNX UK is now set up to arrange CPD courses over the forthcoming months. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact us admin@knxuk.org or go to the Training/Workshop section of this website and download the file from the Workshop section.

Theben's VARIA individual room controller with multi-function display has won a coveted design award from the red dot institute for advanced design studies. It is now on display at the red dot design museum in Essen.

The KNX-compatible VARIA is an eight-channel display and controller with integral room thermostat that enables householders to take control of their environment in a living or workspace. With its sleek stainless steel buttons on a raised glass fascia, VARIA offers elegant styling with a rugged, long-lasting design that eliminates fragile touch screens.

It can display KNX-programmed profiles in as many as eight rooms, offering control over up to three functions in each of them that combine to provide the right 'room scene 'for, say, reading, watching TV or sleeping. Scenes can be selected at the touch of an elegant button, and users can adjust levels within limits defined at the time of installation.

VARIA can add an extra level of KNX intelligence and override these programmes for instance if ambient light levels suggest electric lighting is not needed after all, or presence detectors indicate that a room is unoccupied.

VARIA is available in the UK now from Theben Group company Timeguard, a KNX UK member.

The Busch-ComfortTouch panel from KNX UK member ABB provides sophisticated intelligent building control in an easy-to-use, one touch display. It combines state-of-the-art control with energy efficiency and security features, providing users with full control of all living areas and building functions from one location. It is suitable for hotels, housing and commercial properties. Once installed the touch panel will work in tandem with ABB's KNX intelligent installation system as a source of control within a building.

The ComfortTouch panel provides single point of control for many functions including lighting, security, temperature and humidity. An intuitive colour coding system that distinguishes different aspects of the building makes the system easier to use for those with little or no experience.

Users can operate or dim the lights, adjust blinds, regulate the room temperature or create scenes from a combination of the functions listed. For further ease of use, all functions can also be controlled remotely where there is line-of-sight between the panel and the remote control pad.

The Busch-ComfortTouch panel also provides access to energy consumption data, enabling property owners to monitor and reduce energy use by identifying areas for improved lighting efficiency, energy consumption and security.

The security function makes it possible to simulate presence within buildings, applying realistic living patterns even when nobody is there. The security system is designed to detect when doors or windows have been left unlocked and can even detect breakages. Once an alarm has been raised, an alert is sent to the user's mobile phone informing the user of the problem. The panel can also be linked to external monitoring systems.

With a built in MP3 player, The Busch-ComfortTouch makes it possible to create audio files or play films. Users can monitor the weather, look at the latest traffic reports, track up-to-date news, access their e-mails and even use the panel as an alarm clock. The panel can also be used to leave voice or written messages for other users to view.

Charlotte Townend of Somfy gives us an insight into the world of facade management and KNX.

It is estimated that in the UK only around 2% of solar shading in buildings is automated. Yet, automation brings better control of building's lighting and ventilation as well as making better use of solar energy. Automation can also reduce the energy used for a building's lighting, heating and cooling. Inside, occupants benefit from maximising the use of available daylight, without being subjected to discomfort due to direct solar radiation or excessive contrasts in light levels.

In bioclimatic architecture, the comfort and well-being of the occupant are the most important factors. The UK's variable climate does not provide the conditions needed to ensure thermal comfort for occupants all year long. Therefore there is a need to heat or cool buildings to allow for these changes in conditions and to achieve the best interaction between climates, buildings and the occupants' needs. In schools, for example, many factors can influence the quality of the learning environment including lighting, natural daylight levels and the elimination of glare. All of these factors need to be addressed and work in harmony to create conditions that are conducive to effective learning, a child's development, health and work-rate.

To achieve such aims, and whatever the type of building, effective controls of facade applications including blinds, shutters, curtains and windows must be in place. There are many decisions to be made regarding the specification of the most appropriate controls and how they should integrate with other building services.

For example, in order to make the most of energy savings using natural lighting, the use of artificial lighting sources also needs to be considered and how they harmonize with natural light. Artificial light sources need to be correctly regulated using the most appropriate types of programmed timer systems and presence/movement detectors.

External building walls are the focal point and the link between the interior and exterior environments. This link can be managed by using different types of facade control systems. Local controls within a room utilise manual independent switches, whilst zonal controls can be installed to cover all the sunshades in a predetermined area. More sophisticated, user-friendly software based open systems can interface with lighting, HVAC, security, AV and other building services functions for a fully integrated and flexible approach. Advanced facade management employs a single programmable computer module and uses data collected from weather sensors to determine when and where sunshades should be automatically deployed.

Real time climate data can be fed to a smart building management system to contribute to overall energy savings of a building. By tracking the sun, blinds can be automatically positioned to sun elevation, building latitude during the day and every day throughout the year. Many leading manufacturers such as ABB and Somfy have developed a range of products which provide sun tracking and shadow management.

KNX certified products are available for the automatic control of shading devices.

Through KNX, facade products can be simply integrated seamlessly with other building control systems - critical at a time when the need for energy efficient buildings is now greater than ever before. Facades, HVAC systems, lighting controls, smart metering, emergency lighting, alarms & door entry systems, occupancy simulation - all can be harmonized and controlled by the KNX open protocol. All building services functions can then be monitored, programmed and diagnosed via the internet or LAN.

KNX UK's application for entry into the CIBSE Directory of CPD Course Providers has now been accepted. The full range of KNX CPD courses are now listed in the CIBSE Directory for the next two years.

The KNX UK Association represents manufacturers, systems integrators, distributors as well as training providers for KNX intelligent building technology. Iain Gordon, President of KNX UK comments: "The acceptance of our KNX CPD courses by CIBSE is a major breakthrough for us, clearly highlighting KNX as a vital building services discipline. The opportunity for engineers to further their knowledge of KNX as part of their Continuous Professional Development will give the technologies and protocol behind KNX a wider professional audience. It will help KNX to achieve wider and quicker acceptance by our most critical target audience - building services professionals."

The KNX UK course categories in the August 2009 CIBSE CPD Directory are:
A sustainable Approach to Future Proofing; Advanced Building Controls;
Advanced Building Controls and Building; Management Systems;
Building Controls;
Building Controls Integration;
Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS);
Building Management System;
Control Systems and Integration;
Controls;
Energy Efficient Controls;
Energy Management and Controls;
Integration of Building Services;
Intelligent Building Controls;
Intelligent Buildings;
Lighting & Lighting Management;
Lighting Controls;
Lighting Controls & Management;
Lighting Controls & Management Systems;
Energy Efficiency.

All speakers from KNX UK are highly experienced in their specialised fields with relevant professional qualifications. Their target audiences for the courses, which last two hours, include consultants, contractors, developers, architects and other interested parties who would like to understand more about the KNX bus technology. The CPD can be delivered across all competence levels and is mobile so that it can be delivered free of charge at the offices of the interested parties.

KNX UK will issue attendance certificates to course delegates with the endorsement that attendance can contribute towards their CIBSE CPD requirement. Any organisation or individual wanting more information or wishing to organise/join a KNX CPD course should contact Tara Gartland, KNX UK Administration admin@knxuk.org
P O Box 4082, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG42 9EQ, Tel: +44 (0) 845 869 5908.

With the continued development of new KNX products from various manufacturers, the ability to record energy consumption data and to process this data for accounting and billing software products is now readily available.

Connection of the metering devices to the KNX bus system and coupling to IP allows the display and processing of the data on a touch panel. The visualization can display the recorded and current data of every metering point. The conversion of the data with export functionality to Excel can be achieved with the push of a button and allows post-processing for the various accounting and billing software products currently available.

KNX metering products can record data such as heat consumption using heat meters; power consumption (different energy meters, flexible with IR interface); water consumption (water meter with KNX connection); fill level meter for tank content (oil, water, liquids)

The development of a worldwide standardized system to meter electronically the consumption of different commodities and to convert data for external post
processing offers a number of advantages. For example, customers can get an overview of the current consumption data at a push of a button and can identify irregularities faster and therefore save time, money and energy. A number of KNX manufacturers are involved in on-going development of meters.

Studies published by the international KNX Association of Brussels show how networked home and building control based on KNX allows up to 50% energy savings. As buildings account for 40% of total energy consumption, they offer considerable energy saving potential. KNX meets the requirements of the top Energy Performance Class for building automation as embodied in EN 15232. This means that the technology is ideally suited to fulfilling the tighter energy consumption requirements for buildings. Through intelligent control of building system technology with KNX, the energy consumption of a building can be halved.

The Institute for Building and Energy Systems at Biberach University of Applied Sciences, Germany has undertaken research into the potential energy savings that can be achieved using modern electrical installation systems such as KNX. This concludes that Intelligent control of building systems reduces energy consumption and the associated operating costs many times over:

"Particularly automation functions, which present a high degree of energy-saving potential by combining various individual trades, can today only be achieved using modern building system technology based on bus and communication systems."

Another research project, conducted at Bremen University of Applied Sciences, shows the extent to which energy savings can be achieved. The Centre for Informatics and Media Technologies was fitted with KNX controls and equipment for regulating heating and lighting. The data collected was evaluated, and comparisons made between "normal" operation and "automation" mode. The building has a specific energy consumption of 60-75 kWh/m2a. Two identical classrooms were selected as test rooms. One was fitted with a conventional installation, and the second with KNX control.

Based on a four-year series of measurements, the use of KNX control was found to reduce energy consumption by up to 50%. It is therefore also clear that the expenditure in building automation system has quick payback. The university calculated that, with an annual energy consumption of 230,000 kWh for lighting alone, the investment would pay itself back after just one year with a KNX bus control.

Ultimately it is not just the owners/operators of a building who benefit from the reduced energy consumption - it is the environment too.

In summary, KNX can allow the following energy savings to be made:

up to 40% with KNX shutter control
up to 50% with KNX single room control
up to 60% with KNX lighting control
up to 60% with KNX ventilation control

Somfy Limited is the latest major manufacturer to become a member of KNX UK, the Association representing manufacturers, systems integrators, distributors, users and training establishments for KNX technology in the United Kingdom.

Somfy is a world leading manufacturer of motors and control systems for automated solar protection and security applications within commercial buildings and domestic premises. The company has been established in the UK since 1969 and has offices in London and Yeadon, near Leeds. Somfy Limited is part of the worldwide Somfy International Group with its HQ in France and some 4700 worldwide employees working within 52 subsidiaries.

Somfy provides controls for many different products from roller shutters and interior blinds to patio awnings, garage doors, curtains and gates. Sales exceed over one million motors in European markets such as France or Germany where roller shutters are very widely specified. However, the fast growing UK market offers great sales potential and developments such as Part L of the Building Regulations are creating new sales opportunities for the company.

By offering KNX controls with its open platform protocol, Somfy provides a vital service to the market place including support for systems ntegrators. "Membership of KNX UK and use of the KNX platform within our products will be important to our continued growth of the UK market," says Ty Saville, Commercial Controls Manager for Somfy in the UK.

"We are delighted to welcome on board such a well known and progressive company as Somfy," says KNX UK President Iain Gordon. "Our member numbers continue to grow as major manufacturers and other organisations using KNX technology recognise the benefits of KNX UK membership in promoting awareness in the UK building market."

EnTech, the Stockport-based intelligent building control specialist, has announced a significant contract win to deliver its technology solutions on phase one of the prestigious MediaCityUK development.

Awarded by NG Bailey, the UK's leading providers of building services and mechanical and electrical, solutions, the contract will see EnTech providing the design and commissioning of KNX intelligent building control solutions to three buildings, all of which will be occupied by the BBC, the 'anchor tenant' at the 200 acre site. Situated at Manchester's Salford Quays, MediaCityUK will be the UK's first purpose-built MediaCityUK. Scheduled for completion in 2010, the site will bring 1.5 billion pounds to the local economy and will be internationally recognised as a world-class hub for the media and creative industries.

Siteco Limited, the world leading manufacturer of technical indoor and outdoor lighting systems, has joined the KNX UK Association. In terms of UK turnover, Siteco is the largest lighting manufacturer to make KNX its preferred protocol for lighting and associated controls. Siteco joins a fast growing UK membership, expected to top 50 by the end of 2008.

As a company renowned for quality and innovation, Siteco has been quick to seize the opportunity to embrace KNX. Dave Fear, Siteco's Technical Director, commented: "Open systems have paved the way for the ultimate in consumer choice in all aspects of our lives, from DVD players to PC software. They offer real choice of manufacturer, technical reliability and functionality. We see open systems as the only way forward in building controls and KNX as the superlative choice in open systems. The company also recognises the energy saving potential offered by KNX and would like to enhance this with their unique fixed and moveable daylight shading and control systems."

Iain Gordon, President of KNX UK, comments: "We are delighted to welcome Siteco as a member of KNX UK. The company is renowned within the worldwide lighting industry for its innovative, high quality lighting solutions. Siteco's announcement that KNX is its protocol of choice for lighting control underlines how quickly the technology is being adopted by major manufacturers throughout the world."