The future goes to intelligent solutions!

Intelligent systems can be programmed and made able to control themselves. Intelligent buildings are those that use complex integrated maintenance systems that provide solutions for automatic processes like technical, financial, human and environmental control. Integrated systems require greater investments, because of the needs of serious IT systems, special technical solutions and facilities, which are more expensive than regular equipment; meanwhile, such solutions are rather cost effective on a long term or even on a medium term. Intelligent building requires less but a rather professional work, as the control-panel initiates automatic processes, it would switch off the system in dead seasons and would even forecast danger or fire in the building. The base of these systems is a quality structured cabling. Intelligent systems operate the following applications: ventilation and A/C systems, energy supply, lightening techniques, screening techniques, security systems, life security and fire alarms.

In Hungary Johnson Controls, Synergon Informatika Nyrt and Honeywell Kft are occupied in creating complex integrated systems for buildings. Hereby some examples are listed which show the change of the perspective of investors. Festo office building was amongst the first premises to use a totally integrated system and also to use special screening techniques. Control panel based on LON communication monitors the wind, rain and sun, and after integrating these data the system optimizes the power of the A/C system. Festo office-building contains professional building maintenance system, fire alarm system, CCTV and other gate systems. In Duna Tower an integrated smoke and fire alarm system couples with an infra monitoring system. Synergon built up an intelligent park on top of the intelligent buildings in Démász park. By this the original security system is centralised and executed by IP cameras equipped with movement sensors; so in this case a cost cut was coupled with the increase of security. In Roosevelt Office building Johnson Controls built up a complex security and management system, that can be overwritten by using the wall-consoles. The German investment company wanted to create a premium office by using this system here. If intelligent buildings are in the focus Kinnarps House cannot be ignored because it is one of the most intelligent buildings in Budapest using almost all of the applications integrated systems have in portfolio.

The investment of these integrated systems are usually 25% or 30% above the usual one, but they also reduce the maintenance costs by 15% so the investments pays off in 5 or 10 years depending on the complexity level. This period is quite long in the case of rent time but quite short if it is real estate management. These systems are used rarely yet and are applied mainly in those buildings where the investor is foreigner or the investor is the owner as well, or built-to-suit. However, the tendency is changing. Besides this the development is continuous: reflex glasses, climatic deflector, touch screens, pneumatic pump using 14 degrees Celsius groundwater for warming or cooling the offices, and several other technical developments will be used to reduce the maintenance costs. In the case of intelligent systems most developers, investors and producers are quite positive that the office world is moving to this direction the only question is when they build up the cost of these systems into the standard form. Two economical aspects prove the success of the system, first of all the optimal performance and secondly due to the integration the costs are not based on estimation but can be counted and divided on one single office unit, or company. (Iroda.hu Kft)