BMS - Building Management Systems (2)

The key elements to a BMS are controllers, monitoring devices, controlled devices and a BMS supervisor.

Controllers - These vary in size, generally dictated by the number of inputs & outputs required by the system or area and are programmed with specific control functions pertaining to the application. The controllers can operate in a standalone mode but are networked together allowing information to be shared by the whole system.
Monitoring Devices - Typically sensors used to measure properties such as temperature, humidity, air quality etc which would be connected to the inputs within the controllers.
Controlled Devices - These are connected to, and driven by, the outputs of the controllers. Examples of devices would be a relay, which may in turn switch on a fan or a pump, or a valve which can be opened to increase the volume of hot water running through a heating system thus, warming a room.
BMS Supervisor - This is essentially a PC loaded with BMS supervisor software allowing the operator to interogate and/or adjust the system via bespoke user friendly graphical representations of the controlled sytems. The user is able to program occupancy times, adjust set points, view alarms and graphs as well as collating data for presentation of reports.