KNX and BACnet Integration to Control to Smart Modern Office
KNX and BACnet Integration to Control to Smart Modern Office
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RE-DESIGN, PROGRAMMING, CONFIGURATION, OPTIMIZATION, AND HANDOVER OF THE PROJECT AT SAMAN MAHVAREH BUILDING
THE SAMAN-MAHVAREH PROJECT IS A MODERN, MULTI-STORY OFFICE BUILDING IN PARDIS TECHNOLOGY PARK NEAR TEHRAN, FEATURING ABOUT 30 OFFICE ROOMS AND SHARED SPACES SUCH AS A CAFÉ, A RESTAURANT, AND AN AUDITORIUM. ALTHOUGH IT WAS BUILT IN 2009, IT DID NOT BECOME OPERATIONAL UNTIL 2024.
As a BMS Engineer, I redesigned its outdated KNX automation system and integrated it with BACnet and Modbus protocols. Using NetX Automation software, we created a unified central workstation for complete monitoring and control of lighting and HVAC systems. This smart integration helped resolve wiring issues and achieve efficient building automation, aligning with modern engineering standards and performance goals.
BACKGROUND AND HISTORY
Prior Objective, Secondary Objective
Prior Objective, Secondary Objective
Prior Objective
Prior Objective
One of the key objectives in this project was to utilize KNX-based technology to enable monitoring and control of the lighting and HVAC systems in the office rooms and common areas through a central Building Management System (BMS) workstation. The devices used for this purpose were mainly from Hager, but the choice of brand was secondary to the primary goal of achieving centralized and efficient control.To fulfill this goal, each office space was equipped with a KNX keypad, allowing local control over lighting as well as temperature settings through air handling units (AHUs) or fan coil units, depending on the room configuration. Meanwhile, the entire system is fully monitored and controllable from the central workstation.This architecture provides the ability to:· Create scheduling scenarios· Implement alarm and event triggers· Ensure energy efficiency and better system responsivenessBy implementing this system, we achieved Energy Efficiency Grade C according to EN 15232, which indicates measurable energy savings and improved building performance.
Secondary Objective
Secondary Objective
Another key goal of the Saman Satellite project was to centralize the control and monitoring of all building systems—including lighting, HVAC, shutters, sensors, and actuators—on a single software platform. HVAC systems used Delta Controls (BACnet), while room automation relied on KNX devices from Hager. These were seamlessly integrated via NetX Automation software, enabling cross-protocol communication (KNX, BACnet, Modbus) and offering a user-friendly graphical interface, which we also designed. This unified platform allowed full system supervision, event and alarm management, and automation scenario execution—all improving efficiency, operability, and user experience within the building's smart infrastructure.
TEAM WORK
Responsibilities, Team Effort
Responsibilities, Team Effort
My Engineering Responsibilities
My Engineering Responsibilities
As the lead engineer for the KNX automation section, I was directly involved in:
- On-site inspection and evaluation of legacy systems.
- Reviewing and updating electrical drawings and KNX topologies.
- Correcting wiring and configuration mismatches.
- Rewriting outdated programming logic for lighting and fan coil units.
- Installing an IP interface to link KNX with the control platform.
- Designing a custom GUI in NetX Automation covering all office and public areas.
Team Effort
Team Effort
This project was completed as a team effort. I was responsible for the KNX section, while the BACnet testing and configuration were handled by my colleague. Eventually, we merged our programming work to create a unified system and successfully achieved the project’s final objectives. Of course, this work was done in close coordination with the building’s mechanical engineering team as well as the IT management team to ensure seamless integration and functionality across all systems.
CHALLENGES I FACED
Legacy Hardware
Legacy Hardware
The building used Hager KNX push buttons from 2007, requiring firmware upgrades to be ETS6-compatible. Updating each device took over an hour, and the process had to be restarted upon any interruption. This challenge was overcome with persistence, ultimately enabling reliable operation within the modern BMS framework.
Custom Graphical Interface Design
Custom Graphical Interface Design
Creating an animated, interactive GUI from scratch—without using prebuilt libraries—was another significant challenge. Our two-person team developed scalable, vector-based representations for systems such as chillers, boilers, AHUs, and pumps. Dynamic elements such as status indicators and real-time data (temperature, pressure, etc.) were incorporated, providing a polished user experience.
SUMMARY
This project modernized a technologically outdated smart office building by integrating KNX and BACnet systems under a unified BMS platform. Key tasks included:
The result was an efficient, intuitive, and sustainable building infrastructure capable of meeting present and future automation needs.
- Topology correction
- Reprogramming and logic design
- Device firmware upgrades
- Development of a complete GUI
- Centralization of all control and monitoring functions
The result was an efficient, intuitive, and sustainable building infrastructure capable of meeting present and future automation needs.
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