Building Management Systems (BMS) is a computer-based control system which has been configured to control, monitor and manage a building's mechanical and electrical equipment, such as heating, ventilation, lighting, fire and security systems.

BMS treats lighting as part of a converged approach to building control - linking disparate systems on a common platform. And for TEST, that chosen platform is the internet or intranet.

Lighting is part science, part art, in its function and operation, and has an immense impact on a building's environment. After all, no light and you can't work or you feel vulnerable. The solution from most BMS companies has been to control lighting as a simple electrical load, and switch on or off via local switched outputs, or on the more sophisticated solutions, using some dimming.

The reality is that BMS is designed to operate a relatively small number of nodes or devices. However, lighting control points are of a magnitude many times greater than the number of out stations in a typical building. This means we need to cross platforms and successfully link lighting to BMS.

At TEST we have the experience and knowledge gained from many years experience, working in both BMS and lighting management, to seamlessly merge these technologies.

Using web based tools we can link via direct drivers for common protocols such as BACnet, Echelon, KNX, or use software solutions such as OPC. Whatever the technology behind the solution, TEST has the necessary skills in both hardware and software to deliver tomorrow's building control today.