A look at Beckhoff’s BMS solution

July 2018 Editor's Choice, Asset Management, Security Services & Risk Management

In the June issue of Hi-Tech Security Solutions we ran a feature on building management systems (BMS). Due to scheduling conflict, Beckhoff was not able to participate in that feature. The company has since submitted replies to a few questions we had about Beckhoff’s BMS solution.

Mike Banda.
Mike Banda.

Hi-Tech Security Solutions: Building management systems have long been used as management tools by corporations, but today, these systems are taking on more responsibilities. What systems and functions can your BMS assist in managing that are not in the traditional scope of the BMS?

Beckhoff: Beckhoff offers a wide range of protocols that can be used for integrating a variety of systems and devices from many different manufacturers. Typically, in the past, the systems have more or less been closed systems or could be integrated only within the manufacturer’s own system or product offerings. As the requirement for integration has been growing, there are more and more gateways used and installed in the field.

In this respect, Beckhoff is well positioned with its open and scalable platform approach. Beckhoff hardware, together with TwinCAT automation software, can be used to realise the control of many different systems (lights/blinds/HVAC/energy monitoring), while seamlessly integrating with other systems such as fire detection, burglar alarms, CCTV, elevators etc. The integration takes place directly within the Beckhoff system without need for external third-party devices that must be programmed and maintained separately to the general BMS controls.

As the integration of different control areas takes place within the Beckhoff system, it is possible to harness all the data from different systems as a holistic BMS solution.

Hi-Tech Security Solutions: Following on from the above, what features and functionality are you adding to be more ‘IoT friendly’?

Beckhoff: Beckhoff supports many different IoT Protocols such as AMQP, MQTT and OPC UA. This means all the data (including both process data and sensor data) can be communicated over IoT to cloud services for data storing and analytics. As analytics requires precise data, it is not sufficient to do the analytics based only on sensor measurement data, but in combination with the building use case (control conditions) at the moment of sensor data capture. Only then can one really understand how the building is being operated.

Beckhoff offers IoT communications directly, even from its smallest embedded controller. Also possible with the Beckhoff system is the integration of devices and systems from third-party vendors. This means that from the Beckhoff system, one can communicate in, for instance, BACnet, Modbus, DALI and KNX, among many other protocols, and share the data over these protocols and link that data with the TwinCAT3 IoT Data Agent, which then communicates with the cloud services.

Another key feature is the ability to not only communicate in one direction, but also to facilitate communication from the cloud to the BMS controllers. The integration of different IoT devices is key and, in this respect, one can derive great benefit from the integration capabilities of the Beckhoff system.

Hi-Tech Security Solutions: With cybersecurity issues top of mind for many people, what are you doing to make sure your BMS and all the data it collects and analyses is secure?

Beckhoff: The Beckhoff system is based on standard IT networking protocols and hence communications use standard IT security. Also, at the protocol level, as in the case of MQTT or OPC UA, the communication can be secured in several effective ways.

Hi-Tech Security Solutions: Do you offer cloud-based options for running your BMS?

Beckhoff: We do not offer cloud-based services. We do, however, facilitate the safe communication of all control and data-logging to cloud service providers. We have communication capabilities with Azure, Amazon, IBM Watson and SAP, among others. Furthermore, the cloud service may be from any provider, on condition that the communication can take place over standard IoT protocols.

The processing power of the Beckhoff controllers, together with TwinCAT, enables one to perform edge computing within the building and then communicate only the pre-processed data to the cloud. In this way, one can minimise the amount of data communicated, which is often a determining factor for cloud service costs.

Hi-Tech Security Solutions: When the end-user is looking at BMS systems, what functionality should they insist on as part of a modern platform?

Beckhoff: The Beckhoff system can be used for individual controls (lights/HVAC, etc.), but also to form an integrated BMS system. The highest saving in operational costs is realised when the building can be integrated as one complete system. The savings may not be apparent during the planning and commissioning phase, but are clearly visible during the operation phase.

As an integrated BMS system, all data is visible throughout the entire system. Hardware requirements are minimised, along with commissioning and engineering time, as this is replaced by programming which is pre-developed to cater for the exchange of data between systems.

The current execution style of building construction does not effectively support integration, as the construction is split into many different subcontracting disciplines. The subcontractors are typically only focused on their scope of the project and do not necessarily have a holistic view of the BMS.

This offers potential for the involvement of system integrators that can provide expertise in planning and in the realisation of integrated solutions.

During operation, possible errors can be monitored and addressed with proper information and context. Also, in the case of changing requirements due to change in building use, it is advantageous for the control system to match the new requirements without the need for major changes in hardware infrastructure.

For more information, contact Mike Banda, Beckhoff Automation, +27 11 795 2898, [email protected], www.beckhoff.co.za



Credit(s)




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Local is a lekker challenge
Secutel Technologies Technews Publishing AI & Data Analytics
There are a number of companies focused on producing solutions locally, primarily in the software arena, but we still have hardware producers churning out products, many doing business locally and internationally.

Read more...
A passport to offline backups
SMART Security Solutions Technews Publishing Editor's Choice Infrastructure Smart Home Automation
SMART Security Solutions tested a 6 TB WD My Passport and found it is much more than simply another portable hard drive when considering the free security software the company includes with the device.

Read more...
Navigating the complexities of privileged access management
Editor's Choice Access Control & Identity Management
Privileged Access Management and Identity Access Management are critical pillars of modern cybersecurity, designed to secure access to sensitive resources, enforce principles like least privilege, and implement just-in-time access controls.

Read more...
Rewriting the rules of reputation
Technews Publishing Editor's Choice Security Services & Risk Management
Public Relations is more crucial than ever in the generative AI and LLMs age. AI-driven search engines no longer just scan social media or reviews, they prioritise authoritative, editorial content.

Read more...
How can South African organisations fast-track their AI initiatives?
AI & Data Analytics Security Services & Risk Management
While the AI market in South Africa is anticipated to grow by nearly 30% annually over the next five years, tapping into the promise and potential of AI is not easy.

Read more...
Efficient, future-proof estate security and management
Technews Publishing ElementC Solutions Duxbury Networking Fang Fences & Guards Secutel Technologies OneSpace Technologies DeepAlert SMART Security Solutions Editor's Choice Information Security Security Services & Risk Management Residential Estate (Industry) AI & Data Analytics IoT & Automation
In February this year, SMART Security Solutions travelled to Cape Town to experience the unbelievable experience of a city where potholes are fixed, and traffic lights work; and to host the Cape Town SMART Estate Security Conference 2025.

Read more...
From the editor's desk: What’s a trillion between friends?
Technews Publishing News & Events
Back in the bad old days of 2015, some (who didn’t want to take the blame for coming up with that number) estimated the amount of money lost to corruption by the South African government to be around ...

Read more...
Stallion repositions itself as a services provider
News & Events Security Services & Risk Management
Stallion has rebranded as Stallion Integrated Solutions to reflect its expanded capabilities beyond traditional security services to delivering integrated solutions that enhance safety, asset management, and operational efficiency.

Read more...
Seven tips to help ensure your backup batteries work
Power Management Security Services & Risk Management
Load shedding is back, officially or not. Lance Dickerson offers seven tips to prolong the life of your power backup systems and ensure they perform as intended when needed.

Read more...
Cybersecurity best practice
Information Security Security Services & Risk Management
Breach and attack simulation has become an essential element of cybersecurity strategies in any modern business by allowing companies to actively detect and resolve vulnerabilities through real-world attack simulations.

Read more...