The proliferation of smart building technology is accelerating, with a range of solutions available for all types of buildings. With such a wide range of options and costs, it can be difficult to know which solution to invest in. It is also vital when implementing smart building technology to ensure the right people and processes are in place to take advantage of the technology, with high savings possible from energy and maintenance.
BG 91 is designed to help anybody responsible for evaluating, selecting, and implementing smart building technologies.
It covers the full procurement process, from defining needs to delivering benefits, ensuring the right people, process and technology are in place to maximise the return on investment. The framework provides practical guidance for both technical and non-technical decision-makers, advising on capital and operational expenditure for one building or a portfolio.
The guide highlights the importance of reviewing current infrastructure and assessing baseline energy use and maintenance costs before investing in smart technology, ensuring any upgrade is data-driven and practical.
It details how smart technologies - such as IoT sensors, analytics platforms, AI, predictive maintenance, and digital twins - can provide real-time insights, automated fault detection, and performance optimisation. It outlines step-by-step procurement strategies, including requirements definition, estimating costs and ROI, vendor evaluation frameworks, and the significance of open communication protocols for future-proofing investments. The guide addresses implementation processes, emphasises stakeholder engagement, and the change management process needed to ensure successful adoption.
Sections include:
- Smart Building Technology Overview
- Preparing for Smart Buildings
- Estimating Costs, RoI, and Building a Business Case
- Procurement Strategy
- Technology Implementation
- Cyber Security
- Performance Monitoring and Optimisation
- Future Considerations
- Key Success Factors
What is Smart Building Technology?
- Smart building technology encompasses an integrated ecosystem of connected devices, sensors, software platforms, and analytical tools that have the potential to enhance building efficiency, occupant experience, sustainability, and asset value. These systems collect real-time data about energy consumption, environmental conditions, equipment status, and occupant behaviour to enable automated control and informed decision-making.
What types of buildings are covered by this guide?
- The advice in BG 91 can be applied to any building, Individual buildings that are most likely to benefit will have a central building management system (BMS) and be over 5,000 m2 total floor area. Those managing a portfolio of smaller buildings will also find value in the guide.
Which technologies are covered by the guide?
- Internet of Things (IoT) Sensors to Collect Building Data
- Analytics Platforms for Data Aggregation & Insights
- Artificial Intelligence Applications for Adaptive Learning & Prediction
- Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD), Predictive Maintenance and Condition-Based Maintenance
- Digital Twins and Digital Schematics