The term 'smart home' is becoming more and more prevalent in our everyday lives. Automatic solutions in buildings are very popular because of the comfort, savings and security they can provide us with. Building management systems are used in industrial, office and private buildings. But what exactly are these intelligent devices all about?

What is a smart home?

A so-called 'smart home' refers to a building that automatically performs certain actions during some event, such as a break-in or a change in the environment. A smart home, or rather a system consisting of the smart devices in it, reacts to changes. Such a system consists of many components. Highly sophisticated buildings can have quite a few of them. The role of an intelligent building system is to automate, integrate, control, monitor, optimise and report on activities.

What does a smart system consist of?

The devices that make up a smart home make up the entire system and can include the following elements:

• Server- device to which all smart home devices are connected Responsible for activating the automation. Can enable integration with other smart home systems.
• Sensors - devices that measure the environment, e.g. temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, flooding, light, opening, etc.
• Intelligent actuators  - devices that can perform an action, relays to switch on lights, raise blinds, thermostats to switch on heating, washing machines, hoovers, etc. They can be integrated with various sensors.
• Controllers - devices that allow manual control of smart devices, reading values from sensors and configuring automation, such as a smartphone.
• Software - responsible for all intelligent activities made available by the system in the building.
• LAN - In modern smart home installations, this is an important element responsible for the stability and security that a smart home can provide.
• Bridges/gates  - Devices connecting sensors or other devices to the control unit. Helpful if, for example, a particular sensor does not work with a particular control panel.

Smart home - which model to choose for its management?        

Of the many options for managing smart devices, a building may see one or a combination of the following improvements:

• IOT (Internet of things) - streamlining and connecting activities in different areas already in place; internet required; control from apps; dedicated to smart appliances e.g. washing machine, oven, watering sprinklers etc.
• KNX - New-generation electrical installation - allows common communication between all electricity consumers in the building; no internet access required; dedicated to new-build.
• RADIO - Smart appliances can also be managed by radio waves; a rarely used method; when there is no Internet access and when we do not want to interfere with the wall structure.
• PLC - a centralised master controller to which the actuators, e.g. power consumers and sensors, are connected.

Can every home be smart?

In fact, any building can be intelligent. High-tech solutions can be applied to a flat, a shop, an office building or a warehouse. However, what matters most is whether the building has already been built for a long time or is still in the planning stages.

NEW BUILDING
Smart investments are best planned at the design stage. It is worth planning the electrical installation so that it does not pose a problem when automating in the future. It is worth fitting deeper flush-mounted boxes from the outset to accommodate controllers. It will be much more efficient to lay the wiring from each appliance to a central location, and from there to wall switches. Each smart home has its own 'distribution centre' in the form of a separate room or large cabinet.

A BUILDING WITH HISTORY
In the case of an existing building, it is worth using the moment of the general refurbishment to plan the home automation. In addition to deeper boxes, it is worth considering the LAN infrastructure. One wifi access point, in the case of a smart home, may definitely not be enough. For buildings where the wall structure cannot be interfered with more, some devices can be connected wirelessly.

When you return to your smart home....

Imagine you have a smart home ... You come home to it and with one button of the remote control you disarm the alarm, turn on the outside lights, open the entrance gate and then the garage door. You drive into the garage , and the system closes all the gates behind you and switches off the lights! A convenient solution, isn't it? On top of that, the system will take care of a higher room temperature so you can feel comfortable!

That's not all! It has started to rain and the wind is blowing. No need to worry about the weather! The system will automatically roll up your awnings and close your open windows....

Fancy a movie night? A simple touch of the keypad screen is all it takes to trigger a pre-programmed scenario. Your system will create the perfect conditions for a screening.

And when night comes...

After a pleasant evening in front of the screen, with a single click you can switch off unnecessary lighting, lower the blinds and arm the alarm. While you sleep, the system can take care of your safety. But not only! The automation will also take care of your plants! If the moisture sensor indicates that the soil watering level is too low, the system will automatically activate the sprinklers or drip watering. You can read about automatic watering here.

Nighttime wanderings into the kitchen or other rooms will be safer with motion detectors that will trigger the lighting to a lower power level.

And if an uninvited guest appears at your home and tries to enter the property, the system will trigger an alarm scenario to effectively deter the intruder. A loud sound will frighten the intruder and wake you up so you can react! At the same time, the outdoor lighting will switch on to make the intruder more visible to you and the cameras. Of course, you will receive an instant notification on your mobile phone!

In the morning...

On that fateful night, the temperature still fell below 0°. In the morning, the roller blind opening system gently awakens you from sleep. If it is still dark, it gently turns on the light. An icy path or driveway is no problem. The system will ensure that you can leave the house and your car safely in advance.

Leaving your smart home? Select the 'leaving home' scenario and, as part of this, the system will close the main water valve, switch off the power to the electrical sockets, and lower the room temperature to an economical level. It will then open the garage door and the entrance gate. It will also switch off the lights in the building. When leaving, with the push of a button you can close the windows, gates and lower the blinds. At the very end, the system will arm itself, i.e. the motion detectors will be activated to protect against possible intrusion. Your intelligent home is effectively protected!

If you do not return for the night, it is possible to simulate the presence of household members in the house. This can be an effective deterrent to burglars!

Create your own comfort together with Cetel!

As you can see, your life can be very comfortable. Just equip yourself with well identified needs, a pinch of imagination, the power of ideas and the IQ of your home will surprise you pleasantly more than once! Create your own world in the rhythm of your life together with Cetel!