Smart buildings connected to a building management system with icons for lighting, climate, security and energy
A–Zbuilding automation design, from audit to handover

Consultancy · Building Automation DesignBuilding Automation Design, Done Right.

Complete building automation and BMS design for offices, hospitals, hotels, malls, factories and smart homes: HVAC control, lighting, blinds and daylight, energy metering, fire, security and lift integration, controllers, network, dashboards and cybersecurity. More comfort, lower energy bills and a building that runs itself.

  • Control strategies and points schedules
  • Drawings, specifications and BOQ
  • Design, supply and commissioning
  • Lower energy bills
  • Better comfort and air quality
  • Faults found before they cost you
  • Every system on one screen

Building automation consultancy

What is building automation design?

Building automation connects a building’s systems to one brain that watches, decides and acts, so lights, cooling, fresh air and plant run only when and where they are needed.

A good design decides what to measure, how every system should behave hour by hour, and how systems work together: cooling that starts before people arrive, lights that follow occupancy and daylight, fresh air that follows CO₂, plant that reports faults instantly, and a fire mode where fans, lifts and doors act in seconds.

We design building automation for offices, hospitals, hotels, malls, airports, universities, factories, residential towers and villas, in Pakistan and for international clients.

Measure. Control. Integrate. Improve. A building that gets better every day.

HVACLIGHTINGENERGYBLINDSLIFTSFIRESECURITYSOLARBUILDINGBRAIN

A day in a smart building

24 hours of building automation, animated

Watch one building through a full day: pre-cooling at dawn, lights and air following people, blinds following the sun, a plant fault handled in seconds and a quiet, efficient night.

Animated day in a smart buildingA 24 hour cycle of an automated office building. Before sunrise the building is in night setback. At 6:00 the air handling unit starts pre-cooling. A car drives down the ramp into the basement car park and the carbon monoxide sensor starts the exhaust fans. Staff arrive and lights and cooling switch on floor by floor. Carbon dioxide rises in a meeting room and more fresh air is supplied. At midday perimeter lights dim with daylight and blinds follow the sun. Chiller 1 develops a fault, an alarm appears on the dashboard, a technician is notified and chiller 2 starts. In the evening floors empty and systems switch off, a cleaner is followed by the lights, and at night only security lighting remains. A live dashboard shows the time, mode and building load.L4L3L2GROUNDBASEMENTMEETING ROOMAHUCHILLER 1CHILLER 2COBMS DASHBOARD05:0006:0007:0008:0009:0010:0011:0012:0013:0014:0015:0016:0017:0018:0019:0020:0021:0022:0023:0000:0001:0002:0003:0004:00NIGHT SETBACKPRE-COOLINGOCCUPIEDCO₂ CONTROLDAYLIGHT MODEALARM · CHILLER 1OCCUPIEDSHUTDOWNCLEANINGNIGHT SETBACK⚠ CHILLER 1 FAULTTECHNICIAN NOTIFIED · CHILLER 2 ONBUILDING LOAD TODAY05:00 · NIGHT SETBACK · MINIMUM ENERGY06:00 · PRE-COOLING BEFORE STAFF ARRIVECAR PARK · CO SENSOR · EXHAUST FANS ON08:30 · OCCUPANCY · LIGHTS AND COOLING FOLLOW PEOPLECO₂ HIGH IN MEETING ROOM · MORE FRESH AIRMIDDAY · DAYLIGHT DIMMING · BLINDS TRACK THE SUNCHILLER 1 FAULT · ALARM · STANDBY CHILLER STARTSAFTERNOON · ENERGY METERED FLOOR BY FLOOREVENING · LIGHTS AND COOLING OFF AS FLOORS EMPTYCLEANING · LIGHTS FOLLOW THE CLEANERNIGHT · SETBACK · SECURITY LIGHTING ONLY
  1. MorningPre-cooling starts before staff arrive. Car park fans follow the CO sensor.
  2. DaytimeLights, cooling and fresh air follow people, CO₂ and daylight.
  3. AlertA chiller fault raises an alarm and the standby chiller starts.
  4. Evening & nightSystems switch off as floors empty. Night setback saves energy.

Interactive building modes

One building, four modes

Choose a mode to see how the building responds. Defining these modes and what every system does in each one is a key part of the design.

AHUSMOKE FANEXIT

Occupied

People are in the building. Comfort comes first, with lights, cooling and fresh air where people are.

Lights
On where occupied
Cooling
Comfort setpoint
Fresh air
By CO₂ level
Lifts
Normal service
Exit doors
Access controlled
Energy
100%

Step by step, A to Z

Building automation design in 12 steps

The complete method we follow for every project, from the first energy audit to handover.

Energy baseline and targetJFMAMJJASONDTARGET SAVINGS SETbeforewith automation

Step 01

Goals, baseline and energy audit

We start with what the building must achieve: comfort, lower energy bills, easier operation or a green rating. An energy baseline shows where savings will come from.

  • Energy bills and meter data reviewed
  • Comfort complaints and operating hours
  • Savings targets and payback period
  • Budget, phasing and future expansion
Points scheduleSYSTEMINPUTSOUTPUTSAir handling units3218Chillers and pumps2412Lighting circuits1664Energy meters400Lifts, fire, security2810TOTAL 244 POINTS · CONTROLLERS SIZED

Step 02

Systems survey and points schedule

Every item to be monitored or controlled becomes a point. The points schedule sizes controllers, cabling and software.

  • Survey of HVAC, lighting, power and plant
  • Inputs and outputs listed system by system
  • Existing equipment reused where possible
  • Controller and panel locations planned
DAMPERFILTERCOILVALVEFANSENSORAir handling unit controlSUPPLY °Csetpoint

Step 03

HVAC control strategy

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning use the most energy in most buildings, so the control strategy matters most.

  • Air handling unit, fan coil and VRF control
  • Chiller, boiler and pump sequencing
  • Temperature, humidity and pressure setpoints
  • Optimum start, night setback and free cooling
Couple entering a smart home as lights switch on automatically at the entrance

Step 04

Lighting control

Lights should be on only where and when they are needed, at the right level, with scenes that suit each space.

  • Occupancy and absence detection
  • Time schedules and scene control
  • Corridor, stair and car park lighting
  • Exterior and facade lighting by astronomical clock
occupancyDAYLIGHT · WINDOW LIGHTS DIMROOM EMPTY · LIGHTS OFF

Step 05

Occupancy, daylight and blinds

Sensors let the building respond to people and sunlight instead of running on fixed timers.

  • Daylight dimming in perimeter zones
  • Motorised blinds that follow the sun
  • CO₂ sensors for fresh air on demand
  • Meeting rooms that switch off when empty
Energy by floor · kWh todayL4L3L2GROUNDPLANTkWlive demandPEAK REDUCED

Step 06

Energy metering and monitoring

You cannot manage what you do not measure. Meters show where energy goes, floor by floor and system by system.

  • Main and sub-meters for power, water and gas
  • Tenant and department billing
  • Peak demand alarms and load shedding
  • Solar and generator monitoring
FIRE ALARMACCESSLIFTSCCTVSMOKE FANSAHUBMSFIRE: AHU STOPS · SMOKE FANS START · LIFTS RETURN · DOORS RELEASE

Step 07

Integration with fire, security and lifts

One building brain lets every system work together, especially in an emergency.

  • Fire alarm stops air handling units
  • Smoke extract fans and pressurisation start
  • Lifts return to the ground floor
  • Access control and CCTV linked to alarms
Guest in a smart hotel room using a wall touch panel to control lights, temperature and curtains

Step 08

Room and zone control

Each room or zone gets its own control, from offices and meeting rooms to hotel guest rooms and apartments.

  • Room panels for temperature, lights and blinds
  • Hotel guest room management with key cards
  • Presence-based energy saving in empty rooms
  • Mobile app and voice control where needed
Building automation architecture diagram from sensors and gateways to cloud, data platform, web and mobile applications

Step 09

Controllers, network and architecture

We design the system architecture so it is reliable, open and easy to expand, from field devices to the cloud.

  • Field sensors, actuators and controllers
  • Gateways, network and server layout
  • Open protocols to avoid lock-in
  • Cloud access, data storage and analytics
Family on a sofa controlling lights, air conditioning and security from a tablet app

Step 10

Dashboards, alarms and mobile

Operators need clear screens that show what matters and alert them before small problems become big ones.

  • Graphics for every floor and plant room
  • Alarms by priority with email and SMS
  • Trends, reports and energy dashboards
  • Secure mobile access for managers and technicians
IT NETWORKBMS NETWORKFIREWALLblockedapproved dataseparate networks · secure remote access · backups

Step 11

Cybersecurity and resilience

Connected buildings must be protected from cyber attacks and keep running if a server or network fails.

  • Separate building and IT networks
  • Firewalls, strong passwords and user roles
  • Secure remote access and updates
  • Local control and backups if the network fails
Modern smart villa at dusk with icons for lighting, security, temperature, cameras and app control

Step 12

Drawings, commissioning and handover

We turn the design into drawings and documents contractors can build from, then test every point before handover.

  • Schematics, panel and riser drawings
  • Sequence of operations for every system
  • Specifications and bill of quantities
  • Point-to-point testing, training and handover

Where the savings come from

Typical energy saving measures

Typical ranges seen in commercial buildings. Real savings depend on the building, climate and how it runs today, which is why we start with a baseline.

Typical energy saving measures
MeasureApplies toTypical saving
Schedules, optimum start and night setbackAir conditioning and ventilation5–15%
Occupancy and absence lighting controlLighting in offices, corridors, car parks20–40%
Daylight dimmingLighting near windows and skylights10–30%
Fresh air by CO₂ levelVentilation and cooling of outside air10–30%
Chiller and pump optimisationCentral cooling plant10–20%
Metering, alarms and monitoringWhole buildingFinds waste and faults early
Cut-away of a smart home showing sensors and controls for lighting, climate, security, entertainment and electric car charging

Smart homes and villas

The same thinking, at home

Villas and apartments benefit from the same design approach: lighting scenes, climate by room, motorised curtains, security, cameras, gate and door control, energy monitoring and car charging, all from one app and wall panels.

  • Scenes for arriving, leaving, movie and night
  • Room-by-room climate and curtain control
  • Security, cameras and gate on one app

Where we design building automation

Automation for every building

Offices and towers

Floor-by-floor HVAC, lighting, metering and tenant billing.

Hospitals

Critical rooms, pressure control, medical gases and alarms.

Hotels

Guest room management, public areas and central plant.

Malls and airports

Large air systems, lighting zones, car parks and escalators.

Factories and warehouses

Ventilation, high-bay lighting, compressed air and energy.

Villas and apartments

Scenes, climate, curtains, security and one app.

FAQs

Building automation design FAQs

What is building automation design?

Building automation design is the planning of how a building’s systems are monitored and controlled from one platform. It covers HVAC, lighting, blinds, energy meters, lifts, fire and security integration, controllers, network, dashboards and the control strategy for each system.

What is the difference between a BMS and building automation?

A building management system (BMS) is the software and controllers that monitor and control the building. Building automation is the wider idea of making the building run itself, using sensors, schedules and rules so people do not have to switch things manually.

How much energy can building automation save?

Savings depend on the building and how it runs today. Scheduling, occupancy control, daylight dimming, demand-based fresh air and plant optimisation together commonly reduce energy use significantly, and metering shows the real savings month by month.

Which systems can be connected?

Air conditioning and ventilation, chillers and pumps, lighting, blinds, energy and water meters, generators and solar, lifts, fire alarm, access control, CCTV and room controls can all be monitored or controlled from one system.

Can automation be added to an existing building?

Yes. Existing equipment is surveyed and connected where possible using controllers, sensors and gateways. Retrofits are often phased floor by floor or system by system to avoid disruption.

What happens during a fire alarm?

The design defines the fire mode: air handling units stop, smoke extract and pressurisation fans start, lifts return to the ground floor, access controlled exit doors release and lighting goes to full brightness.

Is a connected building safe from hackers?

It can be when designed correctly. We separate the building network from the office IT network, use firewalls, user roles and secure remote access, and make sure local controllers keep working if the network is attacked or fails.

Do you design smart homes and hotels too?

Yes. We design home automation for villas and apartments, and guest room management for hotels, with room panels, key card energy saving, scenes and mobile control.

Will I be locked into one supplier?

We design with open protocols and clear documentation so the system can be expanded, maintained and integrated with other products in the future.

Do you work on projects outside Pakistan?

Yes. Our building automation design consultancy is available to international clients, working from drawings and site information, with site visits when needed. We also supply, install and commission systems.

Design a Building That Runs Itself

Share your drawings and energy bills and we will design the control strategy, points schedule, architecture, integration and dashboards, with drawings and a bill of quantities, for projects in Pakistan and abroad.