In the era of the Internet of Things (IoT) and digitisation, the demand for intelligent buildings (smart buildings) is constantly growing. However, many existing buildings are equipped with outdated automation systems that do not support modern communication protocols and advanced functionalities. Retrofitting, i.e. modernising these systems, is an effective solution to turn obsolete buildings into smart buildings, improving energy efficiency, comfort and space management.

Advantages of Retrofitting

Retrofitting offers numerous advantages, including:

• Improving energy efficiency: The integration of advanced sensors and control systems allows optimisation of energy consumption, reducing costs and environmental impact.
• Increased comfort: the ability to monitor and control environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and air quality in real time ensures a more comfortable working or living environment.
• Centralised management: retrofitting systems make it possible to centralise plant management, simplifying monitoring and maintenance.
• Integration with standard protocols: the use of standard protocols, such as BACnet/IP, facilitates integration with other systems and devices, ensuring interoperability.

Key Products for Retrofitting

For successful retrofitting, it is essential to use reliable and versatile products that support the main communication protocols. In this context, LOYTEC and Milesight products are an excellent choice:

• LOYTEC LOY-SPE2: this versatile device allows the Ethernet connection to be extended along a simple copper pair, thus enabling areas that are not wired or unreachable with a direct Ethernet cable to be reached. The device is very interesting because it makes it possible to recover old LONWORKS lines, for example, and exploit them to make them into Ethernet data lines.
  
  
  
  
• Milesight UG65: this LoRaWAN gateway with native BACnet/IP support makes it easy to integrate wireless sensors into the automation system. Its ability to support the BACnet/IP protocol natively makes it ideal for integration with existing building automation systems..
  
  
  
  
• Sensors Milesight AM102, AM103 and WT201: these wireless sensors, which measure temperature, humidity, air quality and other environmental parameters, can be easily integrated into the system via the UG65 gateway. Their LoRaWAN technology ensures reliable and energy-efficient communication.

Simple Implementation and Benefits

The combined use of these products greatly simplifies the retrofitting process, allowing an obsolete system to be made smart quickly and efficiently. Communication based on standard protocols ensures the interoperability and scalability of the system, paving the way for future expansion and integration.

In conclusion, retrofitting in building automation is a strategic investment to improve the efficiency, comfort and management of buildings. LOYTEC and Milesight products, with their support for standard protocols and ease of integration, offer an ideal solution for transforming outdated buildings into state-of-the-art smart buildings.