INTRODUCTION

There was a time when having an extra computer or TV in your home, or a computer network in your business, was considered ‘cutting edge', whereas today many buildings, from single dwellings to the campus-style headquarters of some multi‑national blue chip companies, incorporate an increasingly complex assortment of technologies and systems. These not only help reduce running costs but also enhance the productivity, safety, flexibility and sustainability of the building and its occupants. The term ‘intelligent building' is often used to describe such buildings, but what does this term actually mean, and how is an intelligent building different from a conventional building with similar systems and features?