Industry and manufacturing · Heating
Heating in industry and manufacturing: what the SRI measures
The heating domain looks at how smartly a building controls its heat: per room or centrally, based on occupancy and outdoor temperature, and whether the boiler or heat pump follows demand. Heat storage and fault reporting are part of it too.
In short
- 1This page shows how the Smart Readiness Indicator works for industrial and production buildings.
- 2For this building type, the Heating domain carries significant weight, with a weighting factor of 2 out of 3 domains.
- 3The assessment covers only the building and its systems, not the production process itself.
Weight of this domain for this building type
Which services count
| Service | Lowest level | Highest level | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat emission control H-1a · A · 5 levels | No automatic control | Individual room control with communication and occupancy detection | level 2 or higher |
| Emission control for TABS (heating mode) H-1b · 4 levels | No automatic control | Advanced central automatic control with intermittent operation and/or room temperature feedback control | – |
| Storage and shifting of thermal energy H-1c · A · 3 levels | None | HW storage vessels controlled based on external signals (from BACS or grid) | level 2 or higher |
| Control of distribution pumps in networks H-1d · 5 levels | No automatic control | Variable speed pump control (external demand signal) | – |
| Thermal Energy Storage (TES) for building heating (excluding TABS) H-1f · 4 levels | Continuous storage operation | Heat storage capable of flexible control through grid signals (e.g. DSM) | – |
| Heat generator control (all except heat pumps) H-2a · A · 3 levels | Constant temperature control | Variable temperature control depending on the load (e.g. depending on supply water temperature set point) | level 2 or higher |
| Heat generator control (for heat pumps) H-2b · A · 4 levels | On/Off-control of heat generator | Variable control of heat generator capacity depending on the load AND external signals from grid | level 2 or higher |
| Sequencing in case of different heat generators H-2d · 5 levels | Priorities only based on running time | Control according to dynamic priority list (based on current AND predicted load, energy efficiency, carbon emissions, capacity of generators AND external signals from grid) | – |
| Report information regarding heating system performance H-3 · A · 5 levels | None | Central or remote reporting of performance evaluation including forecasting and/or benchmarking; also including predictive management and fault detection | level 2 or higher |
| Flexibility and grid interaction H-4 · 5 levels | No automatic control | Optimized control of heating system based on local predictions and grid signals (e.g. through model predictive control) | – |
Worked example
If everything in this domain is at level 0, the domain contributes nothing. At the highest level for all services, the indicative total score for this building type rises by about 30 percentage points (from 24 to 54 percent, with all other domains at level 1).
What does the Smart Readiness Indicator measure in industry and production?
The Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) assesses how well a building is prepared for smart technology. For industrial buildings, the methodology focuses exclusively on the building and its systems, not on the production process. Equipment on the production floor does not count, but the building's heating, cooling and energy management do.
Many industrial sites already have energy management systems for their processes. Such a system does not automatically count towards the SRI unless it also connects with the building systems. Waste heat from the process can play a role, for example if it is used for heating offices or halls.
Why does the Heating domain carry such high weight?
For this building type, the Heating (H) domain counts with a weighting factor of 2 out of 3. This is a high weighting compared with other domains. Industrial buildings often have large heating systems, and how these are controlled significantly affects energy consumption.
The Heating domain assesses whether heat output is controlled per space or centrally, and whether the heat generator responds to actual demand. Heat storage, sequence control for multiple generators and fault reporting also count towards the assessment.
An important element is service H-4, flexibility and interaction with the grid. Large industrial connections often benefit from demand response, also called demand side management, where consumption is adjusted based on signals from the electricity network.
What does the classification into functionality levels mean?
Each smart-ready service within the Heating domain receives a functionality level, ranging from 0 to 4. Level 0 means no automatic control; level 4 represents the most advanced form, often with forecasting and grid connection.
For industrial buildings above 290 kilowatts of system capacity, building automation has been mandatory since late 2024. This mandatory level often already forms a foundation for a reasonable score on services such as H-1a and H-2a.
Will the Smart Readiness Indicator become mandatory?
The SRI is currently voluntary. The European Commission must adopt a delegated act by 30 June 2027 that is expected to make the SRI mandatory for buildings with systems above 290 kilowatts. Many industrial buildings fall above that threshold.
What this means for you
- Owner
- Have the heating system assessed for smart-ready services within this domain, since this domain carries significant weight in your building type's score. Investing in better control of heat generators and flexibility towards the grid can raise your score while lowering energy costs.
- Tenant
- As a tenant or user, you will mainly notice a more stable indoor climate and fewer faults, because heating systems are better monitored and controlled. You typically have no direct influence on the score, as the assessment covers the building and its systems, not your own production process.
- Advisor
- When assessing, pay careful attention to the distinction between process and building: only building-related heating systems count towards the SRI. Also check whether existing energy management systems actually connect with the building management system functions that the smart-ready services in this domain require.
Next step
Want to know where your building stands?