Domain MC
Monitoring and control
Monitoring and control is the building's nervous system: the building management system that coordinates installations, detects faults, reports energy use and can respond to occupancy and to grid signals.
In short
- 1Monitoring and control is the domain within the Smart Readiness Indicator that examines a building's management system.
- 2This system supervises technical installations, alerts to faults, and can adjust energy consumption to match grid demand.
- 3The domain comprises eight smart-ready services, ranging from operating schedule management to grid integration.
Services in this domain
- Run time management of HVAC systemsMC-3 · 4 levels
- Detecting faults of technical building systems and providing support to the diagnosis of these faultsMC-4 · 4 levels
- Occupancy detection: connected servicesMC-9 · 3 levels
- Central reporting of TBS performance and energy useMC-13 · 4 levels · A
- Smart Grid IntegrationMC-25 · 3 levels · A
- Reporting information regarding demand side management performance and operationMC-28 · 3 levels
- Override of DSM controlMC-29 · 5 levels
- Single platform that allows automated control & coordination between TBS + optimization of energy flow based on occupancy, weather and grid signalsMC-30 · 4 levels · A
What does the monitoring and control domain measure?
This domain of the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) assesses how effectively a building management system operates and supervises technical installations. A building management system is the central software that coordinates heating, cooling, lighting, and other technical systems.
The methodology uses eight smart-ready services within this domain, each assessed on a functionality level from 0 to 4. A higher level means greater automation and better coordination between systems.
Which services belong to this domain?
Operating schedule management of HVAC systems (MC-3) concerns how heating and cooling are switched on and off: manually, according to timetable, based on building load, or via predictive control. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
Fault detection (MC-4) assesses whether alarms are centrally visible and whether the system aids diagnosis. Occupancy detection (MC-9) examines whether sensors control individual functions such as lighting, or multiple systems simultaneously.
Central reporting (MC-13) measures whether energy consumption per energy carrier is consolidated in a single interface across multiple domains. The last three services concern the relationship with the electricity grid: grid integration (MC-25), demand response reporting (MC-28), and the ability for users to override demand response (MC-29).
Why does demand response carry such weight?
Demand response means a building adjusts its energy use in response to electricity grid signals, for example during peaks in demand or supply. This domain contains multiple services that assess this, placing emphasis on flexibility towards the grid.
The highest level, a single platform for automated control and coordination (MC-30), combines occupancy, weather forecasting, and grid signals into unified control. This level is rarely fully achieved in practice.
What does this mean for the score?
Each service contributes to the seven impact criteria of the SRI, such as energy efficiency and user convenience. A building without a central building management system typically scores in the lowest classes on this domain.
Weight per building type
- Officeheavy
- Schoolmedium
- Care buildingheavy
- Hospitalheavy
- Hotelheavy
- Retail and supermarketmedium
- Logistics and distribution centremedium
- Industry and manufacturingheavy
- Apartment buildingmedium
- Municipal and public buildingsheavy
- Sports facilitymedium
- Data centreheavy
Next step
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