SRI class
Class 35–50 %: basics in place
In short
- 1This class ranges from 35 to 50 percent and is called class E in most tools.
- 2Buildings in this class have central controls and time schedules, but rarely respond to occupancy.
- 3Many existing commercial buildings across Europe fall into this class or nearby.
Position in the class table
| Band | Name | Meaning | Letter in tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90–100 % | Fully smart-ready | Almost all installations are smartly controlled, integrated and ready to move with the grid. | A |
| 80–90 % | Very smart | A building with a mature building management system, demand-driven installations and first forms of energy flexibility. | B |
| 65–80 % | Smart | The main installations are controlled per zone and on occupancy. | C |
| 50–65 % | On the way | There is a building management system and some installations are smartly controlled, but not consistently and not integrated. | D |
| 35–50 % | Basics in place | Central controls and time schedules, little occupancy control, limited reporting. | E |
| 20–35 % | Limited | Manual operation dominates. | F |
| 0–20 % | Not smart-ready | Almost everything is operated by hand. | G |
What does a score between 35 and 50 percent mean?
A score in this band means a building has a basic level of building automation. The Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) measures how well technical systems in a building communicate with each other and adapt to use and conditions. On this page, this class is informally called "Basic present," which is not an official term.
In most tools, this band appears as class E. The building has some control, but lacks the sophistication that defines higher classes.
Which functionalities are present and which are absent?
Central controls operate major systems such as heating, cooling, and lighting. Time schedules are also in place, so systems turn on or off at fixed times.
What is missing is occupancy-based control. This function adjusts systems to actual space use, for example through sensors that detect whether a room is occupied. Reporting on energy consumption and performance is limited at this class level.
The building management system (BMS) works, but provides little detailed information to users or managers.
Why do many buildings fall into this class?
Many existing commercial buildings across Europe were originally built with only central control technology. Later modifications often added time schedules but no smart occupancy-based or behavior-responsive control.
This class therefore reflects an intermediate step: the foundation is present, but systems are not sophisticated enough to respond automatically to changing use patterns. For buildings above 290 kilowatts of installed capacity, building automation has been required since late 2024 under article 13 of the EPBD. This does not automatically mean a high SRI score, but it does mean a basic level of control.
One class higher
50–65 % · On the way: There is a building management system and some installations are smartly controlled, but not consistently and not integrated.
What this means for you
- Owner
- As a building owner in this class, it is worthwhile to investigate which smart-ready services are missing, especially in occupancy-based control and reporting. A targeted expansion of the building management system (BMS) can raise the score significantly without replacing the entire installation.
- Tenant
- As a tenant or user in a building with this score, you will notice that heating and lighting work on fixed schedules, but do not always match how the space is actually used. Comfort and energy efficiency can therefore vary depending on the time of day.
- Advisor
- When assessing a building in this class, it is important to examine which of the three core functionalities are already present and which impact criteria score lowest. Often a limited investment in occupancy-based control or reporting functions offers clear progress toward the next class.
Next step
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