A dining, retail and co-working site uses a KNX IoT system, that took just 90 minutes to install, to monitor and control key environmental factors.
By Bruno Johnson and Andrew Lambert
IT services company, Electronic Media Services (EMS), provides operational technology (OT) services at a 1,657m2 dining, retail, and co-working site in Bordon, Hampshire, UK, through the implementation of KNX IoT.
Cascoda designed and deployed a system that integrates wireless KNX IoT sensors and routers to monitor key environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, CO₂, volatile organic compounds etc. EMS complemented this by deploying an MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) server, user-friendly dashboards, and a remote monitoring solution, enabling real-time monitoring, access and control without the need for on-site intervention.
This innovative approach supports efficient building management and optimisation. The KNX IoT system allows for flexible, largely wireless retrofit installation, avoiding costly and disruptive wiring. The combined solution is helping reduce operational costs and carbon emissions, whilst ensuring the site is compliant with future indoor air quality (IAQ) regulations, including the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
Planning and design
The planning and design of the KNX IoT system focused on ensuring reliable, scalable, and non-intrusive connectivity across a busy, multi-use environment. The KNX IoT hub was installed in the building’s management suite, located on the upper floor, allowing centralised coordination of devices whilst minimising disruption to tenants.
Given the site’s numerous tenants and a congested Wi-Fi environment, robust wireless performance was critical. The KNX IoT system uses the Thread protocol – a low-power, secure wireless mesh network designed to coexist with Wi-Fi. To ensure complete coverage across the 1,657m2 space, a Thread mesh extender was deployed, expanding the range of the KNX IoT Thread network and enabling seamless communication between sensors and routers throughout the site.
Cascoda used the KNX installer software tool, ETS 6.3, to configure the KNX IoT devices. Environmental sensor data points – measuring temperature, humidity, CO₂, VOCs, gas, and battery status – were connected via KNX group addresses to the MQTT server.
EMS deployed the MQTT server and developed a dashboard, remote monitoring and reporting solution. This enabled real-time visibility into site conditions and allowed off-site management, reducing the need for manual inspections and improving operational efficiency.
Installation
The KNX IoT system for The Shed was pre-configured and thoroughly tested at Cascoda’s site prior to installation. This included full configuration of the KNX IoT sensors and routers using ETS 6.3, as well as remote testing of the MQTT backhaul by connecting to EMS’s MQTT server over the Internet. As a result, on-site deployment was highly efficient and took two people only 90 minutes to complete. The battery-powered environmental sensors required no drilling or cable routing, thereby significantly reducing installation time and disruption, within the occupied space.
Once on-site, the KNX IoT hub, located in the management suite, was simply patched into the building’s existing Ethernet infrastructure via a dedicated VLAN. This provided secure and reliable connectivity for seamless data transmission. The streamlined process demonstrated the effectiveness of pre-commissioning and wireless technology in delivering rapid, non-invasive OT solutions over IT networks, enabling real-time monitoring and energy optimisation across a complex, multi-use facility.
Experience from the project
The KNX IoT deployment proved highly cost-effective and time-efficient. Unlike traditional wired systems, the wireless installation required no invasive work and was completed in just 90 minutes, all during normal operating hours – avoiding downtime and minimising disruption. This significantly reduced both upfront installation costs and long-term operational expenses.
The remote monitoring solution developed by EMS enables continuous assessment of system performance, including the signal quality of the wireless network as supplied by the KNX IoT Hub. This allows for the monitoring of the long-term system stability of the system without the need for on-site checks.
Future expansion
With the KNX IoT wireless mesh infrastructure now established, additional sensors and actuators can be integrated seamlessly. This flexibility supports future expansion and adaptation of the system as building requirements evolve, making it a scalable and future-proof OT solution.
Conclusion
The KNX IoT installation at The Shed demonstrates a modern, efficient approach to deploying operational technology in complex, occupied buildings. By leveraging IT connectivity and wireless, battery-powered sensors and pre-commissioned infrastructure, the project was delivered rapidly with minimal disruption and significantly lower costs than traditional wired solutions. The system provides real-time environmental monitoring and remote management, enabling energy optimisation, regulatory compliance, and long-term operational efficiency.
The successful deployment also validated the reliability of KNX IoT networking in crowded wireless environments and confirmed the robustness of remote monitoring over MQTT.
Overall, this project serves as a blueprint for new business models for IT services companies, which can now begin to provide reliable, scalable building automation services.
Equipment list
Cascoda KNX IoT Environment Sensor
Cascoda KNX IoT Hub
Cascoda KNX IoT Mesh Extender
EMS Aletheon platform
EMS MQTT Server
EMS TwinScale Dashboard
Bruno Johnson is the CEO of Cascoda Limited, a communications company that manufactures chips, modules and devices to unlock smart building KNX IoT connectivity.
Andrew Lambert is the CEO of Electronic Media Services (EMS) Ltd, a specialist technology company that delivers secure, high-performance connectivity and edge intelligence solutions for complex, mobile, and mission-critical environments.
