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| KNX | |
|---|---|
| Name | KNX |
| Caption | KNX twisted pair bus cable and devices |
| Developer | KNX Association |
| Type | Building automation standard |
KNX
KNX is an international open standard for building automation that defines communication protocols for smart homes, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities. It provides a unified framework for interoperable devices from multiple manufacturers, enabling control of lighting, HVAC, shading, security, energy management, and audio‑visual systems. Widely adopted in Europe and increasingly worldwide, KNX interfaces with other standards and platforms to support integrated building management.
KNX was developed to unify competing building control approaches and to allow devices from vendors such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB Ltd., Hager Group, Legrand (company), Jung (company), Bosch, Honeywell, GE (General Electric), and Siemens AG to interoperate on a common bus. The standard is maintained by the KNX Association, which coordinates technical specifications, certification, and market development alongside national organizations such as ZVEI and international bodies like CENELEC, ISO, and IEC. KNX deployments range from single‑family homes to large projects by firms such as VolkerWessels, Skanska, Hochtief, and VINCI.
KNX traces its lineage to early European initiatives including EIB (European Installation Bus), EHS (European Home Systems)],] and BACnet developments, later unified under the KNX Association through collaborations with companies like Siemens, Schneider Electric, Thorn EMI, Thalès and ABB. The standard achieved formal recognition when it was adopted as European Norms by CENELEC and later referenced by ISO/IEC committees, aligning with standards such as EN 50090 and ISO/IEC 14543. Major standard milestones involved ratification processes, interoperability test events, and certification schemes that brought manufacturers including Osram, Philips (company), Panasonic, Miele, and Toshiba into the ecosystem. KNX’s evolution reflects coordination among trade organizations like ZVEI and regulatory influences from entities such as European Commission initiatives on energy efficiency and building performance.
KNX implements a layered communication model comparable to reference frameworks used by IEC 61158 and ISO/OSI thinking, supporting multiple physical media: twisted pair, powerline, radio frequency, and IP/Ethernet. Protocol implementations integrate telegram formats, group objects, and application layer services that enable products from Siemens AG, ABB Ltd., Schneider Electric, Legrand (company), and Honeywell to exchange commands and telemetry. KNXnet/IP integrates with network equipment from vendors such as Cisco Systems, Huawei, Juniper Networks, and Aruba Networks to route KNX messages over Ethernet and Wi‑Fi. Security extensions have been specified to align with cryptographic practices discussed by NIST, ENISA, and standards bodies like ISO. In addition, gateways and bridges enable interworking with protocols such as BACnet, Modbus, DALI (protocol), LonWorks, Zigbee, and Z-Wave devices produced by Eaton Corporation and Leviton.
A KNX installation typically comprises sensors, actuators, power supplies, couplers, routers, and control panels supplied by manufacturers such as ABB Ltd., Schneider Electric, Siemens AG, Legrand (company), Merten, Gira (company), Hager Group, Berker, and JUNG. Devices include pushbuttons, presence detectors, temperature sensors from firms like Siemens Building Technologies, shading motors by Somfy, dimmers by Lutron, HVAC controllers by Honeywell International Inc., and metering equipment from Schneider Electric and Siemens. Software tools for design, commissioning, and monitoring are produced by vendors including KNX Association members and system integrators such as Schneider Electric and Siemens.
KNX installations use flexible topologies—line, tree, and star—employing medium couplers, line couplers, and backbone links from suppliers such as WAGO, Weidmüller, and Phoenix Contact. The twisted pair bus uses dedicated cable similar to industrial fieldbuses produced by Belden and Lapp Group, while KNX over IP leverages switches and routers from Cisco Systems and Netgear. Commissioning uses the ETS (Engineering Tool Software) application developed under the auspices of the KNX Association and supported by companies like Schneider Electric and Siemens. Large projects by firms such as Skanska and VINCI adopt hierarchical topologies with gateways to integrate elevator systems from Otis (elevator company), fire panels by Siemens AG, and access control from ASSA ABLOY.
KNX is used in residential automation by installers such as Vaillant Group and system integrators collaborating with homebuilders like Bouygues Construction and Balfour Beatty, in commercial buildings for lighting and HVAC control in projects by Siemens Real Estate and Hochtief, and in industrial facilities for energy management with partners like Schneider Electric and ABB Ltd.. Typical use cases include smart lighting scenarios for retailers like IKEA, climate control in hotels operated by Accor, Marriott International, and Hilton Worldwide, integrated shading at corporate campuses of Google LLC and Microsoft Corporation, and energy optimization in data centers run by Equinix and Digital Realty.
Products bearing KNX certification must pass conformance and interoperability tests administered by the KNX Association and associated test houses, with many manufacturers including ABB, Siemens AG, Schneider Electric, Legrand (company), and Jung (company) obtaining certification. Compliance aligns with European standards such as EN 50090 and international references from ISO/IEC committees; projects often address regional building codes enforced by authorities like Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung and national certification schemes such as Passivhaus Institut projects for energy performance. Certification for installers and integrators is supported by training centers and trade associations including ZVEI and regional bodies collaborating with universities and vocational schools.
Category:Building automation