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Excerpt from the article below. For the full article go to http://hiddenwires.co.uk/resourcesarticles2007/articles20070803-02.html
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"KNX, or 'the protocol formally known as EIB (European Installation Bus)', is dominant in Europe and rapidly gaining traction as a building control system in the UK. This article will summarise where KNX has come from, and what it is about. We will discuss how developers' and home buyers' expectations have changed over recent years, and why it is important for smart home systems to be based on open protocols such as KNX.
Indeed, how can it be that KNX is so well-known in Europe and yet has not been adopted here in the UK, and why is now the right time, as in installer or user, to get to know KNX?
What is KNX?
Founded in the late eighties by a number of major European manufacturers such as ABB, Gira, Jung, Merten, and Siemens, the KNX Association (then the EIBA) now guides and defines the strategy of KNX for the future. Historically known as Instabus or EIB, KNX quickly became well-established in Europe. Being totally scalable, it is suited to installations from flats to airports, and at the last count, is estimated to be installed as a base level building control system in more than 40% of all new-build commercial space in Germany.
After Germany, the largest markets are Holland, Spain, Belgium and Scandinavia. UK has lagged behind, but is catching up fast with the largest commercial projects, such as Heathrow Terminal-5, and many residential developments incorporating some or all of the functionality.
With around 140 companies already manufacturing KNX equipment, three of which are based in the UK, the future of KNX as a dominant technology is assured.
In 2003, KNX defined itself as the only international standard platform for building control when it was accepted as a European standard, EN50090, and now as an international standard ISO/IEC14543. These marks of approval provide a solid platform from which the member manufacturers use the protocol to deliver a vast array of totally interoperable products.
Key facts about KNX
1. KNX is a two-wire field-bus system with distributed intelligence, i.e. there is no central processor.
2. Sensors (switches) come in many functional and style variants, and task specific actuators are normally DIN rail mounted centrally.
3. Interfaces exist with most other systems including IP, DALI, DMX, RS232, Crestron, and AMX.
4. KNX is designed, configured, commissioned and maintained using a single software tool called ETS. This manufacturer-independent software is used to bring together products from multiple vendors in a design project using a simple drag-and-drop interface.
5. Qualification to become an accredited 'KNX Partner' can be obtained at one of three UK training schools.
For information about the protocol and installation, see hiddenwires.co.uk/resourcesarticles2006/articles20060103-04.html
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