Exploring KNX

Choosing from this pool of interoperable technology, integrators and contractors can build entire control solutions by bringing together a variety of off-the-shelf components which are truly interoperable.  These products have all been thoroughly tested and certified to be KNX compliant and all operate seamlessly together, programmed by the integrator using one common software tool.  And because they all ‘speak the same language’, they can operate together across the same network, resulting in much less cabling and higher functionality.

KNX – applying the KNX Standard

KNX Association is the creator and owner of the KNX technology – the world’s only open STANDARD for all applications in home and building control, ranging from lighting and blind control to systems for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, monitoring, alarming, water control, energy management, metering as well as household appliances, audio – AV and lots more. The technology can be used in new as well as in existing home and buildings.

For members of the KNX Association the system is royalty-free, moreover can be implemented on any processor platform. All products bearing the KNX logo are certified in order to guarantee system compatibility, interworking and interoperability.

KNX is the only global standard for home and building control with

• A single, manufacturer independent design and commissioning tool (ETS).
• A complete set of supported communication media (TP, PL, RF and IP).
• A complete set of supported configuration modes (system, easy and automatic mode).
• See more advantages.

KNX is approved as

• International Standard (ISO/IEC14543-3) 
• European Standard (CENELEC EN50090 and CEN EN 13321-1 and 13321-2) 
• Chinese Standard (GB/T 20965) 
• ANSI/ASHRAE Standard (ANSI/ASHRAE 135) 
• Standards Australia SA/SNZ ISO/IEC TS 14543.3.1-6:2018 Technical Specification 

This standard is based upon more than 20 years of experience in the market including its predecessors, EIB, EHS and BatiBUS. Over 265 member companies worldwide from different application domains have almost 7000 KNX certified product groups in their catalogues. The KNX Association has 420 KNX Manufacturer members, over 77,000 KNX Partners and 446 KNX Training Centres in 68 Countries.

As mentioned in the above introduction interworking is a major asset of the KNX technology.

An interworking model and extensive functional block descriptions for many application domains are an integral part of the KNX specifications (Volume 3 Part 7 and Volume 7). This is backed up by a certification process, in which next to the conformity to the defined system profiles, compliance to at least the standardised data types or additionally the defined functional blocks is one of the cornerstones (as symbolised by the KNX Trademark).

Interworking is defined in the KNX Interworking model as : ‘the situation where products sending and receiving messages can properly understand signals and react on them without additional equipment’.

In order to profit to the full extent of the use of a Home and Building Control system, it is indispensable that products of different manufacturers (“multi-vendor interworking”) and products of different application fields (“cross-discipline interworking”) interwork.

The advantages of such interworking are :

• it enhances the OEM market amongst KNX solution providers;
• it gives easy market access for niche products
  (commonly made by smaller companies)
• it allows to set up a common market infrastructure for KNX compatible products (e.g. training measures)

The agreement on common standardised data types and functional block specifications is reached in Application Specification groups of KNX members active in a certain application field (e.g. HVAC), after which the consistency of these proposals with the general interworking model is checked by the KNX Task Force Interworking.