IPBuilding introduces its Smart Living portfolio

IPBuilding is specialised in the development of applications for Smart Homes & Apartments, Smart workspaces en Smart Care. IPBuilding has over 10 years experience in the research, development and production of the hardware and associated software (based on the IP-protocol) for fitting homes and buildings with intelligent systems.

In the meantime, this experience resulted in over 1500 delivered smart home-, smart living- and smart care projects. Through this IPBuilding proves it is a reliable partner to assist project developers, contractors and installers with equipping smart building.

IPBuilding collected a number of references from the domain of smart living (future-proof apartments) in a comprehensive document. The end result is an attractive overview of about 1000 smart apartments equipped with the IPBuilding technology.

Are you also interested in our projects? Feel free to make an appointment with one of our smart building specialists through sales@ipbuilding.com or through +32 (09) 279 89 69.

FOCUS ARCHI, the reference magazine for architects, focuses on Smart Living

FocusArchi is the reference magazine for architects. Editor Pascal Dewulf spoke with Kris Pensaert (Managing Partner IPBuilding) about future-proof building and the super fast evolution of smart living.

You cannot miss it: houses, apartments, company buildings, … only get smarter and more interactive thanks to open source (home automation)systems compatible with a variety of techniques and applliances. The future is smart living: smart houses in combination with the Internet Of Things and home automation systems with open, IPbased communication standards.

Super fast evolution
We are experiencing a superfast evolution in open home automation systems, that much is clear. Kris Pensaert, Managing Partner of IPBuilding, foresees a golden future for this kind of open systems. Kris Pensaert: «Let’s consider a simple example such as a light bulb. Two decades ago a light bulb of 100Watt was commonplace. Then followed the halogen lighting and 50Watt became customary. Next came the energy saving lamp of 25Watt, superseded by LED lighting of 10Watt. Now we have powerLEDs of 1Watt. To use this 1Watt powerLED, you do not need copper cabling as is still the standard for electrical installations in about 80% of new constructions. A 230Volt connection which is still the standard today, will be less essential in future as we are increasingly evolving towards low voltage of 12 and 24Volt. Just check which appliances are low voltage and connected to a power outlet via an adapter: tablet, smart phone, laptop, digital recorder, lighting, … »

«In the future an electrician will have to work closely together with a computer specialist to install the cabling of a house.» Kris Pensaert, Managing Partner lPBuilding

Light versie

A light version of the contemporary, heavy cabled electrical cabinets is therefore an obvious option. Kris Pensaert: «Philips launched a series of lighting elements that can be cabled through UTP. This UTP lighting does not rely on a traditional electricity network, but works via Power-over-Ethernet (PoE). This is the same cable that controls the computer data of for example a smart lamp, and on top of that also controls the power.
It is evident that smart elements are no longer controlled via a light button, but via an app on a tablet, smart phone or laptop. We can therefore observe a systematic move from electrical installations to ICT installations. This brings us to the home automation system with an open platform. Why wouldn’t your home automation system not communicate directly with all automated “connected” appliances or techniques in your house? The architects have an important informative role towards the construction managers to inform them of this kind of open home automation systems for which the total cost of ownership will be considerably lower than closed one-brand home automation systems.»

AVS broadcasts project Wings (Fenixco)

Projectontwikkelaar Fenixco developed 2 buildings with environmental respect, that were constructed according to the existing building of the Poolse-Wing avenue in Sint-Denijs-Westrem. The building on the left has 16 apartments and 2 penthouses. The other consists of 8 apartments and 1 penthouse.

Together with Fenixco, IPBuilding made a smart living model apartment at the ground floor. Techniques and functionalities are fully linked in this apartment. Atmospheres, scenarios, screens, lighting, heating and multi-room audio are seamlessly integrated via 1 touch screen. It is also very easy to manage these functions via a tablet and/or smartphone.

Additionally IPBuilding also conceivd an apartment that can comply with the future occupant’s needs and desires on a technological level. This smart living apartment evolves into a real smart assisted living environment with the innovative ICECALL-system.

On 28th August, the East-Flemish regional TV channel AVS will broadcast a new episode of its series ‘zomergrillen’ (summer quirks). In this part they highlight a visit to the residence Wings and you can get to know Fenixco and IPBuilding.

Would you like a discretionary visit to this model apartment? Just contact us via sales@ipbuilding.com or via 09 279 89 69.

Intrabouw turns its headquarters into a smart nerve centre

SINT-NIKLAAS – Intrabouw wants to profile itself as an innovative project developer that has its finger on the pulse when it comes to improving living and working comfort. The various technologies and separate controllers provided by traditional home automation solutions were too limited for present and future needs. To anticipate these needs, Intrabouw decided to work with IPBuilding which develops integrated IP-solutions. The smart technology was fully integrated in the new building in Sint-Niklaas.

Intrabouw Lifestyle Buildings is a property developer from the Waasland region and is known for its progressive and contemporary projects. Every year, Intrabouw completes 50 to 60 attractive new homes and apartments, focusing on architecture, integration into the environment as well as the comfort and interior decoration of the home. The construction projects follow the Nearly Zero Energy principle which involves Intrabouw using the best materials and technologies. The Intrabouw team recently moved to a new base of operations, along the Parklaan in Sint-Niklaas. The construction project, consisting both of new apartments and offices, was entirely built using Smart building technology, in collaboration with IPBuilding. Managing Director of Intrabouw, Stefaan Maes, was immediately persuaded by the user-friendliness of Smart Building. The information is displayed on the touchscreen, smartphone, tablet, smartphone or computer and is so clear and intuitive that anyone can get the hang of it in no time. However, ease-of-use goes beyond daily use. It is also very easy to customise features in the software. That quickly became apparent when the new building was put into use. After initial adjustments were made, the set-up needed some further tweaking. That went oothly – without the intervention of IPBuilding or an installer – thanks to the freedom provided by the system to program push buttons and sensors, in order to create atmospheres, set user rights, create touch layouts, and more. The features can easily be changed via the software, without the need for rewiring, demolition or construction work. In the future, more and more suppliers of services and products will use devices that are equipped with intelligent technology, making them much easier to operate and manage than ever before, according to specialists. Smart Building technology is already turning out to be the right future-oriented solution for Intrabouw and it will therefore also be used in forthcoming projects such as the Central Park project in Sint-Niklaas.

Translated in English from this Source: Published in Made in East Flanders by Karel Cambien on 2 November 2017

Smart, Smarter, Smartest

In its most recent publication, ZORGMagazine took a look at innovative technology in the healthcare industry. IPBuilding also featured in its publication. Here you can read the complete translated article on Smart Assisted-Living Housing whose technology adapts to its residents’ needs and requirements.

The technology of the new generation of assisted living flats adapts to its users.

Smart, smarter, smartest

IPBuilding’s Smart Building solutions have found their way into the healthcare industry in recent years. Today, Belgian company IPBuilding provides smart assisted living housing and life-long housing and apartments with a hyper intelligent emergency call system, combined with integrated living and residential automation. We talked to Kris Pensaert, CEO of IPBuilding, and visited Yo Buyens and Pieter Goffin, promoters of “De Linden assisted living flats”.

Kris Pensaert: “IPBuilding creates hardware and software solutions for Smart Homes, Smart Buildings and Smart Care projects. We make sure that all the devices, technologies and sensors in a building or a flat communicate with each other so that the resident can use them easily and the administrator can also operate them, both on-site and remotely. This increases comfort and safety levels and we can greatly reduce energy consumption. “

A smart assisted living home is much more than a nice flat with an emergency call system. “An assisted living home that is equipped with IPBuilding’s systems adapts to its residents’ care needs, as it were. By using the Internet Protocol – the global standard for images, speech, data and communication – we are able to add a lot of features along the way when the occupant’s profile changes or a new resident with another care profile enters the apartment, without the need for demolition or construction work,” says Kris Pensaert. “The fast-moving world of the Internet Of Things, for example, already enables us to detect unusual behaviours, night-time wandering, a changed sleep pattern, and more, thus enabling the living assistant, family or doctor to intervene ahead of time.”

Future-Proof

IPBuilding has already completed more than 1,300 projects. We visited ‘Assisted-living flats de Linden’, located in the heart of the Antwerp borough of Kapellen. The people behind this initiative, psychologist Yo Buyens and architect Pieter Goffin, built 17 flats there, whose surface areas range between 67 m² and 111 m². Yo Buyens: “This is our first project in the healthcare industry. Before shaping our concept, we visited many other projects. We always kept in mind the idea: “How do we really want live when we are 70 or 80 years old or even older?” By using IPBuilding’s Smart Building Systems, we are able to take action ourselves remotely”. Safety, freedom, respect, social engagement, accessibility and service are paramount. All facilities for providing suitable care if necessary are present, but they are not visible. In this way, we promote the dignity and privacy of our residents. Adaptable technology

“The building is very bright and we really wanted to create the feeling that this is a normal flat, and not an assisted living flat,” explains Pieter Goffin.

“The flat needs to adapt to its occupant’s care needs. That is why we also started to look for a suitable solution, to make the assisted living flats ready for the future.” The promoters eventually opted for IPBuilding and turned their apartment building into a real Smart building. All controls such as for lighting, heating, screens, and others are operated via a touchscreen. Also, residents can make emergency calls via the same system, together with movable push buttons and a push button/necklace. Home nurse Jan Van Gils who provides care in De Linden, experiences the added value of IPBuilding’s Smart Care solutions. “When a resident of De Linden places a call, I immediately get a message on my phone about who is contacting me and where that person is located inside the flat. I can also communicate with the resident, via a high-quality two-way communication system. At the same time, the TV switches itself off, so I can better understand the person. To ensure the residents’ safety, the hob is also automatically switched off, the temperature of the floor heating is raised and all of the lights in the apartment are switched on.” Controlled remotely

In addition to the benefits for residents and nurses, the Smart Care system also offers numerous benefits for the building manager. Peter Goffin and Yo Buyens can monitor the entire building remotely. This includes building access and access to the individual apartments and common area, camera surveillance, temperature monitoring, and more. Salveto also selected IPBuilding’s Smart Care solutions for the other new projects in the pipeline (incl. in Kalmthout, Mariaburg and Putte-Kapellen).

Smart Home Systems, more than a trend

Trend watchers agree: smart home systems have become an indispensable part of our society in which The Internet of Things is increasingly becoming a reality. The need for intelligently-connected systems continues to increase. Over the last decade, Internet Protocol (IP) has become the global standard for data, image, speech, services and communication between technologies with smart devices in homes and buildings. In addition to the almost organic growth, there is also the ever-stricter legislation on water and energy consumption that requires more rational consumption in order to reduce costs. Another irreversible social change is the ageing population, leading to an acute lack of care facilities. Active senior citizens want to live independently as long as possible in a safe and comfortable environment. However, many people will not be able to physically cope with continuing to live in a house that is not adapted to their age and needs.

Successful solutions

In order to anticipate the future, IPBuilding developed integrated all-in IP solutions for Smart Homes, Smart Buildings and Smart Assisted Living. In practice, this is a single, integrated information network, both wired and wireless, creating an interconnected environment for data, images, speech, automation and communication. All smart technologies and devices are combined into a single, easy-to-use platform. The solutions increase comfort, efficiency and safety, lead to energy savings and optimise communication.

Smart Homes & Buildings in practice

IPBuilding makes sure that all devices are able to communicate within a single, easy-to-use software platform. Unlike traditionally wired push buttons or sensors, these buttons and sensors not only control the predetermined lighting, but, if desired, also the heating, ventilation, sun blinds, multimedia and all kinds of automated features. The features can easily be changed via the software, without the need for rewiring, demolition or construction work.

User-friendly and flexible

The system can be used by way of push buttons, sensors and touch screens. The information is displayed on the touchscreen, smartphone, tablet or computer and is so clear and intuitive that anyone can get the hang of it in no time, even residents who are less well-versed in recent IT trends.

Link with platforms

IPBuilding solutions have been developed in an open source and brand-independent manner, on the IP protocol, which guarantees that they are future-proof. As everything is programmed using the IP protocol, users can choose from a variety of products and brands for switches, screens and modules and they can be sure that their application will still be supported in the future. The systems are also modular and easy to expand on later. Links between the interfaces of various care and service platforms can be created smoothly, which means that the services and cooperation of IPBuilding are very interesting.