As technology continues to develop, we’re seeing all aspect of our lives get smarter. From our phones, homes and now commercial buildings. Not only are we creating buildings that improve efficiencies, but also make our lives easier. For example, a building that knows your heating and lighting preferences dependent on the time of day. A smart building will turn them off or on depending on how many people are in the building.
Smart buildings are buildings that are filled with integrated technology systems that help control and automate the IoT (the Internet of Things) applications, procedures and processes, as well as collect data to provide better internal operations. Smart buildings add a level of connectivity with their intelligent networks, powered by advanced software and interfaces to give control over various aspects, such as heating, lighting, room scheduling, energy consumption, air ventilation, as well as fire safety and security.
Smart buildings have revolutionised the capabilities and control a business has over their fire safety and security by integrating these systems into their smart building’s network. From data analysis to automation, integrating fire safety and security into smart buildings can hold incredible benefits to both employees, the building and the overall business. The UK smart building market is projected to reach a revenue of over $31 billion by 2030, reflecting the massive investment being made in these connected environments, according to a recent market analysis.
For facility managers and business owners, understanding and implementing smart systems is becoming vital for competitive edge and regulatory compliance. This is particularly true for businesses operating across multiple sites or within complex environments like property management portfolios or large leisure complexes.
Smart buildings have multiple benefits that positively impact both the business itself and their employees.
The implementation of smart technology means you can receive smart data that will give you a detailed insight into how IoT systems are operating and how efficient your processes are. Want to know who and where people are in your building? Your overall energy consumption, as well as the statistics on security system triggers? A smart building can collate all this data and present it in one unified space. This real-time data analysis is key to managing risk, especially when you consider complex systems like those detailed in our guide on CCTV software and video analytics.
A smart building provides the data for optimal efficiencies, meaning all integrated systems can be controlled to reduce unnecessary energy usage and therefore improve the buildings overall environmental impact. For example, access control and motion sensors can identify if someone is in a room. If they’re not, lights and heating/air conditioning can be automatically turned off. In addition, appliances that are not in use can be programmed to be automatically turned off. With the UK government’s commitment to Net Zero, compliance is becoming mandatory. As of April 2025, all let commercial properties in England and Wales must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), and property owners should be preparing for the minimum rating to rise to C by 2028, making smart energy management a necessity, not an option, as enforced by the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations.
Smart buildings have the benefit of constant data, meaning live monitoring is possible across all systems. The ability to monitor and identify when there is a system fault is extremely beneficial to a business, as the fault can then be automatically sent to the monitoring provider or building management team. This not only makes the building a safer place for employees but also eliminates reliance on someone to spot and report the fault. This capability is known as predictive maintenance and can cut maintenance costs by up to 30%, reduce downtime by up to 45%, and extend equipment life by up to 20%, ensuring your fire and security infrastructure remains operational, as we explore further in our article on what is predictive maintenance in fire safety systems.
A key benefit to smart buildings that is often overlooked, is the ability to learn how the space is being used. The use of motion sensors, access control and CCTV are a great way to determine which areas could oppose potential risk in the event of a fire evacuation, a security breach or even which meeting rooms and desks are available for use. This detailed occupancy data is particularly valuable for complex sites like those in the education or utilities sectors, enabling site managers to optimise the layout and enhance safety protocols, leading to more effective emergency planning.
The most well-known benefit associated with smart buildings is their ability to improve efficiencies, not only in the individual systems implemented but also with employees. Employees will be able to perform more productively due to the controlled environmental impacts, such as the level of air ventilation, as well as the automation of certain tasks. This improved environment can contribute to better staff well-being and a more focused workforce, a critical component of building a security-first culture.
Smart buildings also have the benefit of providing financial gains, in terms of reducing overall costs. This is mainly due to the improved overall efficiencies made through data analysis and automation, helping to eliminate inefficient energy use, improving employee productivity as well as utilising building space. This proactive cost management through smart systems is highly beneficial for commercial properties, protecting their investment and reducing the risk of being unlettable due to poor EPC ratings, as highlighted by property experts from JLL.
Improved fire safety can be easily integrated into a smart building, with the use of wireless, cloud-based and app-based systems. From temperature sensors determining if a piece of equipment is overheating to smoke alarms automatically actioning an emergency response, it’s possible to significantly improve fire safety when integrated into a smart building.
At BusinessWatch, we can implement fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers and fire suppression systems into a smart building, that can be controlled via the central control point and work alongside any current system implementations, such as CCTV, motion sensors and heating. Not only will a smart building identify a fire, but it will also be able to automatically carry out the actions to prevent one from occurring in the first place. For instance, integrated systems can automatically shut down air ventilation systems to prevent the spread of smoke, or trigger a gas suppression system in a data centre, showcasing the ultimate level of automated protection.
This level of responsiveness is why the integration of IoT into fire safety systems is now considered a significant leap forward in providing advanced protection, offering faster responses and reducing false alarms, as discussed in the industry.
Much like fire safety, security can also be easily integrated into a smart building and is integral to keeping a building and the people inside safe. For instance, motions sensors and intruder alarm systems can be used in combination to determine an intruder within a certain area of the building. Access control can then be used to stop the intruder from continuing to move around the building until the authorities arrive. This interconnected response is far more effective than siloed systems, which is crucial for modern facilities managing complex security concerns, such as those covered in our analysis of top security concerns in hybrid workspaces.
Integrating security goes beyond mere detection. A smart building’s network allows your CCTV systems to use advanced machine learning algorithms to distinguish between normal activity and a genuine threat, significantly reducing human error. This data can also inform business operations, such as monitoring foot traffic to understand peak and off-peak times, or tracking employee attendance using facial recognition via the access control system, which is explored further in our guide on the four types of access control.
A BusinessWatch security system can easily be integrated into a smart building. We create bespoke designs to suit your business needs and provide cloud-based and wireless solutions for CCTV, intruder alarms, access control, thermal imaging, security lighting and motion sensors. We help businesses achieve compliance and high-grade protection, aligning with the standards detailed in our article on security system certification and what insurers look for.
For more information on how we can help your business integrate fire safety and security into your smart building, call us on 0330 094 7404 or contact us online.
