Wireless use increasing in building automation market

IMS Research's report on wireless use in the Americas and the EMEA market forecast that wireless sensors used in building automation sensors will increase to 25% by 2015.

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IMS Research’s latest report “The EMEA and Americas Markets for Building Automation Controllers, Software and Sensors – 2011 Edition” has found the air waves in buildings are increasingly being filled with signals from building automation systems.

In 2011, wireless sensors accounted for just over 15% of the 21 million building automation sensors shipped in the EMEA and the Americas markets combined. The number of wireless sensors is forecast to increase to over 25% of total building automation sensors in EMEA and the Americas by 2015.

William Rhodes, Market Analyst at IMS Research comments, “The increasing traction for wireless building automation solutions is likely to be apparent at the upcoming AHR Expo show. Some of the pre-show announcements, including from Ecologix, E+E Elektronik and Can2Go, have already hinted at the many new wireless sensors and wireless products being released in early 2012.”

Wireless solutions offer some of the greatest advantages in retrofit installations. Rather than drilling holes and running cables; electricians, integrators and contractors can install wireless sensors, saving on installation costs and time. In new build installations wireless building automation sensors are also popular in buildings with high ceilings because wireless sensors can be installed quicker than running cables for wired systems.

Rhodes continues, “There are obvious installation cost savings from wireless solutions. However, despite the cost savings in installation, the price of wireless devices is generally more expensive than wired equivalents. In terms of the continued growth of wireless building automation systems, the additional price of the devices could inhibit adoption when users do not take into consideration the installation costs. Consequently, IMS Research predicts that wired sensors will maintain the largest share of the market over the next five years.”

The IMS Research report on the EMEA and Americas markets for building automation controllers, software and sensors presents base year and forecast data for wireless sensors and controllers used in building automation systems. The report segments the building automation sensor market by five major sensor capabilities and 17 sensor types.