As the demand for smarter, more flexible building systems grows, wireless technology is playing an increasingly critical role in the future of Building Automation Systems (BAS). Historically seen as less reliable than their wired counterparts, wireless solutions have made major advancements in reliability, scalability, and security. One of the companies leading this evolution is LumenRadio, whose wireless BACnet solution is changing the way integrators and building owners approach system design and deployment.
In this interview, I sit down with Maciej Oldziej, the general manager of LumenRadio, to explore the current state of wireless in the BAS space, learn what sets their technology apart, and discuss how their wireless BACnet solution is enabling faster installations, reduced cabling costs, and more flexible building environments.
Wireless adoption in BAS has historically been slow. Why do you think that’s been the case, and what’s changing now?
Reliability. Wireless is a household term, but within the BAS world, it is a term that sparks fear and uncertainty. At LumenRadio, we are educating the BAS community that there is a reliable wireless solution to meet their needs.
In my opinion, there are two primary factors driving wireless adoption for the retrofit market: limited labor force and decarbonization targets. The continued rising cost of building materials is a contributing factor.
For instance, in the education sector, approximately 79% of air handling units (AHUs) sold are for retrofit projects.
What are some of the most common misconceptions about using wireless technology in building automation systems?
It doesn’t work, or that technology hasn’t evolved. The BAS industry is slow to adapt and accept new technologies, especially considering its historical sub-par experiences with wireless.
From your perspective, what are the key advantages of wireless over traditional wired BAS installations?
Reduce Install Burden: costs and time of installation. Minimized tenant and space disruption. More predictable cost analysis. And easier troubleshooting vs. trying to find where a fault is on the wire trunk.
What types of building environments are the best candidates for wireless BAS deployments?
We are seeing success in Hotels/Resort, Schools, and Medical Office Buildings. Historical buildings like courtrooms, churches, and museums. Warehouse and Manufacturing sites are also a great contender with wide open spaces that want to limit day-to-day disruption.
How has wireless reliability and security evolved over the past five years in the BAS industry?
With the adoption of IoT and remote monitoring, the security and privacy concerns have shifted to the cloud. BACnet Secure has been part of the conversation, but the adoption has been slow. IT departments want to know everything and anything on their local networks.
What should building owners and operators consider when deciding between wired and wireless BAS systems?
Wireless systems are more flexible. If the building owner and operator have leasable spaces that are prone to change, wireless has a distinct advantage vs. wires. If the space is actively used 24/7 or only accessible during specific hours, wireless can help offset the install burden.
How do you address concerns around interference with other wireless devices and networks in commercial buildings?
This a core value at LumenRadio; Wireless Without Worries is our motto. Our 19 patents in Wireless Networking allow us to be interference free and not interfere with other existing and future technologies.
Historically, many technologies are prone to network congestion or interference. For example, a stadium filled with people and smartphones, or an office building with BLE, WiFi, Microwaves, and other technologies contributing to the on-air congestion.
Are there any regulatory or compliance factors to keep in mind when using wireless BAS technology?
In North America, you want FCC-compliant devices. Each device should have an FCC ID in the unlicensed bands like 2.4 ghz. If using LTE/Cellular technologies, additional certifications may be required.
Another thing to look out for is data storage and data visibility implications. When considering IoT, cloud, and wireless systems is paramount to understand how the data is being used and access control to ensure operational integrity within BAS systems.
Can you give us a high-level overview of LumenRadio’s Wireless BACnet solution?
It’s rather simple! We replace cable runs between BACnet MS/TP field devices. Think of it as replacing a wired RS-485 trunk with a “wireless trunk”. The Wireless BACNet Mesh solution is a plug-and-play wireless MS/TP cable.
What sets LumenRadio’s technology apart from other wireless solutions in the BAS space?
Cognitive Coexistence! It’s our core IP innovation that enables interference free transmission without the complexity of network configuration. It enables us to work in any radio and physical environment.
How does LumenRadio’s solution maintain BACnet compliance and interoperability across different vendors?
Wireless BACnet devices cannot be BTL certified because they are not addressable nor visible in the BAS. However, we maintain interoperability across vendors by mimicking the MAC address of the BACnet field device it connects to and transmitting transparent BACnet. The BAS does not know it is wireless. We are a true wireless cable replacement!
Can you walk us through a typical deployment process using your wireless BACnet solution?
Let’s take a rooftop retrofit example where running a cable across the roof or underneath the ceiling is prohibitive. Instead of running a cable between each RTU, we will install an individual W-BACnet device at each RTU controller. Then, a W-BACnet Gateway will automatically discover all the RTUs that will be discoverable in the BAS.
How does LumenRadio’s mesh network technology work, and what benefits does it offer for BAS installations?
Wireless BACnet is a self-configuring and self-healing mesh network. Each W-BACnet node is a repeater that can directly connect to the gateway or indirectly propagate its signal. If a node loses a signal, other nodes in the network will automatically find a path to maintain connectivity. The primary benefit of using our technology is the plug-and-play nature accelerating installation by removing control cable runs from the equation. We built the solution with the installer in mind equipping them with Bluetooth app to quickly verify their installation.
What’s the typical range and scalability of a LumenRadio wireless BACnet network?
Range! It’s our #1 question. Range will depend on the environment and antennas used. Inside the building, on average, I see 50-700 feet between devices. Outdoors we can reach up to a mile line-of-sight. Our recommendation is to build wireless MS/TP networks in line with wired networks: 25-40 devices per Wireless BACnet network. And yes, you can have multiple W-BACnet networks within the same space.
How do you ensure security — both at the device and network level — with your wireless BACnet system?
Our networks are stand-alone, not Wifi, with dynamic encryption methods. Thanks to our IP, we can mitigate network jamming attacks and safeguard against replay attacks. Only devices that are commissioned on-site can join W-BACnet networks.
Can LumenRadio’s solution coexist with legacy wired BACnet systems? How does that integration work in practice?
Yes! A great example is failing Lon VAV devices. It’s common to upgrade 2-3 end-of-life Lon VAVs to BACnet VAVs without affecting existing infrastructure. As Lon VAVs continue to fail, we can add them to the existing Wireless BACnet network without affecting Lon infrastructure.
Do you have examples or case studies where your wireless BACnet solution delivered significant cost or time savings compared to traditional wired approaches?
We do! A great example is a Resort FCU retrofit where the installers saved 90% on install cost vs. running wire, and with limited impact on the business – I don’t think resort guest would enjoy the sound of drilling holes and someone being in their room!
A big thank you to Maciej for sharing his insights on the evolution of wireless in the BAS space and the innovative work LumenRadio is doing with their Wireless BACnet solution. As buildings continue to grow smarter and more connected, it’s clear that wireless will play a key role in driving both flexibility and efficiency in system design. We look forward to seeing how LumenRadio continues to shape the future of wireless BAS technology.
