1. Fault Tolerance: Building automation systems must have a high level of fault tolerance. This includes ensuring that there are no single points of failure in the system and that the entire system can continue to operate in the event of a failure in one or more of its components.
2. Redundant Components: To ensure fault tolerance, building automation systems must have redundant components such as servers, controllers, and sensors. These components should be designed with failover capabilities so that if one component fails, another can take over.
3. Data Backup and Recovery: Building automation systems must have a robust data backup and recovery plan in place to protect against data loss. The system must be capable of storing data in multiple locations, and it should be easy to retrieve data in case of a failure.
4. Monitoring and Maintenance: Building automation systems must be continuously monitored and maintained to ensure that they are operating at peak performance. The system must be designed to detect and report any malfunctions or failures and automatically initiate corrective actions.
5. On-site and off-site Restoration: Restoration needs to be possible not only on the site where the building automation system is deployed, but also off-site, especially in cases where catastrophe has struck such as floods and earthquakes. Duplicate systems that can be activated in remote locations when the primary system is down should be implemented in order to deter total system failover.
6. Security: Redundancy strategy can also include security measures that protect automation systems from cyberattacks, physical theft or damages. The measures must comprise the deployment of firewalls, an intrusion detection system (IDS), and security monitoring tools.
7. Maintenance Contracts: To further ensure the functionality of the building automation system and equipment, a service-level agreement (SLA) is used. This contract provides regular maintenance of the equipment, and have technicians readily available in the event of faults or failures of the system. It includes periodic checks, updates, and upgrades to maintain optimal health and performance of the BMS.
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