Facility team reviewing building automation dashboards

New Build · Sensor Automation

Planning Sensor Automation During Commercial Building Construction

Sensors are cheapest to get right before ceilings close. This guide explains what architects, MEP consultants and builders should fix on drawings at each stage.

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Consultant reviewing a sensor layout drawing with a facility team — Coverage drawings before any proposal.

Glazed atrium where daylight sensors dim perimeter lighting — Daylight harvesting on glazed zones.

Basement parking with bay indicators driven by parking sensors — Parking detection and driveway lighting.

When Should Sensors Be Planned in a New Building?

Sensor automation should be planned at design development, before electrical tender drawings are issued. At that stage lighting zones, sensor positions on the reflected ceiling plan, control wiring or bus (DALI-2, KNX or wireless), HVAC occupancy interfaces, BMS points and network needs can be coordinated with the architect and MEP consultant. Leaving it until after false ceilings are installed means compromises in coverage and extra cost. LiveInSmart works alongside consultants to produce sensor layouts, zoning schedules and a commissioning plan.

A Sensor Alone Is Not Automation

A sensor only detects. The result the building owner pays for comes from the logic, the controlled equipment, the integration and the commissioning behind it. That is why LiveInSmart scopes sensor projects as sensor + controller + automation logic + lighting/HVAC + BMS/IBMS + monitoring + commissioning + AMC.

How a commercial sensor system actually works — five stages
Stage	What happens	What it needs
1. Detection	A sensor registers motion, presence, daylight, vehicles or environment	Correct sensor type, mounting height and coverage overlap
2. Decision	Automation logic decides what the space should do	Time delays, lux setpoints, schedules and override rules
3. Control	Lighting, HVAC, exhaust or parking equipment responds	Relays, dimmable drivers, DALI-2/KNX or HVAC interfaces
4. Monitoring	Status, faults and occupancy reach the facility team	BMS/IBMS integration or a lighting-control dashboard
5. Optimization	Settings are tuned as use of the building changes	Commissioning records and an AMC with periodic re-tuning

What to Decide at Each Construction Stage

A stage-by-stage checklist for the project team.

Sensor decisions by project stage
Stage	Decide	Who is involved
Concept / design development	Automation scope, protocol, lighting zones, BMS strategy	Owner, architect, MEP consultant, integrator
Electrical tender drawings	Sensor positions on RCP, circuit grouping, bus cabling, panel space	MEP consultant, integrator
HVAC design	Occupancy inputs on VRF/FCU, AHU logic, BMS points list	HVAC consultant, BMS vendor
Before false ceiling	Conduits, back boxes, bus cable pulled and tested	Electrical contractor
Fit-out	Device installation, addressing, luminaire driver check	Integrator, electrical contractor
Commissioning	Walk tests, time delays, lux setpoints, BMS verification, handover	Integrator, facility team

Common Mistakes in New Buildings

Problems we see when sensors are an afterthought:

Lighting circuits grouped by convenience rather than by how spaces are used
Non-dimmable drivers bought before the control strategy was decided
Sensors placed next to AC diffusers, causing false triggers
Meeting rooms fitted with PIR sensors that switch off on seated people
No BMS points list agreed, so integration is improvised at handover
No commissioning time in the programme

Working With Consultants

LiveInSmart supports architects, interior designers and MEP consultants with sensor layouts, zoning schedules, protocol recommendations and commissioning plans, without replacing their design responsibility.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which drawings do you need?+

Architectural floor plans, the reflected ceiling plan, lighting layout, electrical single-line diagram and HVAC layout. A BMS points list, if prepared, helps.

Should we choose DALI-2, KNX or wireless?+

It depends on building size, flexibility needs, budget and BMS strategy. DALI-2 suits lighting-focused projects, KNX suits wider building control, and wireless suits phased or flexible fit-outs. We recommend after reviewing the design.

Can sensors be added after construction instead?+

Yes, but coverage, zoning and integration are usually compromised and more expensive. See our retrofit guide for that route.

Do you work with our MEP consultant?+

Yes. We coordinate with the consultant and contractors; design responsibility stays with the appointed consultant.

Discuss Your Sensor Automation Project?

Share your building type, city, approximate area and project stage. Our engineers review coverage, HVAC and BMS integration and confirm project and service availability for your location.

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