Knx

KNX is an open, vendor-neutral standard for home and building automation that enables the integration and control of lighting, blinds, HVAC, security, and energy management within a single network. It is widely used in residential, commercial, and public buildings and supports devices from many manufacturers, promoting interoperability and flexible design.

The KNX concept originated in the consolidation of several earlier European standards, including EIB (European Installation Bus), BatiBus, and EHS (European Home Systems). In 1999 these efforts merged under the KNX Association, which oversees product certification and education. The KNX standard is implemented internationally and is associated with ISO/IEC 14543, with regional EN and national profiles. The KNX Association certifies devices to ensure interoperability among brands.

Technically, KNX networks can run on multiple media: KNX TP (twisted pair) for cable installations, KNX RF (radio frequency) for wireless deployments, and KNX IP for networked communication over Ethernet. Some installations also use KNX Powerline. The system employs a three-level group addressing scheme (main group, middle group, sub group) to organize commands and scenes. Devices fall into categories such as sensors, actuators, and controllers, and are connected via a bus topology that uses lines and areas to form a scalable network. Line couplers and area couplers connect different parts of the installation.

Configuration is performed with the ETS engineering tool, which binds devices, assigns group addresses, and programs logic and scenes. KNX devices from different manufacturers are designed to work together under the certification program, ensuring interoperability.

Security developments include KNX Secure, which provides encrypted communication over KNX IP networks. KNX remains a widely adopted standard in Europe and is expanding to other regions, valued for reliability, scalability, and energy efficiency.