Application of Building Management System (BMS) in Commercial Property Management in Kenya

Abstract

Building Management System (BMS) is a relatively new technology in property management. The technology enables property managers to monitor a property’s external and internal environment through a computer screen at the property manager’s office reducing the need for human to building interaction in monitoring its function. BMS technology has the advantage of lowering building operation costs, reducing energy consumption and personnel required for maintenance of buildings, as well as enhancing the comfort of building occupants. However, despite the benefits of BMS technology in commercial property management, there is low adoption in commercial buildings in Kenya and other developing countries. Employing a questionnaire survey and interviews to property managers of five purposively selected property management companies in Nairobi City in Kenya, this study examined the level of awareness and adoption of the technology; it identified specific BMS concepts and technologies adopted in commercial buildings, and challenges faced by developers and building owners in adopting BMS technologies. According to the study results, there is low awareness and adoption of BMS concepts and technologies in Kenya. Only 28 percent of the respondents are aware of a centralized BMS while the level of awareness of BMS concepts was 64 percent. None of the sampled commercial properties had fully implemented BMS technology. Heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) had the least level of adoption while fire and alarm system had the highest adoption. Lack of low cost BMS technologies and cost of implementation including purchase and installation are the major challenges hindering the widespread adoption of BMS technologies. The study concludes that the level of awareness and adoption of BMS concepts and technologies is low and there is a need to come up with guidelines for implementation of BMS. There is a need for strategies to encourage adoption of BMS including public awareness on the benefits of BMS, tax waivers and incentives for those who have embraced the technology. The findings highlight the importance of BMS technologies in modern commercial property management practice.