As of December 31, 2025, non-residential buildings in Flanders with heating and/or cooling systems exceeding 290 kW must have a compliant Building Automation & Control System, or BACS for short. Does your building meet this threshold and still lack a compliant system? Then it is crucial to take swift action. Falling behind means risking complications in a regulatory landscape that is only getting stricter.
What Exactly Does the Law Say?
The BACS legislation, anchored in the Flemish Energy Decree, requires building managers of non-residential properties to install an automated system that:
- Continuously monitors, analyzes, and adjusts energy consumption
- Detects efficiency losses in technical building systems
- Communicates with all technical installations in the building, regardless of brand or technology
- Safeguards indoor environmental quality
The 290 kW capacity threshold applies separately to heating and cooling. Only hydraulically or technically linked cooling and heating installations are added together. For example, a standalone electric heater in a single office does not count toward your total capacity.
2029: The Next Step
The mandate does not end in 2025. By December 31, 2029, at the latest, the threshold drops to
70 kW. This means that smaller offices, retail spaces, schools, and healthcare facilities will also fall under the regulation. As a result, the number of affected buildings will increase dramatically. Investing in a scalable system today ensures you will not have to start from scratch tomorrow.
Qbus: 25 Years of Smart Building Technology, Fully BACS-Ready
For over 25 years, Qbus has developed and assembled building automation systems in Belgium. Today, our systems actively operate in over 35,000 buildings, ranging from small homes to large commercial complexes. This extensive experience makes us the ideal partner for any BACS integration project.
Modbus Integration and Pump Group Control
Reliable communication between systems forms the core of BACS compliance. Through the Qbus SER485/Modbus module, we seamlessly connect with HVAC controllers, heat pumps, energy meters, and air handling units. This creates transparent data exchange between installations from various manufacturers—exactly what the legislation demands.
The Qbus pump group module ensures precise control over heating and ventilation systems. It features built-in fault detection and optimal regulation of supply and return flows. The system quickly identifies and corrects any efficiency losses.
A Comprehensive Sensor Range for Accurate Data
A BACS is only as reliable as the data it processes. Qbus provides sensors to track temperature, humidity, CO₂, air quality, light levels, presence, and energy consumption. This data lays the foundation for:
- Energy optimization based on real-time consumption
- Comfort management tailored to occupancy levels
- Continuous monitoring of the indoor environment
Visualization for Users and Managers
Qbus visualizations make building operations easy to understand for everyone. End-users can see how their environment performs at a glance. Meanwhile, facility managers gain access to a powerful dashboard to track performance, detect error messages, and analyze energy use—even across multiple sites simultaneously.
Energy Management with Luqas
Qbus energy modules go far beyond basic monitoring. They optimize energy consumption in real time, maximize self-consumption, and anticipate peak power usage. For instance, the Luqas energy management module dynamically controls charging stations, heat pumps, and boilers based on available energy, solar power generation, and dynamic pricing. Similarly, the Luqas Charging Hub safely and optimally manages charging plazas while maximizing the use of available solar energy. This provides you with a fully integrated energy management platform.
Smart Buildings Start with the Right Choice
BACS compliance is not just a regulatory box to check. It presents a valuable opportunity to make your building more sustainable, efficient, and comfortable using proactive technology. Qbus delivers all the necessary building blocks to make this happen: from integration and sensors to control systems and visualization.
Do not wait until the deadline arrives.
Samuel is happy to help.
Technical questions? Need advice? Want to make an appointment? Samuel is happy to assist you.