FAQ
Answers to the questions we are asked most often.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get started?
First optimisation actions start in less than a month. KiTwin learns your building in 2 to 4 weeks, first recommendations arrive within 4 to 8 weeks, then automatic control takes over about two months later.
Will the works cause outages?
The installation is light and non-intrusive: sensors are preferably wireless (LoRa) and Kipsum connects to existing equipment. Work on controllers is scheduled with your operator to avoid disturbing occupants.
Is KiSmart compatible with my existing BMS?
Yes. The KiSmart gateway connects to your BMS without replacing it and talks to its controllers using standard field protocols: BACnet, Modbus, M-Bus, MQTTS… KiTwin can therefore connect to any type of BMS.
What if I have no BMS?
Kipsum designs, installs and commissions a complete BACS-compliant BMS, connected to KiSmart and KiTwin from handover. For small sites, a light installation (sensors and a remote controller) is enough.
Does the BACS decree apply to my building?
Yes if it is a non-residential building whose heating or cooling system exceeds 290 kW (required since 1 January 2025) or 70 kW (by 1 January 2030). Take the three-question test on our Resources page and read our BACS compliance page.
How can the project be funded?
A class A or B BMS can be funded by French energy saving certificates (sheet BAT-TH-116). Kipsum prepares the application before signature and deducts the premium from the price. Payback on optimisation is usually under one year. See our CEE funding page.
How are savings measured?
Savings are measured and weather-corrected (degree days), following the international IPMVP protocol. KiBoard shows savings continuously and you receive a monthly performance report.
What savings can I expect?
10 to 30% depending on the site: up to 15% in recommendation mode, up to 30% with automatic control. In our client cases: −14% on an industrial site, −20% on a logistics warehouse, −28% on a school complex.
Is my data secure?
The Kipsum cloud is hosted on Google Cloud Platform (Paris region), ISO 27001 certified. Flows are outbound only, exchanges are encrypted and no inbound port is open on site. See our Data security page.
What happens if the internet goes down?
Your BMS and its local safety functions keep running autonomously. KiTwin resumes sending optimised setpoints as soon as the link is restored.
Can I take back manual control?
Yes, at any time. Local safety functions always take priority, and you define the scope within which KiTwin acts.
Is occupant comfort preserved?
Yes: KiTwin optimises setpoints within the comfort ranges and production constraints you set. It anticipates weather and occupancy rather than reacting after the fact.
Glossary
- BMS (GTB) — Building management system: supervises and controls a building’s technical equipment (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, lighting…).
- HVAC (CVC) — Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning: the main energy uses in a non-residential building.
- BACS — Building Automation and Control Systems; by extension, the French decree that makes them mandatory in non-residential buildings.
- OPERAT — ADEME platform on which buildings subject to the French tertiary decree declare their consumption every year.
- IPMVP — International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol: the reference method for measuring energy savings, accounting for weather and use.
- CEE — French energy saving certificates: a scheme that requires energy suppliers to fund energy saving works.
- Digital twin — A digital model of a building, its equipment and occupants, which predicts its behaviour and computes the optimal settings. Kipsum’s digital twin is called KiTwin.
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