Author: Michael Bendtsen

KNX Group Address Guidelines

To be an efficient KNX programmer and to make your KNX projects run smoothly from start-to-finish, you need to think about how you are going to configure and document your KNX Group Address (GA) structures during the design and planning stages of your projects.

In this guide we will outline the different types of KNX group address structures and the best practices to be used when designing, planning and configuring KNX system installations.

Why KNX Group Address Best Practices Are Important

Some of the most common problems associated with KNX installations and ETS programming arise from the following issues related to KNX group addresses:

• No clear overview or knowing where to find details in your KNX project.
• ETS programming is difficult and tidies when there is no clear KNX group address structure.
• KNX group addresses being poorly structured makes debugging difficult. 
• KNX group addresses being poorly documented makes visualization difficult.
• No descriptions or details given for KNX group addresses or group objects.
• No flexibility in the design and configuration process which allows the installer/integrator to easily adjust GA’s (without making a ‘mess’ of everything else).

To avoid complications and to ensure trouble-free programming in ETS, KNX group addresses need to be structured correctly, well-documented and easy to read or understand (even for others).

Different types of Group Address Structures

Sometimes you may need to have different types of GA structures in your arsenal, to fit and suit the different types of KNX projects you work on.

There is no ‘magic’ Group Address structure that is superior or works better than all others. The best GA structure is simply the one you know best and feel comfortable with using.

However, there are still pros and cons for each of the different structures which we will outline below.

Function Based, Building Based and Device Based KNX Group Address Structures

We can roughly segment the different GA structures into 3 main groups  — function based, building based and device based.

1. Function based group address structure (promoted by the KNX association).

2. Building based group address structure (mostly used in bigger projects).

3. Device based group address structure (more unknown but it is still worth to mention).

On top of that, there are many different variations of these groups.

In fact, a device based style can be seen as a variation of the function based GA structure.

To simplify these Group Address principles, it is best to see them as only 2 different parts:

Main and Middle Structure — which sets the frame of how we build everything up.

Group addresses that are the same for all types of structures — which we can call a GA Set).

By separating the GA Set, it becomes more clear on how to build the Main and Middle structure.

Most common GA Sets:

We can also see the differences of the Main, Middle and Sub group in this matrix.

* GA’s spread on different Middle groups
** All GA’s in the same Sub group

So when adding your Group Address Sets to these different structures, you will have something which looks similar to the example shown below.

NOTE: It is important to understand the difference between a group address structure and a group address SET.

If you do this separation, you can start to define the group address set you prefer to use and then start to place it inside your structure of choice.

The Function Based Group Address Structure

In a function based structure you have the Main group as function (e.g. Lighting, Heating, Shutter, Energy, etc).

The Middle group is a set of sub functions that are specific to the main function (basically one sub function per group address).

Meaning if you have 5 GA’s, you also have 5 sub groups in the Middle structure (see example below).

This structure is clear for smaller projects and Group Address Sets like lighting and smaller heating circuits.

It is very understandable and easy to figure out which GA is switching on lights and which is dimming.

The Sub group number is even telling you which channel number you have (if you have one GA Set for each channel).

The main problem with this type of GA structure is when you add more complex GA Sets (where 8 group addresses are not enough), and you need to spread out the GA’s on many Main groups like Heating-1, Heating-2 and Audio-1, Audio-2 etc.

At this point you have lost the overview of the GA Set.

It is also difficult to keep the sub group number the same, for example with lighting where you mix switching and dimming channels as you can see on dimming channel D1-1 in the image above.

Also, adding/renaming a GA Set is tedious and time consuming when you have to switch between middle groups.

The same thing goes when linking GA’s in ETS.

First you have to select a middle structure and search for a sub group number, then switch to another middle group and search for the sub group number again!

This makes the entire process much slower, especially when you start to do visualization and need to search for many different group addresses.

Below is another image of the GA Sets Dimming in a Function based structure.

In this example, you can see the Main Structure with the functions and the Middle group with the sub functions.

You can also see how the GA’s will look on the push-button side, as well on the actuator side.

Take notice how the arrows cross each other on both sides in the example shown above.

This visualizes the complexity of the linking of GA’s which you will have to do when combining group objects.

When debugging this, you will have to check both sides of the structure, on the push-button side and on the actuator side, because the linking can be wrong on both sides (compared to the device based structure outlined later in this guide).

The Building Based Group Address Structure

The building based structure is mostly commonly used for bigger KNX projects, where you have more channels and where it is necessary to structure the functions according to the building, to split up the lighting on many Main levels.

One of the main differences here is that you will have the whole GA Set in the same Middle group (as seen in the example below).

With this structure you can quickly figure out that the space is limited.

For example, with Dimming that has 5 GA’s you can have maximum 51 channels per Middle group, which sometimes forces you to also divide the middle group into e.g. Lighting1 and Lighting2, or you have to divide the Floor into sections so you have Floor1-east and Floor1-west.

Having the GA Set in one Middle group makes it harder to figure out which physical channel a specific Group Address is linked to (making KNX documentation even more important).

However, renaming group addresses and linking objects in ETS is much faster since you do not have to scroll back and forth in the main/middle structure.

Below is an image visualizing the picking of GA’s when combining the group objects.

There are less crossing of arrows, meaning when you pick group objects it is more “take one object and drag it” then take next and drag it and so on.

Once a channel is done, you scroll down and then you do the same for the next channel.

With less scrolling between middle groups, it is much faster to build the group addresses.

The Device Based Group Address Structure

The device based structure is kind of a mix between the function based and building based structures outlined above.

Instead of having functions for the Main group, you have device type like On/Off, Dimming, Heating etc.

And for the Middle group you have the building structure instead of sub functions.

You can also think of it like this – everything evolves from a physical actuator – so for each physical actuator channel you create one GA Set.

The Main group is named after the actuator type. On/Off, Dimming, Heating etc. Similar to how the function based and the Middle structure is according to the building structure.

And just like in the building based structure, you will have one Group Address Set for each channel in one Middle group, which makes the GA linking much easier.

Since the group address structure is built around a physical device, you can create one GA Set for each channel of the device and do the linking on the actuator side just straight forward.

This makes linking on the actuator side very fast and debugging is much easier.

The only ‘thinking’ you have to do is on the push-button side, where you have to decide which channel this button should control.

Debugging also becomes easier when you know the actuator side doesn’t change and it’s mainly the linking to push-buttons which needs to be checked when making any changes.

A helpful tip is to use a running number for the device channel which makes it easier to copy and reuse the Group address structure.

This also makes it easier to be used as a reference in drawings/documentation.

For example 201 means On/Off channel 1, 202 channel 2 etc.. And 301 DIMMING channel 1, 302 channel 2 etc.

The main difference here is that you do not name the group addresses after a specific function in your project, but rather after a physical channel!

This makes copying of the group address list from project to project faster and easier.

However, if you are not naming the group addresses but just keeping the numbers, then you need a document or some list that links the number 201 with a name “Kitchen, Ceiling lights”.

This is where having proper documentation becomes extremely important.

What is the best Group Address Structure to use for your KNX projects?

As we established at the beginning of this guide, there is no real ‘best structure’ to be used.

The best group address structure to be used is simply the one you feel the most comfortable with using.

And it is most likely that you will want to mix different styles of GA structures into your own process, however there are a few things which you do need to consider first.

• Try to make the structure as self-documented as possible. For example, the sub group number should correspond with the channel number to make debugging easier.
• Name your group addresses with a clear name. Only indexing and coding of the name is practical when you create the GA structure, but it takes you a fraction of a second each time you have to work with the address when you have to remember it (or you need to do a quick cross reference). You also need to think of how hard it is to change the name for a Group Address if the installer has moved channel 5 to channel 9. The more text you have to rewrite, the bigger chance there is to forget the old text you previously used. This will ultimately mess up the readability of your KNX project (the functions from ETS will really help a lot here).
• Think about the time you spend linking GA’s in ETS. If you have to continually search for GA’s all the time when linking GA’s to objects, then you should consider streamlining the structure (use functions in ETS or have the GA set in one middle group). Ideally, you should be able to open a device in Building structure and show all objects for a certain channel. And in a different panel, you open the group address structure and you can link all objects without the need to scroll in the group address panel.

Straight forward linking:

One of the most efficient ways to use  GA’s is to have a mix of both Device and Function based structures — as this makes it easy to create the structure according to the devices you are going to put into the KNX project.

HELPFUL TIPS:

KNX Project Design Guidelines

KNX Function Abbreviations

Some common abbreviations used for the functions in are:

SW – Switching
DIM – Brighter/darker
VAL or VDIM – Value dimming
FB – Feedback
VFB or VALFB – Value feedback
SA – Switching actuator
DA – Dimming actuator
BA – Blind actuator
BI – Binary input
HA – Heating actuator
MAN – Manifold
RAD – Radiator
FCA – Fan coil actuator
KP- Keypad
LK- Light keypad
SP – Sensor plate
RTR – Room temperature rollover (mode change)
PRS – Presence object to activate heating
WDW – Window object to set back heating
SET – Set point
SETFB – Set point feedback
IND – Indication

Functions in ETS

A helpful tip creating and setting up your GA’s is to use functions in ETS.

This is a new IoT feature in ETS, which at the time of writing this guide, is still under development. However it does have huge potential and it will change how you work in ETS as well as how you do visualization.

A function in ETS is basically a way to group GA’s into one function with some additional parameters, such as type of function (e.g. switch/dimming/heating/socket) that has group addresses with information such as Data Point Type and roles.

This tells ETS exactly which GA is used for switching and which is for feedback and enables automatic linking.

This will be an important aspect in the future when creating visualization and for linking group addresses to IoT devices or other protocols.

Before it was hard for a visualization to automatically create such things as buttons for your lights or heating controls for your heating circuits. You had to create the object your selves by selecting the function, place it in a room, linking all GA’s to it etc.

With a function you can define all of this by giving roles to your GA’s.

As an example, the company XXTER have recently implemented this feature so they can very quickly create a full visualization where you get the room structure, the function (such as lights in the room) and also what you can do with it.

Another very important aspect of this is that it also makes programming much faster and easier in ETS with less debugging issues.

In the above image you can see 7 functions in the Kitchen. And if you open the functions you can see the group addresses linked to the function — as well as if the GA is linked to any objects.

Functions gives you a really good overview of what’s going on in a specific room.

Another great benefit with these functions is if you have devices that support channels, then you can simply drag one function on to one channel and the linking will be done automatically.

This helps to speed up the entire ETS programming process even more.

KNX Group Address Structures Using The KNX Design and Planning Tool by BEMI

The KNX Design and Planning Tool by BEMI provides KNX professionals with a much faster, easier and more reliable system to create, configure and manage KNX Group Address structures.

The KNX Tool by BEMI allows you to get your GA naming right and create functions automatically — then import the project details directly into ETS.

With the KNX Design and Planning Tool you can set up your Main and Middle structure effortlessly, and play around with the different profiles to achieve your desired outcome.

In this example below, you will see we have 3 different profiles for this specific project — Building, Function and Device based.

But in your live instance, you are more likely to have two different structures. One for small projects and one for large projects.

Once you start to lay out all functions you have in your projects, then you can quickly see how everything will fit together. And you can also adjust your Main and Middle structure.

Once you have created your Main and Middle structure, you can then start to build your group address set. When you place the sub groups in the Main and Middle structure, you quickly gain a detailed overview of how everything fits together.

After you have created your group addresses, now it’s time to test the structure.

You can do this very easily by simply opening up a project with some devices, then you select a device and fill out the channel information like the function “SHUTTER” for a Shutter channel, as well as other information like room name and channel name.

This will create the group address structure with proper naming of the group addresses as well as functions ready to be imported into ETS.

◉ OTHER KEY FEATURES OF THE KNX DESIGN AND PLANNING TOOL

The KNX Design and Planning Tool by BEMI is an all-in-one solution which allows you to design, plan, manage, budget and document KNX system installations using one single piece of software.

The KNX Design and Planning Tool uses a drag-and-drop interface so you can graphically design and plan KNX projects with speed, accuracy and simplicity.

You can then import all KNX project information such as your devices, building structure, topology, functions and group addresses (complete with all relevant channel text, ID’s, Tags, etc.) directly into ETS.

Information for each of your KNX installations is automatically formatted into professional looking documents while you are using the tool — ready to be saved, shared or printed with the click of a button.

Documentation can then be used for project budgeting, product ordering, billing purposes, installation guides, user manuals, project management, etc.

✅ EASY-TO-USE DRAG AND DROP DRAWING BOARD TO DESIGN A WIDE RANGE OF KNX SYSTEMS

✅ SPECIALIZED KNX GROUP ADDRESS FEATURE READY TO IMPORT DETAILS INTO ETS

✅ HELP END-USERS UNDERSTAND AND VISUALIZE THE POSSIBILITIES OF KNX WITH DETAILED FUNCTION DESCRIPTIONS AND IMAGES

✅ INSTANT REPORTING AND PRINT-OUTS OF ALL NECESSARY KNX DOCUMENTS

✅ COMPANY BRANDED LABELS FOR KNX PUSH-BUTTONS

✅ PLUS A WHOLE LOT MORE!

The best ALL-IN-ONE solution for designing, planning, budgeting and managing the technical requirements and workflows for each stage of a KNX project from start-to-finish.

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To guarantee a trouble-free installation and a successful outcome for any type of a KNX project, you need to have a reliable method to produce important documents related to every aspect of your work.

PROPER KNX DOCUMENTATION allows you to maintain a high level of consistency and success when selling, planning, designing, installing and managing your KNX projects from start-to finish.

POOR KNX DOCUMENTATION can lead to:

• Missed deadlines.

• Increased costs and time to get things done.

• Over budget.

• The end-user confused about the specific features and functions of the KNX installation.

• The customer expecting something more or something totally different to what you have initially agreed upon — due to a lack of understanding about the technical requirements and capabilities of their personalized KNX system.

• All parties involved disappointed or dissatisfied with the end result.

KNX PROJECT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED

According to the KNX.Org, the following documentation is required for every KNX installation:

• Principle scheme of the facilities
• Revised electric scheme
• Revised electric plan
• Revised room book
• List of companies, responsibilities
• System specification, customer requirements
if applicable
• Acceptance certificate
• Possible test certificate (e. g. calibration of the room
thermostat)
• Report of the hand-over to the customer
• Description of logic functions and further details
• Manual/technical documentation of the installed
components
• Own documents that could be helpful later on for the
maintenance of the system

Furthermore, it is also highly recommended you also provide your customers with documents which clearly identify, outline and explain the following elements of the KNX system:

KNX CONTROL PHILOSOPHY

An outline of the KNX system which covers user interfaces and an explanation of how the mechanical and electrical elements will be controlled.

KNX OVERVIEW SCHEMATIC

An outline of the general wiring of the KNX system which shows how the system is going to be installed and connected. NOTE: This document should be basic enough for non-technical parties to understand.

KNX WIRING SCHEDULES

This document needs to contain all channel allocations, circuits, loadings and KNX programming information for both the HVAC and lighting systems.

KNX FUNCTIONAL LAYOUT

The functional layout shows the functionality of all user interfaces. NOTE: This document is crucial as it establishes the customer’s expectations by outlining exactly how the system will work — based on their preferences and the price given or specified by you.

KNX BILL OF MATERIALS (BOM)

Detailed documents which relate to all of the parts and components required for the installation.

KNX DOCUMENTATION MADE EASY (with one simple click):

Effective planning and documentation procedures are absolutely essential to guarantee the successful delivery and completion for every KNX project system integration.

Starting from the very first interaction you have with your customers during the initial design and planning of KNX systems — all the way through to programming KNX systems with ETS, final project reporting and customer support — you need to have a reliable, fast and systematic approach for all necessary KNX documentation.

The all-new KNX Design and Planning Tool by BEMI allows you to produce professional documents for your KNX projects that can be used for project budgeting, product ordering, installation guides, user manuals, etc.

✅ Instantly print a wide range of easy-to-understand KNX documents that are created and updated automatically for you when using the tool.

✅ Put an end to time-consuming project planning methods such as manually inputting data and information into programs like Microsoft word and Excel spreadsheets.

✅ Provide customers with a full overview of the features, functionality, capabilities and limitations of their customized KNX system without any confusion before work commences.

✅ Keep track of all necessary parts, components and time needed to complete each stage of a KNX project.

✅ Create additional documents which may be required for such things as E-reports, building inspections or future adaptions to the KNX system.

The best ALL-IN-ONE solution for selling, designing, planning, budgeting and managing the technical requirements and workflows for your next KNX project.

This one-of-a-kind KNX design and planning tool built specifically for the KNX industry, has been proven to help KNX installers save time, money and effort with all stages of a KNX project — from the initial design, planning and development stages, through to programming KNX installations using ETS and final project reporting.

Other key features of the KNX Design and Planning Tool include:

◉ EASY-TO-USE DRAG AND DROP DRAWING BOARD TO DESIGN A WIDE RANGE OF KNX SYSTEMS

◉ SPECIALIZED KNX GROUP ADDRESS FEATURE READY TO IMPORT DETAILS INTO ETS

◉ INSTANT REPORTING AND PRINT-OUTS OF ALL NECESSARY KNX DOCUMENTS

◉ COMPANY BRANDED LABELS FOR KNX PUSH-BUTTONS

◉ PLUS A WHOLE LOT MORE!

The KNX Design and Planning Tool by BEMI ensures a successful outcome for every type of KNX project — whether big, small, commercial or residential.

The all-new KNX Design and Planning Tool by BEMI Automation has a specialized KNX GROUP ADDRESS FEATURE that allows users to automatically create their personalised and project specific KNX Group Address structure and import it into ETS.

The specialized KNX Group Address feature of the KNX Design and Planning Tool gives KNX installers the ability to plan and design their entire KNX system with easy drag and drop — then have all KNX group addresses (with all relevant channel text, ID’s, Tags etc.) ready to be imported into ETS for trouble-free programming.

After device configuration has been completed, simply download the KNX Group Address structure file that is automatically created by the KNX Design and Planning Tool — then import the XML file into ETS for final programming.

A well designed KNX Group Address structure with proper naming is crucial to trouble free programming and debugging.

Too often are structures copied from old projects with unnecessary addresses and wrong naming the root cause for messy projects and time-consuming debugging.

To create a new structure from scratch every single time for every KNX project is also too time-consuming and only possible in small projects.

The Only All-In-One KNX Design and Planning Tool Suitable for All Types of KNX Installations

The KNX Design and Planning Tool by BEMI Automation has been specifically designed for KNX planners and installers to ensure a successful outcome for every type of KNX project — whether big, small, commercial or residential.

This one-of-a-kind tool built specifically for the KNX industry has been proven to help KNX installers save time, money and effort with all stages of a KNX project — from the initial design, planning and development stages, through to programming KNX installations using ETS and final project reporting.

“The KNX Design and Planning Tool was first created out of frustration as a KNX system integrator.” says Michael Bendtsen, owner of BEMI Automation and the creator of the KNX Design and Planning Tool.

“When my skills and experience with KNX developed over the years, I then started to design and offer more complex KNX systems to my customers. However, I soon realized I needed a faster and more reliable method to design, plan and manage my KNX installations from start-to-finish. I also needed to find a way to produce and provide easy-to-follow documentation for my customers that would enable me to show them exactly what they are buying — and to serve as an agreement for what I will actually deliver.”

“Having my customers fully understand the features, functionality and limitations of their customized KNX system before work commences with proper documentation ensures my customers are 100% satisfied with the final outcome every single time. Having all of my design, planning and documentation methods streamlined using one convenient online tool (such as the KNX Design and Planning Tool) ensures I can maximize productivity and profitability for every KNX installation I work on.”

Other Key Features of the KNX Design and Planning Tool

Not only does the KNX Tool by BEMI ensure faster and more reliable programming with each KNX installation (and less debugging on-site), it also helps the KNX installer maintain a high level of consistency when planning, designing and selling a diverse range of KNX systems.

Below is a quick outline of some of the other key features and benefits of the KNX Design and Planning Tool.

SELL FUNCTIONS NOT DEVICES — BY VISUALIZING KNX FEATURES FOR END-USERS

Instant printouts of easy-to-understand KNX documentation can be provided to end-users which contains a full overview of the features, functionality, capabilities and limitations of their customized KNX system without any confusion — using detailed function descriptions and images automatically generated by the KNX Design and Planning Tool when setting up your projects.

This allows you to quickly produce detailed and visually appealing KNX proposals for your customers that will enable you to sell a more diverse range of KNX systems.

TIME-SAVING DRAG AND DROP DRAWING BOARD TO DESIGN COMPLEX KNX SYSTEMS

The easy-to-use color coded, drag-and-drop drawing board allows you to create and design entire KNX systems in minutes.

Simply arrange devices and functions on the KNX Tool drawing board to design fully customized KNX systems that match the specific needs, preferences and requirements of the end customer.

The drag-and-drop drawing board enables you to design and plan complex KNX installations in minutes with just a few simple clicks.

Create new building and room structures for KNX projects using the KNX Tool’s drawing board, then drag selected KNX devices over to the relevant rooms to gain a clear overview of the requirements for each project you are currently working on.

BUDGET REPORTS

The Budget Report helps you stay within project budget guidelines by breaking down all of the project costs — including programming time for the devices and functions in detail.

It enables the you to accurately calculate and manage all costs associated with each stage of a KNX project.

It also allows you to easily adjust and keep track of project changes or amendments to accurately invoice for all services, products and components.

Get instant printouts of budget reports for accurate financial documentation for each KNX project.

PURCHASE REPORT

The Purchase Report provides an instant overview of the availability of all devices for a KNX project.

Here you are able to order devices directly from within the Purchase Report page if they are not in stock.

Accurately document and keep track of all information related to each device ordered and purchased for a KNX project.

PROFESSIONAL LABELS FOR PUSH-BUTTONS

The unique label printing feature ensures end-users can easily identify and understand how to operate their KNX system with informative labeling.

Print professional looking and company branded labels instantly for all KNX switches, sockets, push-button sensors, RCDs, etc.

DETAILED FUNCTION DESCRIPTIONS

Function descriptions help the user understand how each function will work. (e.g. Alarm function: when Home Mode is active and the front door is opened, it will trigger the alarm, which will flash the lights and the siren).

Now you can visualize and price for each individual function you integrate into a KNX system — as well as for the physical devices you are selling to the customer (e.g. Logic, Light Scenes, Multimedia Control etc.).

Simply drag and drop each function (such as light dimming, shutter control, outdoor lights, etc.) into the rooms you have created using the drag and drop drawing board.

Print detailed reports with images for end-user manuals, installation guides and final project reporting.

ACTUATOR REPORT

The Actuator Report lists all of the actuators that go in the Electrical board. With easy drag and drop features you can move channels around to making the updating “as build” easy.

This feature allows you to enter informative and descriptive text so it can be used as a user-manual and for final project reporting. Easy enough for end-customers to understand.

PRODUCTS LIST

This feature allows you to keep track of any non KNX products used and sold to a project.

You are able to enter detailed descriptions about the functionality of non KNX products and their specific integration requirements.

Get instant printouts of detailed reports with images for end-user manuals, installation guides and final project reporting.

PROJECT TIME-TRACKER

The time-tracker allows you to keep track of exactly how much time is spent completing each task in order to complete KNX projects within budget guidelines.

This feature allows you to accurately itemize and document extra work completed on a project for additional billing purposes.

Get instant printouts of all necessary time-tracking information for final project analysis and final project reporting.

Try it FREE!

Start saving time, money and effort with all stages of a KNX project — from the initial planning and development stages through to programming KNX installations using ETS and final project reporting.

Make sure you maximize productivity and profitability for every KNX installation you work on.

Click the link below to start your free trial and experience the ultimate solution for designing, planning, budgeting and managing the technical requirements and work-flows for your next KNX project.

LEARN MORE AND TRY THE KNX DESIGN AND PLANNING TOOL FREE