LPWAN Networks and IoT Connectivity in Smart Buildings: Supporting Standards and Compliance
Since 2015, Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) have emerged across Belgium and Europe as a cornerstone for the Internet of Things (IoT). Designed for low energy consumption, long range, and small data transmission, LPWAN technologies enable sensors to operate for years on battery at a low cost—an ideal fit for Smart Buildings. Unlike traditional mobile networks (2G, 4G/LTE, 5G), LPWAN prioritizes sensor efficiency over speed, which aligns perfectly with sustainability-focused building standards such as BREEAM, WELL, ISO 16000, and EU energy reporting directives.
LPWAN Emergence and Early Challenges
The mobile industry initially focused on throughput and speed, often at the expense of energy efficiency and cost. As a vehicle tracking professional, I experienced firsthand how GPRS-based trackers could drain a vehicle battery in winter—speed was irrelevant, but power consumption was critical.
In 2016, the first public LPWAN networks—Sigfox and LoRaWAN®—were created in France, operating in the unlicensed 868 MHz band. Belgium saw Sigfox launched by Engie in 2015 and Proximus deploying LoRaWAN®. Over time, Sigfox faced bankruptcy, while Citymesh and private LoRaWAN® deployments persisted. Proximus will end its LoRaWAN® network in October 2023.
Public vs Private LPWAN Networks
While public LPWAN networks faced economic challenges, private LoRaWAN® networks are thriving in Smart Buildings, industrial sites, and agricultural sectors. They provide:
- Optimized local coverage
- Lower costs (no per-sensor subscription)
- Broad sensor variety at affordable prices
3GPP introduced NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT) as a licensed alternative, integrated into mobile infrastructure. While it offers low power consumption, licensing limits its flexibility compared to private LoRaWAN® networks.
Choosing the Right LPWAN Network for Smart Buildings
The choice of network depends on specific project requirements:
- Mobility: Mobile sensors (vehicle trackers) benefit from LTE-M or Cat-M1 due to coverage and low latency.
- High sensor density: LoRaWAN® excels in buildings with thousands of coexisting sensors.
- Remote isolated sensors: NB-IoT or LTE-M may be better for low-maintenance, widely dispersed devices.
- Power availability: If mains power is available, LPWAN may not be required.
LoRaWAN® in Smart Building Applications
LoRaWAN® has become the preferred standard in Smart Buildings thanks to its flexibility and sensor ecosystem, enabling monitoring of:
- Air quality: Supports ISO 16000 compliance by monitoring CO₂, VOCs, and particulate matter.
- Occupancy and space management: Informs WELL credits for occupant comfort and thermal comfort optimization.
- Energy, water, and gas consumption: Facilitates EU Energy Directive compliance and BREEAM energy and water credits.
- Security and access monitoring: Door opening and parking detection.
For single, isolated consumption points (e.g., water meters), NB-IoT can be more cost-effective, especially when sensor density is low.
LPWAN and Smart Building Standards
Integrating LPWAN-enabled IoT sensors allows Smart Buildings to automate compliance and performance monitoring across multiple frameworks:
- BREEAM: Energy, water, and indoor environmental quality monitoring.
- WELL: Air quality, thermal comfort, and occupant wellbeing metrics.
- ISO 16000: Continuous indoor air quality measurements for CO₂, VOCs, and particulate matter.
- EU Energy Directives: Automated reporting of energy consumption, sub-metering, and audit-ready documentation.
By using a flexible LPWAN deployment strategy, building managers can capture the data necessary to meet multiple certification requirements with a single sensor ecosystem.
Business Model and IoT Connectivity
IoT success relies on low-cost sensor deployment at scale. Public LPWAN networks struggle with profitability due to infrastructure costs and low-margin connectivity. Private LoRaWAN® networks, combined with IoT analytics platforms, offer a scalable, cost-efficient solution that delivers actionable data for building operators, facility managers, and ESG reporting.
Conclusion
No single wireless network can meet all IoT needs. In Smart Buildings, LoRaWAN® stands out for local coverage, flexibility, and low installation cost, making it the preferred choice for integrating sensors that support BREEAM, WELL, ISO 16000, and EU Energy Directive compliance. By selecting the right LPWAN network according to project requirements, Smart Buildings can achieve automated monitoring, regulatory compliance, and sustainable operational performance.