Smart Home in new builds: an offer for developers
When the system is planned while the building is going up, cables, valves and sensors are installed while the walls are still open. The buyer moves into a flat where Smart Home is part of the installation from day one, not an add-on.
Why during construction
- Cables and the controller location are planned together with the electrical design.
- The automatic valve on the water supply is installed together with the plumbing.
- Leak sensors go where water appears first: under the heating manifold, by the boiler, in the bathroom and kitchen.
- No chasing walls and no visible cables after the move-in.
- The system is modular: the buyer can add sensors and rooms later.
What the buyer gets
- Water leak detection, automatic valve shut-off and a message to their phone.
- Room and floor temperature and humidity monitoring.
- Control of heating, pumps and ventilation according to agreed rules.
- A dashboard on phone or computer with live values and history.
- A system that runs locally, even without internet. Internet is only needed for remote access and phone messages.
- Data that stays in the flat. Neither the developer nor duradim has access to it.
What the developer gets
- A concrete item in the flat description: Smart Home with monitoring and automation, installed and commissioned.
- Lower risk that a leak in one flat damages the flats below it.
- Documentation for every flat and for the shared areas.
- A system with no mandatory cloud subscription, so you are not selling buyers a subscription.
- One point of contact: the engineer who designs, builds and installs the system.
Shared areas of the building
The garage, basement and boiler room have their own controller, separate from the flats.
- Water leaks and water level in the sump or by the pump
- Pump operation and current
- Temperature and humidity in the boiler room
- Doors and motion
- An alarm to the person responsible for maintenance, switching on a pump or ventilation
Example: a building with eight flats
This is an illustration, not a completed project. It shows how the system could look in a small residential building with four floors, a commercial unit on the ground floor and a garage in the basement.
- Flat controller: every flat has its own, the data stays in the flat
- Shared-area controller (separate from the flats)
- Water leak or level sensor (bathroom, heating manifold, sump, pump)
- Temperature and humidity
- Doors and motion (garage, boiler room)
- Automatic valve on the flat's water supply
What happens at each construction stage
| Stage | What is done |
|---|---|
| Design | Agreeing what the system does in the flats and shared areas. A list of sensors and actions, aligned with the installation design, and a clear written price. |
| First fix | Cables, boxes and locations for valves, sensors and controllers. |
| Second fix | Mounting sensors, valves and controllers. |
| Before handover | Commissioning and testing every flat and the shared areas. |
| Handover to the buyer | Access to the dashboard and documentation for the flat. |
Larger buildings are planned in phases, in line with the construction schedule.
Not only residential buildings
- Holiday flats and hotels: places where guests are not present all the time, so a leak or heating fault goes unnoticed for longer. Consumption monitoring shows what is running in an empty room.
- Commercial space: water leaks, temperature, consumption and equipment left on over the weekend.
- Industrial halls and warehouses: monitoring of machines, temperature and doors is planned together with the hall design. See machine monitoring and cold storage temperature alarm.
What to know
- It is best to start at the design stage. Later is possible, but with more building work.
- The system is built around the building: number of flats, installation layout and what should happen automatically.
- The price depends on the number and type of sensors, the actions and the installation. See what the price depends on.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to start?
At the design stage, when cables and valves are planned together with the installation design. Later is possible, but with more building work.
Does the developer have access to the buyers' data?
No. Every flat has its own controller and the data stays in the flat. Neither the developer nor duradim has access to it.
Does the flat buyer pay a subscription?
No. The system has no mandatory cloud subscription and runs locally, even without internet.
The system reduces the risk of damage, but it does not replace fire alarms, safety relays or certified protection required by law.