OpenBMS
OpenBMS is a community-driven building management system for connecting BACnet-, MQTT-, and other modern IoT-speaking equipment.
What OpenBMS is
OpenBMS is a community-driven building management system for connecting BACnet-, MQTT-, and other modern IoT-speaking equipment. It is designed to be vendor-neutral and hardware-agnostic, with Honeywell, Johnson Controls, and Siemens among the named manufacturers. A visual no-code/low-code interface lets integrators configure control logic, and FMU export with the LBNL Modelica Buildings Library can support virtual testing of control sequences before deployment. OpenBMS says it aligns with ASHRAE 223P, BACnet/IP, and 231P. The web-based system is intended for on-premise deployment and is open source under AGPL-3.0, with no licensing fees, per-point charges, or annual contracts. The project is marked Pre-Release and is in Phase 6 of 8; real BACnet device discovery and integration are planned for Phase 7. Native semantic modeling, BuildingMOTIF validation, an AI copilot, and G36 demand-limiting sequences are marked Coming Soon. The project says users own their infrastructure and data, and directs community participation to Discord, GitHub, and documentation.
Good
- No licensing fees, per-point charges, or annual contracts.
- Visual no-code/low-code control configuration.
- Supports BACnet- and MQTT-speaking devices.
- FMU export supports virtual sequence testing.
- Users own their infrastructure and data.
Watch out
- Marked Pre-Release and in Phase 6 of 8.
- Real BACnet discovery and integration are planned for Phase 7.
- Semantic modeling, AI copilot, and G36 sequences are Coming Soon.
Who it suits
OpenBMS is aimed at building automation experts, developers, facility managers, and independent integrators working with BACnet or MQTT equipment. It may suit teams interested in an open-source, on-premise building management system that is still in pre-release.
Verdict
OpenBMS combines protocol interoperability, visual control programming, and on-premise deployment without licensing fees. Its pre-release status matters: several described capabilities remain upcoming, and real BACnet device discovery is planned for a later project phase.
The facts
Each one read from OpenBMS's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- AI feature
- The site describes an AI copilot for mapping BACnet points to ASHRAE 223P and suggesting configurations, marked “Coming Soon.”checked 4 Oct 2026
- Availability
- The site labels OpenBMS as pre-release and invites users to get early access.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Building models
- The site says BuildingMOTIF integration validates building models against standards automatically.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Control programming
- The site describes a no-code/low-code visual interface for integrators to configure control logic.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Demand response
- The site describes G36 Demand Limiting sequences that respond to grid signals and price spikes while maintaining comfort, marked “Coming Soon.”checked 4 Oct 2026
- Development status
- The project’s GitHub README says it is in Phase 6 of 8, with real BACnet device discovery and integration planned for Phase 7.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Energy management
- The site says pre-integrated ASHRAE G36 sequences deliver 30–50% HVAC energy savings.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Hardware compatibility
- OpenBMS says it is hardware-agnostic and can integrate devices that speak BACnet or MQTT, including equipment from Honeywell, Johnson Controls and Siemens.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Hardware support
- The FAQ names Honeywell, Johnson Controls, and Siemens among supported device manufacturers.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The site describes the community as including building automation experts, developers and facility managers, and highlights independent integrators.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Interoperability
- OpenBMS says it bridges legacy systems with modern IoT infrastructure and is designed to work with BACnet- and MQTT-speaking devices.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The project’s GitHub README says it is licensed under AGPL-3.0.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- The site advertises zero licensing fees, with no per-point charges or annual contracts.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Product
- OpenBMS describes itself as a community-driven, vendor-neutral Building Management System that connects BACnet, MQTT, and modern IoT protocols.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Programming
- The site describes a no-code/low-code visual programming interface for configuring control logic.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Release status
- The site labels OpenBMS “Pre-Release” and invites users to get early access and help shape the product.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Semantic modeling
- The site describes native ASHRAE 223P semantic modeling and BuildingMOTIF integration for validating building models, with both marked “Coming Soon.”checked 4 Oct 2026
- Simulation
- The site says FMU export with the LBNL Modelica Buildings Library can test control sequences virtually before deployment.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Standards
- The site says OpenBMS aligns with ASHRAE 223P, BACnet/IP, and 231P.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The site directs users to Discord for real-time discussions, GitHub for code contributions, and its documentation for participation and support.checked 9 Oct 2026
The company
- Data ownership
- The site says users own their infrastructure and data and can move their semantic model between contractors, vendors or platforms.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Ownership
- The FAQ says users own their infrastructure and data and can customize the open-source system.checked 9 Oct 2026
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