Crestahead Power has recently introduced new management and monitoring software which is said to enhance interoperability of building control systems by enabling facilities managers to access and control both new and inherited building systems - regardless of manufacture, platform or communication standard - via a web browser. The UK-based company is set to boost its presence in the region by opening an office in Dubai next month.

Elaborating on the software, a spokesman for the company says: "The system is built on the Niagara Framework, a software suite designed to integrate a variety of devices and protocols into a common distributed architecture."

It is said to be the first software to integrate ModBus, LonWorks and BACnet and various Internet standards in a common 'object' model, embedded at the controller level and supported by a standard web browser interface. With this object modelling, the user can talk to new and inherited systems using their native protocols and respective networks, regardless of make, model or manufacturer.

The two-way communications capability allows the end-user or maintenance provider to take immediate action to reduce and manage energy consumption and cost, correct any comfort difficulties and change control parameters to match occupational use - from anywhere in the world, via the Internet, he explains.

Effective control of a building's services can be achieved from any computer with a web browser using the Crestahead Power software suite, the spokesman adds.