Bosch Building Technologies
German building automation and security — FPA fire alarm panels, DIVAR NVR and Praesideo PA systems for commercial integration.
Bosch Building Technologies (Stuttgart, Germany — Bosch Group founded 1886) is the security and building automation division of Robert Bosch GmbH, currently being restructured as Bosch Security and Safety Systems (Bosch SI). The division covers addressable fire alarm (FPA-5000, FPA-7000), IP video surveillance (VideoJet, FLEXIDOME camera lines), network video recorders (DIVAR AN/IP), public address and evacuation (Praesideo, PRAESENSA), intrusion detection (Solution/ICP panels, DS160i PIR), access control (AMC2, ADS) and the BIS (Building Integration System) proprietary BMS platform. In European commercial KNX projects, Bosch is primarily encountered for fire alarm (FPA-5000 with KNX interface module) and IP cameras integrated via ONVIF to Home Assistant or dedicated VMS. Bosch is strong in large commercial, industrial, hospital and government segments — less common in premium residential where Gira, MDT and Jung dominate the KNX ecosystem.
Role in our panels
How we use Bosch Building Technologies
Bosch's KNX integration points are distinct for each product line. Fire alarm: FPA-5000 and FPA-7000 use the Bosch LSN Improved loop bus (127 devices per loop, 2-4 loops per panel). The optional KNX interface module (FPA-5000-KNX, also referenced as 8/09 module) provides a KNX TP connection. ETS6 application is available for configuration of group addresses triggered by fire alarm events: zone alarm, general alarm, fault, fire brigade relay. This allows the fire panel to drive KNX switching actuators (e.g., unlock exit doors, switch to emergency lighting mode, disable HVAC recirculation) directly via KNX cause-and-effect. Access control: AMC2 Multi Door Controller uses Wiegand or OSDP card readers. AMC2 relay outputs (door strike, door status, REX) provide dry contact signals — wired to KNX binary input modules for door status integration in the KNX system. IP cameras: Bosch FLEXIDOME and VideoJet cameras support ONVIF Profile S with HTTP event notification on detection events (motion, tampering, IVA analytics trigger). The camera POSTs to a configured URL on event — Home Assistant webhook receives and translates to KNX binary group address. PA: Praesideo and PRAESENSA are IP-based PA/evacuation systems, activated directly by fire panel without KNX involvement for evacuation; KNX can trigger background music zone changes via Praesideo REST API.
KNX integration points in PanelCraft panels for Bosch: (1) FPA-5000 KNX module wiring: KNX TP bus cable (2×0.8mm YCYM) from panel KNX TP trunk → FPA-5000 KNX module KNX TP terminals; KNX module powered from FPA-5000 24V supply (no separate KNX power supply needed for the module itself). ETS6 configuration: group objects for zone alarm (DPT 1.001), general alarm (DPT 1.001), fault (DPT 1.001), plus response group objects for KNX-to-FPA status display. (2) AMC2 access control: AMC2 controller wired to KNX panel via relay outputs; relay NO contact → KNX binary input module (e.g., MDT SCN-BI16.03) terminal; common wire → binary input module common. Door-open status group address → KNX visualisation. (3) FLEXIDOME cameras: cameras on dedicated security VLAN, PoE from panel PoE switch; HTTP alarm webhook configured in camera web interface → HA → KNX write. DIVAR NVR connected to same VLAN. (4) Praesideo PA controller: IP connection to building LAN; REST API for zone selection; KNX logic module (e.g., Gira HomeServer) calls REST endpoint on KNX scene trigger for background music switching.
Used in these project types
Bosch Building Technologies products
Key components we install
Bosch FPA-5000 Addressable Fire Alarm Panel
EN 54-2 and EN 54-13 certified addressable fire alarm panel. LSN Improved loop bus: 127 intelligent devices per loop (detectors, manual call points, sounders, modules), 2 loops standard, expandable to 4. KNX interface module (FPA-5000-KNX) optional: provides KNX TP connection, ETS6 application, group addresses for alarm zones, general alarm, fault and brigade relay outputs. For commercial KNX projects: FPA-5000 is the fire backbone, KNX module bridges alarm events to KNX bus for lighting and HVAC cause-and-effect.
Bosch FLEXIDOME IP 5100i Dome Camera
5MP fixed IP dome, 3.6-10mm motorised varifocal, IVA intelligent video analytics (motion+, tampering, object tracking), ONVIF Profile S/T, IK10 vandal-resistant housing. HTTP alarm URL configurable per IVA rule: on analytics trigger, camera POSTs to HA webhook URL → KNX binary group address write. For corridors and public areas: IVA motion event → KNX lighting on. ONVIF Profile T supports H.265 video for bandwidth efficiency on DIVAR NVR recording.
Bosch DS160i Passive Infrared Motion Detector
Grade 2 EN 50131-2-2 PIR detector for Bosch Solution and ICP intrusion alarm panels. Quad-element pyroelectric sensor, anti-masking (IR reflectance detection), pet-immune mode (up to 25kg). Tamper contact. Alarm output: normally-closed relay (NC, COM) → Bosch ICP zone input. For KNX integration: Bosch ICP alarm output relay (zone alarm) → KNX binary input module → KNX group address for zone status monitoring in KNX visualisation. Not a KNX-native device — requires Bosch ICP alarm panel in the integration chain.
Bosch DIVAR IP 7000 2U Network Video Recorder
Enterprise NVR, 2U rack, 128 IP camera channels, H.265+, H.264, 4× HDD bays (up to 32TB), AI analytics server for object classification without camera-side analytics. ONVIF Profile S/T/G. Alarm relay output (dry contact): on camera event trigger or analytics event, NVR relay closes → KNX binary input module for physical event bridging. Provides redundant recording and central management for Bosch FLEXIDOME and VideoJet cameras in commercial buildings.
Bosch AMC2 48 Multi Door Access Controller
AMC2 controller supporting up to 4 doors (8 readers), Wiegand and OSDP reader protocols, 48 I/O points. Door strike relay, door status contact (reed switch), REX (request to exit) input per door. For KNX integration: AMC2 relay outputs (door strike) → KNX binary input module dry contact; KNX gets door open/close status as group address. KNX visualisation can display access control door states alongside room lighting and HVAC status without full BIS software integration.
Bosch Building Technologies FAQ
Does the Bosch FPA-5000 have a native KNX interface?
Yes — Bosch offers the KNX interface module (order reference FPA-5000-KNX, also documented as the 8/09 module in Bosch FPA literature) that provides a KNX TP physical connection for the FPA-5000 panel. The module is installed in the FPA-5000 motherboard expansion slot and powered from the panel's internal 24V supply — no external KNX power supply required for the module itself. An ETS6 application (available from Bosch Technical Support) allows configuration of which fire alarm events trigger which KNX group addresses: individual zone alarm (DPT 1.001 binary), general alarm (all zones), panel fault, and fire brigade relay state. Group address writes are one-directional by default (FPA → KNX); some application versions also support reading KNX group addresses for system status display on the FPA panel. The KNX module is the most reliable and certified integration path for fire alarm + KNX cause-and-effect (e.g., unlock exits, switch off HVAC recirculation, trigger emergency lighting scene) in EU commercial buildings.
How do Bosch cameras integrate with KNX for presence detection or lighting?
Bosch FLEXIDOME and VideoJet cameras support ONVIF Profile S and Profile T with HTTP event notification. When an analytics rule is triggered (motion detection, IVA object detection, tampering), the camera sends an HTTP POST to a configured URL. Home Assistant receives this via a webhook automation: on webhook trigger → KNX service call → write binary value 1 to group address (e.g., corridor lights on). After a configured delay (e.g., 3 minutes of no motion), HA automation writes 0 → lights return to standby. DIVAR IP 7000 NVR also aggregates ONVIF events from all cameras and has physical alarm relay outputs (dry contact) per configured rule — these relay outputs can be wired directly to a KNX binary input module for a hardware event path that does not depend on HA being online. For FLEXIDOME with IVA: configure IVA rules in the camera web interface for person detection (more selective than pixel motion) to reduce false triggers on lighting changes.
What is Bosch BIS and how does it relate to KNX?
Bosch Building Integration System (BIS) is Bosch's proprietary enterprise BMS platform for access control, CCTV management, fire alarm monitoring, and PA control in large commercial buildings. BIS runs on a Windows server and provides a centralised operator interface and alarm management database. BIS is not KNX-native and does not have a built-in KNX interface. Integration with KNX in hybrid commercial projects is achieved via protocol gateways: a KNX-BACnet gateway (e.g., Intesis INKNXBAC1000000 or Loytec LIOB-586) exposes KNX group addresses as BACnet objects, which BIS can read via BACnet IP. This allows BIS to display KNX lighting zone states and HVAC setpoints on the BIS operator workstation alongside access control events and CCTV streams. In typical EU commercial projects: BIS handles security (access control database, CCTV recording, fire alarm logging) while KNX handles room control (lighting, shading, HVAC setpoints) — both systems appear in the same operator dashboard via BACnet bridging.
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