Before diving into the technical side of KNX, it’s worth knowing who stands behind the standard. The story of the KNX Association explains why KNX has become one of the most trusted names in smart building technology — and how a small European initiative grew into a worldwide standard.
If you’re looking for a broader overview of the KNX standard and its benefits, you can start with our complete guide to the KNX smart building standard. This article, however, focuses specifically on the history and evolution of the association itself.
The Origins: The EIB Association (1990)
The KNX Association was established in 1990, with its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. At that time, it was known as the EIB Association — short for European Installation Bus Association.
Its founding goal was clear: to promote intelligent homes and buildings in general, and the EIB system in particular. The EIB system had been developed jointly by several renowned manufacturers, and the association was created to give this technology a unified voice, a shared direction, and a proper standardization path.
The 1999 Merger: A Turning Point
A major shift occurred in 1999, when the EIB Association merged with two other European associations:
- BCI (France) — promoting the Batibus system
- European Home Systems Association (The Netherlands) — promoting the EHS system
This merger was more than a simple reorganization. It marked the beginning of a unified European effort to create a single, open standard for building automation — one that could serve the entire industry, not just individual manufacturers.
As a result of the merger, the organization was renamed “KNX Association” — a name that would soon become synonymous with open, manufacturer-independent building automation.
The Goals of KNX Association
Since its formation, the KNX Association has pursued three core objectives:
- Define a truly open standard — the KNX™ standard for intelligent homes and buildings
- Establish the KNX Trademark — a recognized symbol of quality and multi-vendor interworking
- Promote KNX globally — as both a European and a worldwide standard
These goals reflect the association’s long-term commitment to openness, interoperability, and reliability — the very values that continue to shape the KNX ecosystem today.
EIB and KNX: Backward Compatibility
One important detail for anyone working with existing installations: EIB is backward compatible with KNX. This means most devices can carry both the KNX and the EIB logo without any conflict.
In practice, this compatibility ensures that older EIB-based installations can still be integrated into modern KNX projects — a significant advantage for installers and system integrators working with legacy buildings.
What Came Next
The history of the association doesn’t stop at its founding. Over the following decades, the KNX Association expanded its reach through international standardization, certification programs, and a growing global membership. These developments are covered in the next article in this series: KNX as an International Standard
📌 Key Takeaways
- The KNX Association was founded in 1990 in Brussels as the “EIB Association”.
- In 1999, it merged with BCI (Batibus) and EHSA (EHS), and was renamed KNX Association.
- Its mission: define an open standard, establish the KNX Trademark, and promote KNX worldwide.
- EIB is backward compatible with KNX, so most devices can carry both logos.
- For a broader overview of the KNX standard, see our complete guide.
