Five aspects of ‘integrated 24/7 workplace solutions’ for modern BOS control centres

Dear readers,

Today we are launching the new generation of our Knürr newsletter – INSIGHTS.

 Look forward to compact, well-founded insights into safety-critical working environments – practical and with clear added value for your daily work.

 In this issue, we highlight five key aspects of integrated 24/7 workplace solutions for modern emergency services control centres.

 From structured KVM integration and ergonomic visualisation to power supply, thermal management and cost-effectiveness, we show what really matters when it comes to future-proof control centre concepts.

The demands placed on BOS control centres and industrial control rooms are constantly increasing. Increasing operational density, more complex hazard situations, digital radio and information systems, and rising expectations in terms of availability and response speed are fundamentally changing the working reality in these security-critical infrastructures. According to public reports from interior ministries and state statistical offices, the number of coordinated operations has been increasing in many regions for years. At the same time, the degree of technical networking is growing – from operations control systems and geodata platforms to video and drone integration.

The result: the control centre is no longer just a communications hub – it is a highly networked, security-critical system workplace in continuous 24/7 operation.

An ergonomic control centre desk alone does not guarantee stable operation. What is crucial is the seamless integration of all technical components into a consistent overall system. This includes a powerful and intuitive KVM architecture, coordinated visualisation and media technology, ergonomically designed and modular workstations, and a reliable power supply with appropriate monitoring and sophisticated thermal management in the technical area.

In the public sector in particular, it is not the quality of individual products that determines operational reliability and responsiveness, but the smooth interaction of all elements. An integrated workstation solution reduces interfaces, minimises potential sources of error and creates clear responsibilities – both at a technical and organisational level.

With increasing IT consolidation, the requirements for reliability, transparency and ease of use in BOS control centres are rising significantly. Operations control systems, geoinformation applications and radio and video systems must remain stable, reliable and intuitive to use, even under high time pressure.

 A modern KVM architecture forms the technical foundation for this by enabling centralised and secure IT accommodation, reducing heat and noise pollution in the work area, supporting redundant structures and allowing flexible allocation of workstations. This creates a clearly structured and scalable IT environment that shows its strengths particularly in dynamic operational situations.

 At the same time, visualisation becomes a decisive factor in the quality of decisions. Large-screen and multi-screen systems must be ergonomically designed and integrated into the overall concept in accordance with standards. Optimised viewing distances and a functional monitor arrangement facilitate rapid information absorption, promote stable decisions under stress, reduce misinterpretations and prevent visual fatigue. Only the consistent interaction of structured KVM architecture and ergonomically designed visualisation creates the necessary decision-making confidence for reliable 24/7 operation.

BOS control centres are part of critical infrastructure and place the highest demands on technical reliability. An unstable power supply or thermal overload of IT equipment can immediately jeopardise operational readiness. Operational safety is therefore not achieved solely through visible systems and high-quality equipment, but above all through resilient background conditions.

Integrated power distribution with clearly structured cable management, redundant UPS concepts, permanent load monitoring and early fault reporting ensures transparency and significantly reduces the risk of failures in 24/7 operation. With increasing IT density, thermal management is also becoming more important. Well-designed ventilation concepts, targeted air flow and controlled heat dissipation make a significant contribution to extending hardware life, reducing unplanned malfunctions, reducing noise pollution and increasing energy efficiency in continuous operation. Technical stability is therefore more than just an optional added value; it is a fundamental prerequisite for operational reliability and long-term cost-effectiveness.

Control centre workstations in the emergency services environment are among the most demanding high-availability workstations of all. They must be able to cope with permanent shift operation, withstand high psychological stress and reliably support complex decision-making processes. This makes it all the more important to have an ergonomically optimised working environment that consistently puts people at the centre of attention.

A standard-compliant design, e.g. in accordance with DIN EN ISO 11064, DIN EN 527 and relevant workplace regulations, takes into account, among other things, appropriate viewing distances, functionally designed reach zones, suitable height adjustment ranges and coordinated room acoustics and lighting. This holistic ergonomic approach reduces absenteeism, increases concentration and ensures the long-term availability of employees.

Integrated control centre workstations are not only impressive from a technical perspective, but also prove to be economically sustainable. A modular design combined with a structured system architecture makes it possible to implement expansions easily, prepare for technology changes at an early stage and efficiently modernise existing systems.

At the same time, lifecycle costs can be calculated more transparently and reliably. This future-proofing is a key decision-making criterion, especially in the public sector with its long-term investment cycles.

Our approach: Comprehensive 24/7 system solutions for emergency services control centres and control rooms

 As a specialist in control room and command centre solutions, Knürr develops and manufactures integrated workplace concepts in which:

•    Technology, ergonomics and architecture
•    IT, KVM integration and visualisation
•    Power distribution and monitoring
•    Thermal management and user guidance

are planned as a coherent system.

The aim is not to provide individual components, but rather a robust, scalable and standards-oriented complete solution for security-critical infrastructures.

 Thank you for your interest in Knürr INSIGHTS.

This newsletter was created in collaboration with Tim Holzapfel and Marie-Theres Danner – with the aim of bringing together practical ideas and in-depth expertise on modern control centre and control room solutions.

 In the next issue, we will focus on control centres in industry and highlight the special requirements they place on availability, ergonomics and system integration.

 See you in the next issue!

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If you have any suggestions, questions or topic requests, we look forward to hearing from you.
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