ZigBee
ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4) is a suite of high level communication protocols using small, low-power digital radio signals to allow any enabled device to communicate wirelessly. Depending on the manufacturer, ZigBee nodes communicate at relatively low-power which limits their range to approximately 10 m to 30 m indoors but several hundred metres outdoors depending on line-ofsight and environmental conditions.
ZigBee devices can be programmed to operate in three different modes; coordinator, router and end device. This enables ZigBee devices to form a complex network of mesh and routing nodes similar to how the Internet operates. ZigBee devices are equipped with radio transceivers through which they discover each other and then a master unit applies an appropriate addressing scheme. This allows ZigBee networks to daisy chain devices through mesh network routing (Multi-Hop Ad Hoc Network) [71], [72] and hence span larger distances than a single module’s radio range.
ZigBee is designed to offer low power consumption, low cost (device, installation and
maintenance), a high density of nodes per network, simple protocol and global implementation. It can go from sleep to active mode very quickly which means that average power consumption can be very low and battery life is normally over 2 years.
As a way to help reduce the cost even further the devices come in two types; Full Function Device (FFD) and Reduced Function Device (RFD). The limitation of the RFD is that it can only connect to an FFD and therefore is only suitable for star topologies. FFD’s can be both coordinators and network coordinators (peer-to-peer intermediates and central network master controllers) making them suitable for any topologies [73].
ZigBee is a more complicated protocol than Z-Wave but it can come with different profiles that pre-configure the device for specific applications such as smart energy, healthcare, building automation etc. ZigBee is currently being implemented in the rollout of smart meters across the UK.
This article was created by --BRE. It was taken from The future of electricity in domestic buildings, a review, by Andrew Williams, published in November 2014.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Bluetooth.
- CAT5.
- Ethernet
- Extranet
- Glossary of electrical terms.
- ICT and Automation (ICTA) Scoping Study Report.
- In-building wireless.
- Information and communications technology.
- Internet of things.
- Local area network.
- Smart buildings.
- Smart cities.
- Smart technology.
- The future of electricity in domestic buildings.
- Wifi.
[edit] External references
- [71] Baronti P et al. Wireless sensor networks: A survey on the state of the art and the 802.15.4 and ZigBee standard. Computer Communications, vol. 30, no. 7, pp. 1655-1695, 2007.
- [72] Bruno R et al. Mesh networks: commodity multihop ad hoc networks. Communications Magazine, IEEE, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 123-131, March 2005.
- [73] Kinney P. ZigBee Technology: Wireless Control that Simply Works. Communications Design Conference, San Jose, 2003.
Featured articles and news
Design and construction industry podcasts
Professional development, practice, the pandemic, platforms and podcasts. Have we missed anything?
C20 Society; Buildings at Risk List 2025
10 more buildings published with updates on the past decade of buildings featured.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certifications consultation
Summary of government consultation, closing 11 June 2025.
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
From project managers to rising stars, sustainability pioneers and more.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.
The emancipation of women in art.
Call for independent National Grenfell oversight mechanism
MHCLG share findings of Building Safety Inquiry in letter to Secretary of State and Minister for Building Safety.
The Architectural Technology Awards
AT Awards now open for this the sixth decade of CIAT.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson awards
Deadline for submissions Friday 30 May 2025.
The benefits of precast, off-site foundation systems
Top ten benefits of this notable innovation.
Encouraging individuals to take action saving water at home, work, and in their communities.
Takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing
The why of becoming a Mental Health Instructor explained.
Mental health awareness week 13-18 May
The theme is communities, they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and a sense purpose.
Mental health support on the rise but workers still struggling
CIOB Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025 shows.
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.