Abstract: A system and method that uses a tag-driven network architecture controlled by one or more central controllers. Unique tags are associated with various system components such as remote switches, sensors and other peripherals. A tag is assigned to a node when the node is first entered into the network. A distributed policy creates relationships between tags of various different equipment. The tag typically defines what the policy is for a particular local node. The node executes the policy that is supplied in its tag by accessing a recipe associated with that tag. If a device is not working, other similar devices can take over its task simply by executing the recipe associated with the failed device's tag instead of their own.