Controls and building automation
Sequences of operation, BACnet, sensors and the logic that makes systems perform. 15 guides.
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- ASHRAE Guideline 36 high-performance sequences
Learn what ASHRAE Guideline 36 contains, how its standardized sequences save energy and reduce programming errors, and what owners and designers need to do to use it successfully.
- Alarm management in building automation
Learn why most BAS alarm lists are ignored, and how to rationalize, prioritize and maintain alarms so that the important ones get a timely response.
- BACnet basics for building owners
Understand what BACnet is and is not, the terms that appear in controls specifications, and how owners can use the protocol to avoid vendor lock-in and keep building data accessible.
- Building automation system upgrades and migration
Learn how to decide when a BAS needs upgrading, the main migration strategies from front-end replacement to full controller replacement, and how to specify and phase the work to avoid downtime and lock-in.
- Chilled water and condenser water reset strategies
Learn how resetting chilled water and condenser water temperatures improves chiller efficiency, how to balance chiller, pump and tower fan energy, and how to avoid humidity and stability problems.
- Cybersecurity for building automation systems
Understand why building automation systems are a cyber risk, and the practical steps owners and contractors can take to secure HVAC controls without breaking them.
- Fault detection and diagnostics (FDD)
Learn how FDD tools turn building automation data into actionable fault reports, what kinds of faults they catch, and how to make an FDD program pay for itself.
- Integrating HVAC with lighting and access control
Learn how lighting occupancy sensors, card access and room booking systems can drive HVAC setpoints and ventilation, how to integrate them, and where integration must stop for life safety and cybersecurity.
- Occupancy-based HVAC control
Learn how occupancy-based control adjusts ventilation, airflow and setpoints to match how spaces are actually used, and how to design and commission it properly.
- PID control loops and tuning
Learn what each term in a PID loop does, how to spot hunting and sluggish loops in BAS trends, and a practical procedure for tuning HVAC control loops in the field.
- Sensor selection, location and calibration
Learn which sensor types suit common HVAC measurements, typical accuracy ranges, where to install them for representative readings, and how to build a practical calibration program.
- Static pressure reset with trim and respond
Learn why fixed duct static pressure setpoints waste fan energy, how trim and respond reset works step by step, and how to set parameters, handle rogue zones and verify performance.
- Supply air temperature reset strategies
Learn why supply air temperature reset saves energy, how outdoor air, zone demand and trim and respond resets work, and what limits such as humidity and fan capacity apply.
- Trend logging and using BAS data
A practical guide to configuring BAS trend logs and turning the data into answers about comfort complaints, energy waste and equipment performance.
- Writing clear sequences of operation
Learn how to structure a sequence of operation, what every sequence must define, and how clear, testable language reduces programming errors, commissioning issues and energy waste.