Building automation and BACnet integration
A building automation system runs your HVAC on schedule, keeps conditions steady and tells you when something’s wrong. We design, upgrade and integrate these systems using BACnet, the open standard most equipment supports.
When you need it
- Your controls are outdated, proprietary or no longer supported.
- Equipment from different manufacturers can’t talk to each other.
- You want to see and adjust the building from one place, with useful alarms and trends.
- You’re adding equipment or a new wing to an existing system.
What we do
Survey
We inventory the existing controllers, points and equipment, and find out what your operators need from the system.
Design
We write sequences of operation, point lists and an integration plan, using open protocols to avoid being locked in to one vendor.
Integrate
We connect controllers and packaged equipment so the system works as one.
Verify
We check every point and sequence, and train your operators.
What you receive
- A points list and sequences of operation
- Integration and network design
- Verified graphics, alarms and trends
- Operator training
Questions
What is BACnet?
BACnet is an open communication protocol for building automation, published as ASHRAE Standard 135 and ISO 16484-5. Equipment from different manufacturers that supports it can share data on one system.
Do we need to replace the whole system?
Not always. Many upgrades keep working field devices and replace the controllers or operator software in stages.
What about cybersecurity?
Building automation networks should be separated from general IT networks, with managed accounts and controlled remote access. We plan for this as part of the design.
Further reading
- Constant volume vs variable air volume systems
Learn how constant volume and VAV systems control temperature, how they differ in energy use, comfort and complexity, and how to decide which suits a building or a retrofit.
- Demand-controlled ventilation with CO2 sensors
Learn how CO2 sensors can adjust outdoor air to match actual occupancy, how to set up the control logic so ventilation stays compliant, and the sensor and maintenance issues that decide whether it works.
- 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.
Related services
Also in HVAC design and design-build: New HVAC design, HVAC design-build, High-efficiency HVAC upgrades, Healthcare HVAC, Restaurant and commercial kitchen HVAC, Data center cooling design, Cleanroom HVAC design, Critical airflow control and air valves.
Get a quote for building automation and BACnet integration
Tell us about the building and what you need. We’ll be in touch within one hour.