GUIDANCE BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS Smarter building systems and integrated control environments are becoming commonplace MONITORING PERFORMANCE While not new to the 2014 version, the Guideline includes a Performance-Monitoring Informative Annex. The rationale for this annex is that buildings now require ongoing monitoring of their performance to meet enterprise sustainability policies, or to comply with external standards such as LEED, ASHRAE 90.1, or EnergyStar. The Guideline defines three levels of performancemonitoring, based on the current capabilities of BAS front-end software offerings in the marketplace. Level one concerns data collection and trending. Virtually all BAS front ends have this capability. Level two is about trendlog data analysis. It uses data collected at level 1 and analyses it in more detail. The BAS software must support X-Y plots (for example, outdoor air temperature vs chiller kW/ton) or be able to export this data to a third-party tool like Microsoft Excel. Level three details equipment fault detection, diagnosis and event response. It includes the functionality of levels one and two, and provides the tools and additional data points to undertake equipment monitoring and fault diagnosis. HOW TO JOIN THE SMART SET To build intelligent buildings, designers must integrate HVAC systems with IT and internet networks that control lighting, home automation and security. Ron Bernstein and Grant Wichenko explain the holistic approach taken by ASHRAEs updated guide the document is now IP and internetready, communication protocol neutral, and integrates lighting, fire and other building control systems into the BAS. It also provides guidance on legacy system integration. The focus of building systems has shifted from direct digital control to being BAS and enterprise-centric. This reflects significant industry changes over the past few years as IT-based integration needs become mainstream. BAS designers need to provide more IT network integration details in specifications, and the guideline provides helpful details. As more analytics tools, big data tools, advanced connectivity, and cloud services are entering the market, it is important that building systems be designed to help embrace and integrate easily into these enterprise services. Much BAS equipment is now connected to the enterprise local area network (LAN) either directly or via control network interfaces. This allows critical data, such as alarms and meter readings, to be shared by users in the enterprise besides facility management personnel, who are normally responsible for the maintenance and operation of equipment. T he ASHRAE SGPC-13 Committee has produced and updated the Building Automation System (BAS) Guideline Specification for more than 20 years. The guide is aimed at those involved in the design and specification of BAS systems. It provides guidance on the requirements for open, integrated building automation. Chapter 4 of the Guideline suggests how BAS designers can work with the enterprise IT department. For example, if the BAS is to be a system on the enterprise LAN, the installation must follow IT standards for cabling and identification. IP addresses must be assigned by IT. Most importantly, BAS designers must embrace IT concerns about network security and adhere strictly to protocols for remote access. The protocols referred to in the document include BACnet, Konnex (KNX), LonMark (LON), Modbus, Profibus and ZigBee. It is now common for other control systems lighting, gas detection, fire alarm and metering (gas, electric, water) to be connected to the enterprise LAN. It eOR RMadE MONITORING PERFORMANCE Addendum A (now out for public review) to the 2014 edition adds changes that reflect advancements in technology and information availability; these will enhance the adoption and implementation of smarter building systems and joined-up control environments. While retaining and updating the original material on specifying BASs, was assumed that these systems would be designed and specified by others as standalone or networked, but they would be integrated into the facilitys common BAS. The guideline employs a three-tier system architecture model as standard integration strategy (see more via www.cibsejournal.com). BAS designers can apply this same design intent to other building systems such as lift monitoring or laboratory controls. Chapter 12 BAS Device Network Design provides significant detail for designers to use in specifications. This chapter provides language for the integration of key building systems into the BAS. Chapter 13 introduces information relevant for incorporating legacy systems. It discusses options and provides a checklist to help guide professionals in both understanding the issues and trying to extend the life of older systems. The public review draft is open for comments until 5 January 2015 at ASHRAE.org CJ RON BERNSTEIN is president of RBCG and GRANT WICHENKO is president of Appin Associates "