How To Learn Building Automation Systems

Doug Everhart, PE, LEEP AP, K-12 education practice managing director|main, Henderson Engineers, Lenexa, Kansas

Keith Hammelman, PE, principal, CannonDesign, Chicago

Brian A. Hummel, PE, LEED AP BD+C, mechanical engineer, senior associate, DLR Grouping, Phoenix

Richard Sparozic, PE, mechanical engineer, Kohler Ronan Consulting Engineers, Danbury, Conn.

Casimir Zalewski, PE, LEED AP, CPD, principal, Stantec, Berkley, Mich.

Doug Everhart, PE, LEEP AP, K-12 education practice director|principal, Henderson Engineers, Lenexa, Kansas; Keith Hammelman, PE, master, CannonDesign, Chicago; Brian A. Hummel, PE, LEED AP BD+C, mechanical engineer, senior associate, DLR Grouping, Phoenix; Richard Sparozic, PE, mechanical engineer, Kohler Ronan Consulting Engineers, Danbury, Conn.; Casimir Zalewski, PE, LEED AP, CPD, chief, Stantec, Berkley, Mich. Courtesy: Henderson Engineers, CannonDesign, DLR Group, Kohler Ronan Consulting Engineers, Stantec

From your experience, what systems within K-12 school projects are benefiting from automation that previously might not take been?

Doug Everhart: In a recent projection with Olathe Public Schools in Kansas, we helped the district maximize its investment in the facility with a building monitoring organization — producing live reports on the facility's electricity, gas and water usage. Thus, providing the district's facilities team with better, more automated command of the edifice's systems in addition to more authentic and timely performance data.

Casimir Zalewski: Pocket-sized and large unitary systems can provide BACnet interfaces providing One thousand-12 schoolhouse facilities higher levels of integration and remote diagnostic capabilities to help them understand how the systems are responding to changing conditions throughout the school day and seasons. Additionally, lighting and lighting control systems are able to provide daylighting, dimming and greater levels of control for reduced price points.

Keith Hammelman: The automation of lighting control systems has seen an increased level of automation. This includes the incorporation of circuitous lighting control systems, daylighting and integration of the lighting control systems into HVAC system operation to let for increased operational efficiency of the facility. This increased level of automation has besides allowed for the increased customization of the educational environments for a diverseness of modes of operation.

We accept too seen an increase in the automation of security systems and incorporation keyless door and hardware systems. By providing for a keyless door and hardware system a school district tin provide additional safety in instance of the demand to lockdown a facility.

How has the employ of smart technologies helped meet the requirements schools have set to achieve healthier buildings regarding COVID-xix restrictions?

Casimir Zalewski: The apply of filter monitoring has increased. Equally the level of filtration has increased along with the cost of replacement filters, it has become more of import to monitor pre and final filters separately to try and extend the life of the MERV thirteen or xiv filters. In equipment where MERV 13 filters have been retrofitted, a closer monitoring of pressure drop has become more critical to ensure the HVAC equipment is providing proper airflow at all times.

Keith Hammelman: We have been using sensors to measure the level of particulate matter, CO₂ and volatile organic compounds within buildings to ensure that spaces are providing ventilation air to the spaces. The quantity of ventilation air at outside air intakes has also been measured to provide boosted validation of the air being delivered to the spaces.

Doug Everhart: The apply of building monitoring systems, while a higher price solution, provides some other facet where districts can set themselves up for success to accomplish healthier buildings whether that exist for COVID-19 requirements or for typical use of the building. Many districts already accept building monitoring systems in place already and information technology really allows facility managers to proceed better tabs on how their systems are performing in multiple buildings whether that be zone temperature, humidity levels, exhaust fan status, etc.

Richard Sparozic: The firm has been asked on several projects to implement many air quality improving features for the HVAC system. In an effort to ensure these air quality improvement measures are operational, we have specified items such as air filter differential pressure sensors and electric current sensors. Differential pressure sensors for air filters tin allow the building possessor to monitor filter loading and notify facilities staff when to supervene upon an air filter. Electric current sensors have been used to monitor equipment status and ensure that it is operational.

Brian A. Hummel: Having a building automation organisation greatly increases the owner/schoolhouse district's ability to control the HVAC system. Past having a control system, the startup times and building air flush times can be easily increased to improve indoor air quality. Space occupancy monitoring can ensure spaces are set to occupied modes when people are present in spaces to ensure equipment is operating and outside air is being brought into the space.

Many of our newer designs use need-controlled ventilation/CO₂ monitoring to attune outside air to more than closely match infinite occupancy. We are listing command operator options to easily override edifice commencement up times for greater air flushing buildings and functions like need-controlled ventilation/CO₂sensing for periods of time or in zones like classrooms to ensure the code-required outside air quantity is being provided at all occupied times, increasing air quality. This will have some energy usage impacts merely will increment indoor air quality. (Owners must residuum risks and health concerns.)

The West-Maricopa Education Center Southwest Campus NEX Building in Arizona achieved the International Living Future Institute certified net-zero energy level. Courtesy: CDP Commercial, DLR Group

The Due west-Maricopa Education Centre Southwest Campus NEX Edifice in Arizona achieved the International Living Future Institute certified net-zippo energy level. Courtesy: CDP Commercial, DLR Grouping

In what way is the need for more smart technology and features in such buildings affecting your work on these projects?

Casimir Zalewski: Adding boosted smart technology has resulted in boosted controls development and coordination. More smart engineering science can add load to the building automation system and information technology'south important to sympathize the interface betwixt the two. Does the equipment speak BACnet or are college levels of integration or additional gateway devices required to ensure proper performance and reporting? In whatever upshot, it falls on the controls engineer to brand certain the system is designed and specified correctly to maximize the investment in the smart engineering.

Doug Everhart: Every aspect of systems nosotros pattern now accept some course of synergy with the low-voltage world. For example, every bit the need for systems responsiveness to fluctuating occupancy in classrooms continues (as learned during the pandemic), systems integration becomes extremely valuable. Occupancy sensing and space scheduling/programming tied to lighting organisation controls and HVAC direct digital controls allows mechanical and lighting systems to be fix-dorsum or scheduled off for optimum energy savings. As room-based smart devices continue to learn user schedules and class patterns an even farther fine tuning of systems operations tin be realized.

How is your team using building information modeling in conjunction with the architects, trades and owner to design a project?

Brian A. Hummel: All of our projects are constructed in BIM modeling software (Autodesk Revit) in conjunction with architectural, structural, mechanical and plumbing systems. This allows all team members to meet the building iii-dimensionally equally nosotros build the BIM model. On many projects the BIM model is used to perform disharmonism detection reports using software such as Navisworks to list the clashes. The team tin then filter the clashes and right potentially costly clashes in structure.

Doug Everhart: BIM/Revit and other manufacture design and construction tools are driving our industry forrad. Henderson is not just fully Revit and BIM360 capable, we partner with Autodesk and other industry vendors in providing continual comeback and evolution of these blueprint tools. We apply a staff of software designers that helps our firm fully use these tools in the almost efficient and benign ways possible. Every bit technology expands, deject-based, existent-time modeling will go on to be an integral part of the design, planning, procurement and construction processes saving fourth dimension, coin and minimizing the need for design changes afterward on.

Richard Sparozic: Kohler Ronan has been using Revit on the majority of projects recently designed for K-12 schools. It is a swell design tool which can reduce conflicts during design and event in more than streamline structure. Many construction managers have likewise been brought on board during blueprint and have assisted with disharmonism detection using alternative software such as Navisworks.

Has the "internet of things" come up up in discussion or been implemented on such projects? How has this integration impacted the project?

Doug Everhart: Our K-12 clients are starting to ask questions about IoT in schools. I experience like we are right on the cusp of this solution becoming more prevalent in these types of facilities. We should wait an integration of all building systems and IoT-based technology that allows learning environments to be monitored and precisely tuned based on stop-user trends and resulting student functioning. Since both user-level content within the classroom and building systems are now direct interfacing with engineering, this creates tremendous potential for the synergy of systems to be responsive to each individual in the learning environment for increased operation.

Keith Hammelman: The unproblematic reply is yes. On well-nigh of our projects the integration of multiple systems and how this integration has to be planned and provided. We are seeing a push on lighting system design with power over Ethernet as an approach that requires many more trades to coordinate and integration specifications need to exist included in the projection approach.

What smart devices are schoolhouse districts requesting and how are you lot meeting these needs?

Doug Everhart: In our project with Olathe Public Schools in Kansas, the district non only uses the real-time building monitoring data for the facilities team simply besides brand the information available to students at the school. The real time analytics from the monitoring organisation are integrated into the curriculum of the school'southward Greenish Technology Academy – a program that equips the students with the necessary tools and opportunity to learn about the importance of free energy efficient technology. Through this application, the students analyze energy consumption data and are able to have a hand in their everyday environment.

Green Technology Academy – Integrating Building Monitoring in the Thousand-12 Environment Video explains how the students use the software's data in their curriculum.

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