Building Management System Course

Lesson 1 • Regulatory and Standards Landscape

Covers energy codes, safety standards, and environmental regulations governing BMS design. Students apply compliance awareness to system planning decisions.

Lesson 2 • Primary Subsystems Integrated by BMS

Surveys HVAC, lighting, electrical, fire, and security subsystems managed by BMS. Establishes the breadth of integration students will configure and monitor.

Lesson 3 • Core BMS System Architecture

Explains the three-tier BMS architecture: field, automation, and management levels. Provides the structural framework for understanding all subsequent system components.

Lesson 4 • Sensors, Actuators, and Field Devices

Introduces the physical devices that collect data and execute commands in a BMS. Students connect device types to their roles in closed-loop control.

Lesson 1 • BACnet Protocol Deep Dive

Covers BACnet objects, services, and network types used in open BMS environments. Students configure BACnet devices and troubleshoot common interoperability issues.

Lesson 2 • Network Design and Cybersecurity Basics

Applies network segmentation, VLANs, and firewall principles to BMS infrastructure. Students design secure network architectures that protect operational data.

Lesson 3 • BMS Communication Fundamentals

Explains serial, Ethernet, and wireless transmission basics relevant to BMS. Grounds protocol selection in physical and logical network principles.

Lesson 4 • Modbus and LonWorks Protocols

Examines Modbus RTU/TCP and LonWorks for legacy and specialised BMS applications. Students map registers and configure nodes for data exchange.

Lesson 1 • Air-Side Control Sequences

Programs supply air temperature, mixed air, and economiser control sequences. Students implement sequences that balance comfort, air quality, and energy use.

Lesson 2 • HVAC Fault Detection and Diagnostics

Introduces rule-based and data-driven fault detection for HVAC equipment. Students configure alarms and diagnostic rules to reduce equipment downtime.

Lesson 3 • Control Loop Theory and Tuning

Explains proportional, integral, and derivative control and their application to HVAC loops. Students tune PID parameters to achieve stable, responsive control.

Lesson 4 • Water-Side Control Sequences

Covers chilled water, hot water, and condenser water plant control strategies. Students configure differential pressure reset and plant staging sequences.

Lesson 1 • Lighting Control Technologies

Surveys dimming, switching, and daylight harvesting technologies used in BMS-integrated lighting. Students match technology to application requirements.

Lesson 2 • Emergency Lighting and Generator Integration

Connects emergency lighting systems and standby generators to BMS monitoring. Students configure transfer logic and test sequences for life safety compliance.

Lesson 3 • Demand Response and Load Shedding

Implements automated load shedding and demand response sequences within BMS. Students prioritise loads and configure shed sequences to reduce peak demand charges.

Lesson 4 • Lighting Scenes and Scheduling

Programs time-based schedules and scene presets for different occupancy and task conditions. Students create schedules that reduce energy without compromising comfort.

Lesson 1 • Graphical Programming and Logic Blocks

Uses function block and ladder logic editors to build control sequences visually. Students translate sequence-of-operations documents into executable programs.

Lesson 2 • BMS Software Platform Overview

Compares leading BMS software architectures, licensing models, and deployment options. Students evaluate platforms against project requirements before configuration begins.

Lesson 3 • Point Database Configuration

Creates and organises BMS point databases including naming conventions and engineering units. Accurate databases are the foundation for reliable monitoring and control.

Lesson 4 • Scheduling, Trending, and Reporting

Configures time schedules, trend logs, and automated reports within the BMS platform. Students use trend data to verify control performance and support energy audits.

Lesson 1 • Setpoint Reset and Trim-and-Respond

Implements supply air, chilled water, and hot water setpoint reset strategies. Students apply trim-and-respond logic to minimise energy whilst maintaining comfort.

Lesson 2 • Whole-Building Energy Optimisation

Coordinates HVAC, lighting, and plug load controls for whole-building energy reduction. Students configure integrated optimisation sequences and measure aggregate savings.

Lesson 3 • Energy Baseline and Benchmarking

Establishes energy baselines using utility data and BMS trend logs for comparison. Students calculate energy use intensity and benchmark against industry standards.

Lesson 4 • Energy Reporting and Continuous Improvement

Creates energy dashboards and exception reports that drive ongoing operational improvements. Students establish review cycles and corrective action processes.

Lesson 1 • Alarm Notification and Escalation

Configures multi-channel alarm notification including email, SMS, and on-screen alerts. Students design escalation trees that ensure critical alarms reach the right responders.

Lesson 2 • Fault Detection and Diagnostics Strategies

Extends rule-based FDD to cross-system diagnostics using BMS data correlation. Students build diagnostic rules that identify root causes, not just symptoms.

Lesson 3 • Preventive Maintenance Integration

Links BMS runtime counters and equipment data to computerised maintenance management. Students configure maintenance triggers that shift from calendar to condition-based schedules.

Lesson 4 • Alarm System Design Principles

Applies alarm rationalisation principles to define priority, category, and response for each alarm. Students reduce alarm floods by designing meaningful, actionable alarm sets.

Lesson 1 • BMS Project Planning and Scope Definition

Develops project scope, point lists, and sequence-of-operations documents for BMS projects. Clear scope documents prevent scope creep and align stakeholder expectations.

Lesson 2 • Post-Occupancy Optimisation and Retro-Commissioning

Applies retro-commissioning techniques to existing BMS installations to restore design performance. Students identify and correct control drift, sensor failures, and sequence errors.

Lesson 3 • System Handover and Owner Training

Prepares as-built documentation, O&M manuals, and delivers operator training at handover. Students ensure owners can operate and maintain the BMS independently.

Lesson 4 • Functional Performance Testing

Executes functional performance tests to verify each control sequence operates as designed. Students document test results and manage deficiency resolution processes.