Building Automation Systems (BMS) Course

Lesson 1 • What Is a Building Automation System

Defines BAS scope, purpose, and value proposition in commercial and industrial facilities. Sets the conceptual baseline for all subsequent technical content.

Lesson 2 • Business and Operational Drivers

Explains energy cost reduction, occupant comfort, and regulatory compliance as primary BAS justifications. Links technical decisions to business outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Industry Standards and Protocols Introduction

Surveys dominant open and proprietary protocols used in BAS environments. Prepares students to evaluate interoperability requirements in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • Mechanical Systems BAS Controls

Maps HVAC, lighting, and plumbing systems to their automation counterparts. Provides context for why each system requires monitoring and control.

Lesson 1 • Occupancy and Indoor Air Quality Sensors

Introduces PIR, ultrasonic, and CO2 sensors that drive demand-controlled ventilation and lighting. Links sensor data to occupant health and energy savings.

Lesson 2 • Actuators and Final Control Elements

Details electric, pneumatic, and electronic actuators for valves and dampers. Explains torque, stroke, and fail-safe requirements for reliable control.

Lesson 3 • Wiring, Signal Types, and Terminations

Covers analog (0–10 V, 4–20 mA), digital, and pulse signal wiring standards. Ensures students can read wiring diagrams and terminate field devices correctly.

Lesson 4 • Temperature and Humidity Sensing

Covers RTD, thermocouple, and thermistor technologies alongside capacitive humidity sensors. Establishes measurement accuracy requirements for HVAC control loops.

Lesson 1 • Alarms, Interlocks, and Safety Logic

Implements alarm thresholds, equipment interlocks, and safety shutdowns within controller programmes. Ensures students can protect equipment and occupants through logic.

Lesson 2 • PID Control Theory and Tuning

Explains proportional, integral, and derivative terms and their effect on system response. Students apply tuning methods to achieve stable, accurate control loops.

Lesson 3 • Setpoints, Schedules, and Overrides

Covers occupied and unoccupied setpoint strategies, time scheduling, and local override logic. Connects scheduling to energy savings and occupant comfort.

Lesson 4 • Direct Digital Controller Hardware

Examines DDC controller architectures, processor types, and I/O module configurations. Provides the hardware foundation needed before programming control logic.

Lesson 1 • Modbus and Legacy Protocols

Covers Modbus RTU and TCP register mapping, LonWorks basics, and DALI for lighting. Prepares students to integrate legacy and third-party equipment.

Lesson 2 • Network Troubleshooting and Diagnostics

Applies packet capture, bus analysers, and ping tests to isolate BAS communication faults. Builds systematic diagnostic skills used throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Wireless Communication in BAS

Surveys ZigBee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, and LoRaWAN for wireless sensor and device integration. Addresses range, interference, and security trade-offs.

Lesson 4 • Ethernet and IP Network Infrastructure

Explains VLANs, subnetting, switches, and firewall rules relevant to BAS deployments. Connects IT networking concepts to BAS reliability and security.

Lesson 1 • User Access Control and Security

Configures role-based access, audit trails, and password policies for BAS operator workstations. Protects system integrity against unauthorized changes.

Lesson 2 • Supervisory Platform Architecture

Describes server-client, web-based, and cloud-hosted supervisory architectures. Establishes the software context for graphics, trending, and alarm management.

Lesson 3 • Trending, Logging, and Reporting

Configures trend logs, interval sampling, and automated reports for energy and performance analysis. Links data collection to operational decision-making.

Lesson 4 • Building Graphics and HMI Design

Covers floor plan graphics, dynamic objects, and colour conventions for effective operator interfaces. Applies human factors principles to BAS display design.

Lesson 1 • Air Handling Unit Control Sequences

Programmes mixed air, supply air temperature, and static pressure control for single-duct AHUs. Integrates economiser, preheat, and cooling sequences.

Lesson 2 • VAV System Control and Optimisation

Covers VAV box minimum airflow, zone temperature control, and duct static pressure reset. Demonstrates how VAV optimisation reduces fan energy.

Lesson 3 • Chiller and Boiler Plant Sequencing

Implements chiller staging, chilled water reset, and boiler lead-lag sequencing. Connects plant-level control to building load and energy efficiency.

Lesson 4 • Demand-Controlled Ventilation

Configures CO2-based DCV for single-zone and multi-zone systems per ventilation standards. Balances indoor air quality with minimum outdoor air energy costs.

Lesson 1 • Demand Limiting and Load Shedding

Configures peak demand monitoring, load shed sequences, and utility demand response programs. Reduces peak demand charges through automated load control.

Lesson 2 • Whole-Building Energy Analytics

Uses energy use intensity benchmarking, regression models, and weather normalization for performance analysis. Enables data-driven capital planning decisions.

Lesson 3 • Energy Metering and Submetering

Integrates electrical, gas, and thermal meters into the BAS for granular energy tracking. Establishes the data foundation for all optimisation strategies.

Lesson 4 • Fault Detection and Diagnostics

Implements rule-based and statistical FDD to identify equipment faults and inefficiencies. Connects automated diagnostics to maintenance cost reduction.

Lesson 1 • Installation Coordination and Startup

Manages controller mounting, wiring termination, and initial power-up procedures. Ensures field installation quality before functional testing begins.

Lesson 2 • BAS Design Review and Submittal Process

Evaluates points lists, sequences of operations, and network drawings during design review. Identifies coordination issues before installation begins.

Lesson 3 • Owner Training and Project Closeout

Delivers operator training, as-built documentation, and warranty handoff at project closeout. Ensures owners can operate and maintain the system independently.

Lesson 4 • Functional Performance Testing

Executes functional test procedures for AHUs, VAV systems, and plant equipment. Documents pass/fail results and deficiency resolution.