BACS Academy

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1. INTRODUCTION TO BACS AND TBM

This webinar kicks off a new e-learning Academy by Leonardo ENERGY, in partnership with eu.bac and REHVA.

This first webinar provides you with an overview of the different aspects of building automation, controls and technical building management:

• IN A NUTSHELL: definitions and terminology, devices and hardware, communication protocols, architecture model for building automation and controls network, and efficiency classes and including a list of existing resources (some in the public domain) for further reading.
• ROLES AND BENEFITS: describing key aspects related to monitoring and control of equipment/building system, control of indoor environment, environmental protection, interaction with occupants, net zero energy buildings, technical building management.

2. BACS STANDARDISATION FRAMEWORK

From potato chips to building automation and controls, standardisation facilitates process streamlining. This is specifically true for building automation and control systems when considering the multitude of components and the tailor-made per individual building service and/or equipment aspects.

Whether the focus is on design/specification, installation or operation/maintenance of building automation and controls, having a strong basis in terms of standardisation is of equal added value.

Further emphasis is given when keeping in mind the overarching role and deep impact of building automation and controls on actual building performance (e.g. energy, environment, indoor environment quality).

This webinar aims to provide a solid foundation for building automation and controls standards and to showcase EN ISO 16484 and EN 15232, relevant for all building professionals.

3. A POLICY PERSPECTIVE ON BUILDING AUTOMATION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS

Improved management of technical building systems (TBS) can offer a cost-effective potential to reduce building energy consumption, improve the quality of life of occupants and facilitate the integration of renewable energy systems by providing flexibility to the connected energy grids.

Multiple policy initiatives related to BACS currently exist or are under development. This presentation will give an overview and some examples of European policy tools and/or local implementations. The most relevant policy tools that can help contribute accessing these savings potentials are the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD), the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), Ecodesign Directive (ED) and Energy Labelling Regulation (ELR).

Some examples of existing policy will be given and reference will be made to the recently completed Smart Readiness Indicator study and the ongoing Ecodesign BACS preparatory study.

4. BUILDING AUTOMATION AND CONTROLS: THE COMING TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS REVOLUTION

The presentation will provide an overview of the BACS market, its current characteristics and future trends impacting the market. The global market for controllers (DDC, room and field controllers) as well as software and hardware is forecast to grow from USD 7 billion in 2017 to USD 8.5 billion (manufacturer’s selling price) in 2022. The fastest growth is projected for the software, which reflects the growing strategic importance of data and analytics in managing buildings. Convergence/IoT, smart home devices, smart connected HVAC and increasing SaaS/cloud offerings are all factors that will impact the future BACS market.

5. PRODUCT CERTIFICATION AND SYSTEM AUDIT

The eu.bac assessment method helps you find the answers to the questions:

– In what content does your BACS contribute to energy efficiency of your building?

– Is the full potential of the installed BACS being used?

This methodology offers an uncomplicated and effective way to benchmark the BACS and to identify improvement potential without a detailed analysis. The outcome shows the gap between the actual functionality and the optimal control functions for the specific system. It points out the improvement potential that could be achieved with better control strategies.

6. BUILDING COMMISSIONING, ONGOING COMMISSIONING AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Building regulations on energy efficiency and the new technologies result in increasingly complex technical building systems (TBS). This causes quality risks and requires new approaches ensuring operational building performances. The risks are related to all stages of the building: pre-design, design, construction and operations. Quality management (QM), standardised technical monitoring (TM) and the Commissioning Process (Cx) are key in this context.

Building Automation and Controls Systems (BACS) have a special role in delivering building performance. They enable efficient operation and can provide data for quality management services. Due to the technical and organisational complexity of building projects it is important to define a standardised process to effectively carry out assessment services relying on BACS.

The webinar introduces the concept of Technical Monitoring and Commissioning Process as means of quality management, and presents digital tools and regulatory good practices developed with help of the EU-funded QUANTUM project.

7. MOTIVATING CHANGE IN USER BEHAVIOUR WITH BACS

To successfully accelerate the transition to a low-carbon society and economy more emphasis should be on motivating people and increasing their awareness leading to an energy efficient building use.

The aim of MOBISTYLE (a 42-months European project funded under Horizon 2020) is to motivate behavioural change by raising consumer awareness through a provision of attractive personalized information on user’s energy use, indoor environment and health, through information and communication technology (ICT) based services.

Grounded in MOBISTYLE ideas, visions and approach, this webinar will share the project’s lessons learned so far. It will also brainstorm on current and future challenges in the area of Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) encouraging behavioural change, and document actionable new ideas that could help improve the project’s progress and maximize the European replication impacts.

8. BUILDING AUTOMATION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS IN THE REVISED EPBD: HOW TO CHECK COMPLIANCE?

To support the Member States in implementing the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), eu.bac has created a compliance checklist for Building Automation and Control System requirements related to the mandatory capabilities listed in Art.14 and Art.15.

The checklist provides a necessary reference list and highly detailed tool for building owners and managers, compliance inspectors, building designers, installers and policymakers.

This webinar explains the need for a tool to verify BACS compliance and introduces the checklist and asociated documents. In conclusion the larger role of BACS in the EU’s digital transformation is explored.