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Building Automation Systems and Open Building Systems: Design Specs

Abby Thompson Abby Thompson

Building Automation Systems (BAS) specifications are a required piece of any building construction, upgrade or retrofit project.

Learn about Building Automation Systems and Design Specifications for Open Building Systems in Ron Bernstein‘s latest course.

Typically developed by a consulting engineer, a good specification can significantly enhance the effectiveness and usability of a project. A bad specification can have serious detrimental effects on the project.

Owners desire their building projects be based upon industry best practices, such as open systems and interoperability. Open interoperable systems are based upon the principal that the technology and infrastructure are designed in such a way that the owner has greater flexibility, choices, and control over their building systems and projects and can competitively bid the initial install, future upgrades, and even the ongoing service contract. The alternate is a more vender-centric system that ties or locks the installed system to one vendor.

Open systems specifications and architectures give greater “ownership” to the owner rather than being locked into a closed or proprietary sole sourced solution. In today’s BAS market, open systems are becoming the norm and a well-educated specifier and owner can take advantage of simple specification language that helps ensure an open interoperable system in installed.

This course presents a high level view of specifications, their elements, and introduces some of the key concepts to ensure an open solution.

Topics include:

    • Specification Requirements
    • Project Types
    • Value to Teams: Engineer, Contractor, Owner
    • Spec Elements
    • Specification Document
    • Drawings, Call Outs, Points Lists, Sequences, Integration
    • Standards vs. Specs
    • Naming/Tagging Conventions
    • References
    • Open vs. Closed Systems
    • Ten Questions on Open Systems

Enroll today and remember to check out Ron’s Building Automation (and Building Automation LIVE) course!

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Ron Bernstein – President, RBCG, LLC

Ron Bernstein is president of RBCG, LLC providing consulting, engineering, research, and educational services to organizations needing help navigating their energy and automation strategy. RBCG works with end users, owners, specifiers, suppliers, and integrators to develop IoT, interoperability, and open systems approaches to building automation, smart cities, outdoor lighting, BAS system design, network security, control system architecture, and communication protocol implementations. He is a significant contributor to ASHRAE’s new Building Automation System (BAS) Guide Specification, the MSSLC’s Adaptive Roadway Lighting Guidespec, CEA 709.5/6 LonWorks Home and Building Device Interoperability Standards, the US Army Corps of Engineers Unified Monitoring and Control Specification, Suncor Energy’s BAS and BMS Standards for the Oil and Gas industry, and many others. Learn more about Ron…

Building Automation Building Performance Building Science Sustainable Building
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Abby Thompson
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Abby Thompson

Abby is HeatSpring's Product Marketing Manager located in Boston, Massachusetts. She is passionate about people and education, particularly in diversifying the burgeoning fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Abby works with instructors to build new courses and engages with our community of students and experts through HeatSpring Magazine and social media.

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