What building automation does
A building automation system, often called a BAS, monitors temperatures, pressures and equipment status, and adjusts heating, cooling and ventilation to match. Done well, it keeps people comfortable and avoids running equipment when nobody needs it.
Even small buildings benefit from basic controls such as programmable schedules, setbacks and alarms.
What the system includes
- Sensors for temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide and pressure
- Controllers at rooftop units, boilers, pumps and fans
- Wiring and network connections
- Thermostats and room sensors
- A central interface for viewing and adjusting systems
- Alarm notifications for equipment faults
- Integration with lighting controls or access systems where useful
Why self-performing helps
Controls fail most often at the boundary between trades. The mechanical installer assumes the electrician wired it, and the electrician assumes the controls contractor tested it. At HSM, the mechanical, electrical and low voltage crews work for the same company, so one team is accountable for the system working.
Our engineers write the sequence of operations in plain terms, describing what should happen when the temperature rises, when a door opens or when a filter clogs. Those sequences are then tested on site.
Commissioning and handover
Controls need to be commissioned, which means testing each point and each sequence. We do this before handover, and we show your staff how to read the system, change schedules and respond to alarms.
Plan for cybersecurity. Controls that connect to a network should be set up with proper passwords, segmentation and access rules. Our low voltage team handles the network side.
Ask who owns the programming and the passwords. We aim to leave you with documentation and access so you are not locked into one provider. Remote monitoring can also help us spot problems early, such as a rooftop unit short cycling or a space that never reaches temperature, and respond before tenants call.