It is no secret that building owners and managers want an open building automation solution, but “open” is subject to interpretation. Open means different things depending on your point of view. The most important point of view is that of building owners and managers. They will live with this essential tool to manage their facilities for years to come. In this 3-part series, we define true open BAS solutions that empower building owners and managers to competitively source building automation services for the life of the solution from among the most qualified system integrators. The result is greater flexibility to control the building you way want, independent of any given manufacturer, using the best solution providers at competitive prices.
Four criteria define a true open building automation solution, but before we go there, let’s talk about “true.” Isn’t an open solution an open solution? Not always. A common example is a building automation solution using what is said to be open because it leverages an open protocol, yet the software itself is proprietary. In this case, you have a BAS to which you can add devices from other manufacturers, but only the provider of the original BAS can program the new devices into the existing system or add them to the user interface. Such a common misconception about “open” makes it necessary to look at what open truly means.
A truly open BAS solution will deliver a single, seamless, building operations network that connects building operators to all the systems in their building, connects those systems to each other, enables building-wide operating standards, and creates a competitive playing field among qualified system integrators to provide building automation services. With these types of benefits accruing to building owners, the definition of open is very important.
IN THE BUILDING OWNER’S BEST INTEREST
We submit “open,” when defined in the best interest of a building owner, includes four components. Anything less than these four components detracts from the value a building owner should expect.
- Industry Standard Protocols like BACnet, LON and Modbus enable system to system communications and data sharing. Controls from different manufacturers and subsystems can communicate directly with each other at the system level, enabling efficiencies like building-wide operating standards, energy strategies and control practices.
- Open Licensing of the controller software platform. This creates choice among multiple, qualified system integrators. A truly open BAS means building owners can choose among multiple properly licensed professional system integrators to engineer, interface to, and communicate with their building automation system.
- Engineering Tools. Non-proprietary programming and graphic generation software are provided to you as part of the initial installation. Engineering documents, the system database and passwords project that you bought in the first place.
- Non-proprietary User Interface. This is the essential icing on the cake that connects a building operator to their building. Data from the different systems and protocols in a building is normalized and presented in a uniform manner on a single user interface accessible through desktop, mobile and touch panels, anywhere, anytime.
All the tools to realize a truly open BAS solution are available on the market today. Building operators should seek out system integrators who take a collaborative approach to working with building operators. Collaboration is essential. These system integrators welcome the competition from truly open solutions because they are confident in their ability to earn your business based on performance and a truly collaborative approach.
A truly open BAS paves the way for a single, seamless building operations network that offers game-changing benefits for building owners and managers.
- Streamlined building operations from systems that are now connected and can talk to each other.
- Data sharing among devices that enables building-wide energy efficiency standards.
- Common control practices throughout the building for ease of operations and maintenance.
- The tools to self-perform basic maintenance or system enhancements, saving your system integrator budget for more complex or extensive work.
- Fair, competitive pricing for service and upgrades from qualified system integrators.
- Access to non-proprietary, best-in-class products from multiple sources versus a single source.
For more information about truly open BAS solutions, refer to our website, https://jms-ibs.com or call JMS at 214-382-4590.
