Four components make up a Truly Open BAS Solution.
- Industry Standard Protocols
- Open Licensing
- Engineering Tools
- Non-proprietary User Interface
We emphasize the idea of “Truly Open” because it is a term that is often misunderstood or not appreciated for its full meaning.
Building owners want “open” building automation solutions for many reasons, including
- Making systems work together more effectively across a single, seamless building operations network.
- Establishing a technical foundation for leveraging IoT in the building
- Increasing the degree of control a building operations team has over the building
- Giving building owners and managers a competitive playing field to source BAS services
- Delivering an enhanced occupant experience by making the building more responsive to the needs of the people in the building.
Without a Truly Open BAS Solution comprising the four components mentioned above, these objectives become much harder, if not impossible to achieve.
Our previous article discussed the effect Industry Standard Protocols and Open Licensing have on Truly Open BAS Solutions. In this article we look at how Engineering Tools and a Non-proprietary User Interface give operators more control over their building and the manner in which the BAS is serviced, upgraded, and expanded over time.
ENGINEERING TOOLS
Engineering Tools are the software used by the system integrator to program and configure the BAS upon initial installation. To some extent, during the initial install, these tools are in the background; perhaps even unimportant to the building operator at the time, but this is short lived.
Early in the life of a building automation system, there will a need for maintenance. Later on, software upgrades will be required. And finally, a few years down the road, the BAS may need to be expanded or modified to accommodate new tenants or new space configuration in the building.
As part of the initial installation, non-proprietary Engineering Tools (software) should be provided to the building owner as part of the BAS license they have purchased. This gives the building operations team the tools they need to handle basic system maintenance or modifications.
For more complex maintenance or system modifications, possession of non-proprietary Engineering Tools allows the building operations team to receive competitive bids for the services they require from local, qualified and properly licensed BAS system integrators.
Possession of the non-proprietary Engineering Tools creates the best scenario for building owners in which they can self-execute basic services and then pay a fair price for services from a system integrator with the expertise to execute more complex system maintenance, upgrades and enhancements.
NON-PROPRIETARY USER INTERFACE
As with Engineering Tools, if the User Interface is proprietary, only an authorized system integrator can add points to the UI. Furthermore, you will not be able to add points from different manufacturers systems to the UI, leaving you with the age-old frustration of multiple interfaces into your BAS.
With a Non-proprietary User Interface, data across different manufacturers’ systems can be brought into a single User Interface and presented in a uniform manner. Such a User Interface is accessed through any web browser on desktop, mobile, or touch display.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
In the first of this three-part series, we introduced the idea of 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. Building owners and managers can realize the benefits of this solution by working with consulting engineers and contractors who understand and support the four essentials of a true open building automation solution.
Among other benefits, the payoff includes
- A building that can take advantage of Building IoT to drive greater operational effectiveness, energy efficiency, and a better experience for occupants.
- Greater productivity in any building where people learn, work, pray, heal, shop, or play.
- The ability to source building automation services from the most qualified, collaborative system integrators at fair, competitive prices.
- More options when it is time to upgrade old systems or add onto existing systems.
For more information about truly open BAS solutions, refer to our website, https://jms-ibs.com or call JMS at 214-382-4590 (DFW).
