IP Building Automation can deliver real results for facility owners, operators, and occupants. In Part 2 of this two-part series, we dive into Adaptable Architecture, Advanced Applications, and Collaborative Security that are possible with IP Building Automation, as well as examples of IP Building Automation in Education and Commercial Office Buildings.
BACnet/IP’s Impact in Facilities
In Part 1, we talked about the Increased Performance that can be realized with IP Building Automation IO Controllers and their associated robust reliability. Now let’s look at how Adaptable Architecture and Advanced Applications can be game changers for facility owners, operators, and occupants.
Adaptable Architecture
An IP network significantly enhances the adaptability of your BAS network. As an example, a customer with IP-based IO Controllers wanted a controller in a remote part of the building. This would have been cost prohibitive with MSTP, but not with IP. The customer had an IP Wi-Fi hotspot near the location of the controller, allowing connection to the customer’s Wi-Fi network.
Wireless is a great example of adaptability when utilizing IP-based BAS IO Controllers. The core of your BAS runs over CAT 5/6 Ethernet cabling, while areas of the building that are hard to reach with physical wiring can be added to your BAS using wireless communication.
The adaptability of IP-based IO Controllers allows building operators to add automation in locations that were once too costly to reach. Building operators have far greater control over their facilities and can use the BAS to deliver an enhanced experience for building occupants.
Advanced Applications
With the BAS running on IP networks with IP Controllers, there are many possibilities for integration to advanced applications that go beyond traditional HVAC and lighting control. Advanced applications go beyond traditional control of buildings to using data to understand what’s happening in a building and when. This enables smarter facility management. In other words, smart buildings. Let’s look at an example.
Applications like people counting. One customer who manages a major airport is using their IP-based IO Controllers to monitor the open / closed status of airport retail outlets. The project’s second phase intends to monitor the number of people in line at those retail locations. Open / closed status and wait times will be communicated to travelers via a mobile app and information screens in the terminal. Travelers can then make informed decisions on where to quickly grab coffee or lunch before their flights.
We also see customers who are looking to the future. They anticipate other technologies will soon be available in buildings using building data to make better decisions about the operations of the facility. In essence, smart buildings. These customers are beginning to collect that data today over IP networks so they are ready for the improvement coming in the near future. Such data collection requires the performance that only IP IO Controllers can deliver. These customers are ready for the future.
Collaborative Security
Building occupants, building managers, and building engineers all have come to expect the benefits and conveniences that come from IP technologies. This is no different when it comes to building automation systems. Features that enable data exchange with other applications for greater analysis and control significantly impact building performance. Features that allow for building performance comparisons across multiple buildings help to reduce overall energy consumption and costs, supporting ESG initiatives. Such features require security measures that only IP can deliver when the building engineering team works with their IT team. Collaboration around security between these two teams has proven to be very effective in meeting the modern needs of smart buildings in a secure manner.
BACnet/IP in Commercial Real Estate
Many commercial office buildings are updating building technology to remain competitive in their market, and this is true with the building automation system. One customer in a 16-story office building had a proprietary 20-year old BAS. They desired the ability to access the system remotely but were concerned about the security of the old technology. They made the decision to invest in BACnet/IP Controllers to fully modernize their BAS and control of the building. The first step was to put BACnet/IP controls on a new dedicated outside air handling unit serving every floor. The facilities team loved the performance in speed and data throughput of the new IP controls and were ready for more. The next step was to run an Ethernet IP backbone from the top of the building to the central plant chillers in the basement, with a BACnet/IP router on every floor. This allowed for a gradual floor-by-floor upgrade to IP-based IO Controllers all the way down to the VAV box level. Easy on the budget. Better controls for happier tenants. A more competitive commercial office building.
BACnet/IP in Education
A large metropolitan school district in Texas set up thousands of portable classrooms. Due to the cost of connecting these to the BAS, they opted to run the air conditioning 24/7 despite the energy cost. Upon hearing about this, we recommended they consider replacing the standard thermostats on the AC units with smart, Bluetooth® enabled BACnet/IP thermostats which could be connected to the Wi-Fi already installed in the classrooms. Now, with smart thermostats communicating over the IP-based BAS network, it is possible to setback the AC cooling setpoint when classrooms are not in use. The same smart thermostat can control the lighting as well, saving energy when the classroom is unoccupied. Additionally, the smart thermostats can be controlled by teachers to adjust classroom temperatures. And further yet, the smart thermostats can monitor CO2 levels. In other words, fresh air monitoring and control which adds to the quality of the educational environment. Cost savings. Energy savings. Better control. Improved learning environment. All made possible through IP-based BAS solutions that would not be possible at scale with legacy BAS networks.
For more information about the benefits of IP Building Automation in your facilities call JMS at 214-382-4590.
