ASHRAE updating guidance for building automation systems

ASHRAE has issued Guideline 13-2014, Specifying Building Automation Systems. It provides designers with background information, recommendations for good practice, project considerations, and a detailed discussion of options.

It also has a new Annex D Performance Monitoring to assist in the specification of performance monitoring systems. Click here.

ASHRAE is already looking ahead to changes to the 2017 version of the guideline to update it for the Internet. Addendum a to the standard is open for an advisory public review from June 6 to July 21, 2014.

Dave Kahn, chair of the ASHRAE Guideline 13 committee says: “Under the proposed change, the guideline is being rewritten to update the use of the Internet as the primary method for networking BAS devices,” Kahn says. “The Guideline contains very little specification language on the Internet. Our Committee hosted a consultation seminar at the 2013 ASHRAE Conference, and attendees told us internet connectivity was the top issue we need to address.”

The significant changes under proposed addenda a are:

• Discussion of BAS Design Options using IP and non-IP devices

• Use of new software tools, such as energy dashboards

• Strategies that BAS designers can use when working with the Enterprise IT department to deal with securing BAS devices on the Enterprise Intranet.

• A new Clause 12, BAS Device Network Design, written as a standalone section so readers who are responsible for this work can refer to one section for all information on this topic.

• A new Clause 13 addressing options for migrating legacy control systems to the Enterprise Intranet

Click here for more information.