Building Services Design & Engineering

Main Components of a BAS

Building Automation Systems can be implemented either during initial construction or through a retrofitting process for an existing structure. It uses five component categories to provide a smart building environment.

Sensors:
These devices track temperature, humidity, the number of people in a room, the lighting level and other values. The sensors transmit this information to centralized controllers.

Controller:
This component acts as the "brain" of the BAS. It collects data from the sensors and then sends commands to HVAC units, lighting systems, security alarms and other connected parts.

Output devices:
Once the controller sends out a command, actuators and relays go into action to follow the requirements. For example, they can reduce or increase the heating in a particular part of the building, dim lights in unused offices, or turn on the air conditioning before people come to work.

Communication protocols:
The BAS uses a specific language that's understood by the system's individual components. BACnet and Modbus are the most commonly used options.

Terminal interface:
Users can interact with the BAS through this interface. It presents information so that users can monitor the condition of the building or choose to override settings manually.