Here you will find many terms and acronyms/abbreviations related to Building Automation Systems. We deal with many different systems on a day to day basis, but everyone else may not. See the list below for some of the common terms and abbreviations associated with a BAS:
- Ohms: Measures electrical resistance.
- (ASHRAE) American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers: An organization composed of Engineers in the fields of heating, refrigerating, and air-conditioning who set standards and codes for energy efficiency.
- (BACnet) Building Automation Control Network: Allows communication of building automation and control systems for applications such as heating, ventilation, AC, lighting, access, and fire systems
- (BBMD) BACnet Broadcast Management Device: Allows BACnet devices on multiple IP subnets to communicate with each other. Otherwise, typical BACnet broadcast-type messages are blocked at standard TCP/IP routers.
- (BTU) British Thermal Unit: Approximately the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
- (BAS) Building Automation System: This term describes the system in place in any building that runs, monitors, and records data coming from different utilities and systems such as electricity, water, and natural gas
- Central Plant: A building that houses chiller and boilers for a building or group of buildings.
- Chilled Beam: A cooling or heating systems that uses circulated water moving in coils placed in the ceiling or suspended in beams.
- Chiller: Hardware that cools water for use in a building.
- CHW: Chilled Water, in reference to the evaporator (building) side of a chiller system. Usually used in point names for pumps and supply/return water temperatures
- CW: Condenser Water, typically in reference to the condenser (cooling tower) side of a chiller system. Usually used in point names for pumps and supply/return water temperature
- (ESCO) Energy Services Company: Typically a Johnson Controls or Siemens-type company that will perform energy audit to identify where it can reduce energy consumption and expenses.
- (ESPC) Energy Savings Performance Contract: A contract that allow organizations to fund facility improvements with energy and operating savings that the upgrades produce. Savings are guaranteed by an ESCO which limits financial risk.
- (Ft-lbs.) Foot Pounds: A unit of energy or work based on the standard acceleration of gravity on earth (9.806 m/s2).
- (VAV) Variable Air Volume box: Typically has a built-in damper and heating coil to regulate temperature of an occupied space such as an office or conference room