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5 Components of Today's Leading Building Automation ...

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Jesse

Jun. 24, 2024
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5 Components of Today's Leading Building Automation ...

There are many benefits to implementing a building automation system. Some of these include lower operating costs, lower maintenance costs, improved energy efficiency, and more comfort for occupants. Implementing these systems has become more popular as the demand for energy-efficient facilities with increased security detail grows.

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With all the advantages today&#;s building automation systems can offer, it&#;s easy to understand why a building owner or manager should choose to implement one. However, there are some key factors to take into consideration when undergoing a building automation system installation.

Define BAS

A building automation system, or BAS, controls the operation of essential building functions. Thus, a BAS consists of both hardware and software. Different BAS components can include security alarms, elevators, lighting, heating, ventilation, elevators, and more. 

Though it&#;s easier and more cost-effective to put a BAS into place during the building construction process, it can also be done afterwards by integrating new systems and controls into the existing architecture. 

A well-designed BAS should work quickly and remotely, as not many building owners and managers are always on site. In a world where many are expected to work with fewer resources, installing a BAS can make managing a building and its various functions run more smoothly.

In addition to improving efficiency, a BAS can help building owners and managers identify potential issues prior to them happening, saving on repair costs and preventing downtime, essentially adding an extra layer of safety and peace of mind.

What Should the BAS Do? 

The BAS automatically controls many functions of a building, but it also provides monitoring services that can alert owners and managers of critical issues as they come up. 

For example, a BAS can send an alert if the temperatures within the building are too high or low, signaling an issue with the heating and cooling systems. This allows for quick action to resolve the issue.

A BAS can also provide alerts related to security so that owners and managers instantly know if there is an intruder in the building. In addition, it can send alerts about air quality or about other problems with the building&#;s mechanical workings.

BAS Layers

Most BAS setups are made up of four different layers, each functioning together. These layers include:

  1. The server/application layer, which gathers the output from different supervisory devices
  2. The supervisory layer, which compiles the traffic from the field controller layer
  3. The field controller layer, which analyzes the data from the inputs and output
  4. The input/output layer, where the sensors and control devices are located

Building Automation System Components 

Within each BAS layer, there are a number of components. Following is a list of the five main components that make up some of the leading BAS setups, including explanations of how the BAS components work together to increase the overall efficiency of a building:

1. Sensors 

The sensors within a BAS are the heart of the system. They monitor and track all of the individual components of the BAS, which include the temperature, lighting, security, and more. If any sensor detects an issue, it will send an alert to the system controls.

2. System Controls

This part of the system is responsible for managing all of the data that is submitted by the sensors. Based on this information, the system controls can send instructions to the different system components. For example, it can alert the heating or cooling system to increase or reduce temperature if the sensor detects an issue.

3. Devices to Control Output

The output devices are the ones that actually carry out the commands sent out by the system controls. Some of these functions may include reducing or increasing heat in different parts of the building depending on the time of day, turning off or dimming lights in parts that aren&#;t currently in use, or turning on security alarms and monitoring on a daily schedule.

4. Communication Languages 

A BAS uses its own communication language to send commands within the system. All the components within the system understand and interact with this language. The two main languages that are most often used within a BAS are BACnet and Modbus. 

5. User Interface

The user interface is what the building owner or manager can access to see the current status of all of the building&#;s systems. It also allows the owner or manager to manually make adjustments to the current system settings, if necessary.

Choosing a user interface for the BAS is an important decision, because it&#;s the way that a building owner or manager will primarily interact while with the BAS. If the interface isn&#;t designed well, it can cause issues and make the overall system difficult to work with. Look for a user-friendly interface that is intuitive. The interface should have a modernized look and be able to offer analytics and comparison tools. It should be easily accessible and not involve complicated apps that need to be frequently updated. 

The interface should also allow for manual adjustments as needed to ensure the comfort of building occupants, no matter the situation.

The Bottom Line: BAS for the Client and the Building

As a systems integrator, you know what a BAS is, what it does, and what components it requires. But, by taking the time to view the BAS through the eyes of the client, you can ensure you deliver the right solution for their needs. You&#;ll also ensure to save precious time and headache by using D-Tools' end-to-end core business software to streamline your project workflow along the way. Schedule a guided tour to learn more.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Automation Components.

Additional reading:
How to Choose Hydraulic Coil

Machine Automation Basics

Automation systems must integrate multiple power and control subsystems and components into a coherent whole. Read on to learn more about machine automation basics.

Chip McDaniel, who works in technical marketing for AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the Mar/Apr   issue of InTech magazine titled Machine Automation Basics. In the article, he first lays out the rationale for improved automation systems.

Faced with ever-increasing cost pressures and demands for improved performance, machine builders are actively seeking new automation solutions with improved cost/performance ratios. In response to these demands, vendors must often incorporate commercial off-the-shelf components and other technologies to deliver more performance at lower costs in smaller form factors.

The article then proceeds to discuss the main items typically used in automation systems.

Components and Subsystems

A machine&#;s automation system primarily consists of power and control components. For a smaller machine, these may be housed in one panel; whereas larger machines may require multiple panels, often one for control and another for power. The main subsystems and components of a machine automation system are:


For smaller machines, a single panel is often used to house both the power distribution system and the control components.

For smaller machines, a single panel is often used to house both the power distribution system and the control components.

Power Distribution

At the machine, the NFPA 79: Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery is the benchmark for industrial machine safety related to fire and electrical hazards. Some of the major requirements for machine control power distribution discussed in these standards include using proper disconnect means, protecting personnel from contact with electrical hazards, and protecting equipment from overcurrent and overloads.

Motor Control and Drives

Motors have special needs in machine control. For every motor, a proper form of electrical control is required, from simple on/off to more complex variable speed applications. Motor control devices include manual motor starters, motor contactors and starters with overloads, drives, and soft starters.


These Fuji manual motor starters and contactors from AutomationDirect have high switching capacity and integrate the functions of a molded case circuit breaker and a thermal overload relay.

A motor circuit must include both overcurrent (short circuit) and overload protection. This typically consists of branch-circuit protection, such as properly rated fuses, and a motor starter with overload protection devices, such as thermal overloads, but additional protection may be needed.

Additional protection to consider for machine control components includes loss of cooling and abnormal temperatures. Ground fault protection is also needed, so a proper ground connection is important.

Safety Systems

A risk assessment drives the safety system design as needed to remove motion-causing energy, including electrical and fluid power, to safely stop the equipment for protection of both personnel and machines. There are various methods for implementing safety systems.

In small machine control applications, a safety relay is probably the simplest way to integrate safety functionality for emergency stop, monitoring a guard door, or protecting an operator reaching through a light curtain. In more advanced machines, safety-rated controllers provide the same functions, but can simplify the integration of multiple safety devices.

Programmable Controllers and I/O

Available in form factors from small to large, the machine controller can be a programmable logic controller (PLC), a programmable automation controller (PAC) or a PC.

The software used to program a family of controllers should be closely examined for ease of use and other features.

Using the same software platform to program a family of controllers is becoming the norm. This allows the designer to first program the system, and then select the right controller based on its capacity to handle the number of I/O points needed, as well as special functions such as proportional, integral, derivative control and data handling.

Discrete and analog inputs and outputs connect the controller to the machine sensors and actuators. These signals can originate in the main control panel through a terminal strip with wiring to field devices, but a distributed I/O architecture is often a better solution.

Communication Systems

Another important part of machine control now and for the future is extensive communication capability. It is a good practice to have multiple Ethernet and serial ports available to integrate to a variety of equipment, computers, HMIs, and business and enterprise systems.


In addition to the multiple communication ports on this BRX controller, additional ports are added using a STRIDE Industrial Ethernet switch and a GS drive serial-to-Ethernet adapter.&#;

Multiple high-speed Ethernet ports ensure responsive HMI communication, as well as peer-to-peer and business system networking. Support of industrial Ethernet protocols, including EtherNet/IP and Modbus TCP/IP, is also important for scanner/client and adapter/server connections.

Human-Machine Interface

The HMI shows vital information about machine conditions using graphical and textual views. HMIs can be in the form of touch panels, text panels, message displays, or industrial monitors. They are used for monitoring, control, status reporting and many other functions.

Machine automation systems consist of multiple subsystems and components to provide the required power distribution, safety, and real-time control. Each of these subsystems and components must work together, and many are often networked to each other via either hardwiring, or increasingly via digital communication links.

Careful design and upfront planning will ensure the automation system is reliable, easy to maintain and flexible.

To read more related articles, click here.

Originally Published: April

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