Intended Audience: Safety, Mechanical & Electrical, Environmental, and Building Design Engineer

PDH UNITS: 2

Introduction to Building Automation Systems (BAS) provides a comprehensive overview of the principles, components, and applications of modern automation systems in buildings. The course explores how BAS integrates mechanical, electrical, and life safety systems to optimize building performance, enhance energy efficiency, and improve occupant comfort. It traces the historical evolution of BAS - from pneumatic and electric control systems to today’s intelligent, data-driven Direct Digital Controls (DDC) - and explains how communication protocols such as

BACnet and Modbus enable system interoperability. Participants will gain an understanding of network topologies, HVAC automation principles, demand response strategies, predictive maintenance applications, and renewable energy integration. The course emphasizes how BAS serves as a critical platform for energy management, operational optimization, and sustainability in modern buildings.

Learning Objectives:

At the successful conclusion of this course, you will learn the following knowledge and skills:

Explain the purpose and functionality of Building Automation Systems (BAS) and their role in managing HVAC, lighting, power, and life safety systems.
Describe the historical development of building automation technologies from pneumatic and electric controls to DDC and IoT-enabled systems.
Identify and explain the key components of BAS, including sensors, controllers, field devices, communication networks, and operator interfaces.
Understand major BAS communication protocols such as BACnet, Modbus, and Ethernet, and explain their role in achieving interoperability among systems.
Interpret common BAS network topologies (daisy-chain, star, and ring) and discuss their advantages, disadvantages, and use cases.
Apply principles of energy efficiency in BAS, focusing on HVAC automation, room-level and distribution-level control parameters, and operational optimization.
Explain the concept and implementation of Demand Response (DR) and Automated Demand Response (ADR) in buildings using BAS.
Discuss predictive maintenance strategies using BAS data analytics, wireless instrumentation, and edge analytics to improve equipment reliability.
Evaluate how BAS can integrate with renewable energy systems, including solar, wind, and geothermal energy, and manage energy storage for optimized performance.
Demonstrate understanding of BAS’s contribution to sustainability and net-zero goals, including its role in decarbonization, energy management, and grid interaction.