REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTROLS TRAINING AT PWGSC
A&E SERVICES
D. G. Beattie
2 July 1998
PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT
This report summarizes the results of a brief study of training
requirements for PWGSC and external consultants in the area of
building automation systems (BAS), under standing offer call-up
EN336-7-0016/003/SQ, “Creating an Effective Training Package”.
All work was done by Mr. D. Beattie of Indigo Communications.
The term BAS includes traditional EMCS for building environments,
but also extends to security, lighting, etc. BAS is more than
simply the thermostat on the wall, and may include direct control
by building occupants. In addition to new controls applications
such as lighting and security that are now being integrated into
EMCS, new standards for communications protocols, system definitions,
and sensors/actuators (such as CAB and BACnet) have arisen.
The increasing complexity and rate of change of technology have
had an effect on design, installation, and operation and maintenance
of federal government building projects. Following are three areas
in which controls expertise is lacking:
1) At the start of projects, designers and project managers
have not always understood the new technologies, or how to apply
government documents such as the National Master Specification
(NMS) in writing requirements for contractors. The resulting designs
have been less uniform than was intended by the NMS writers.
2) When engineering consultants have raised questions about why
certain approaches have been specified, the project managers have
had trouble distinguishing important requirements from others
in which flexibility would be acceptable.
3) When building controls are being commissioned, the installation
staff may be unaware of techniques for integrated control of building
systems that would maximize energy efficiency, occupant comfort,
and cost-effective controls equipment.
In addition to the above examples, a common problem concerns the design of controls by outside consultants. Traditionally, the mechanical contractor has passed the controls requirement to a controls vendor, who has included in the tender a controls section in the vendor’s own format, frequently disregarding the NMS requirements. Often this has not been challenged during tender evaluation, and if problems arise later, they can be addressed only at extra cost.