February - 2021CONSTRUCTIONTECHREVIEW.COM8Nine years ago, I met a facility manager taking an all-too-common action in our industry, albeit for a very uncommon reason.Like many in the industry, this seasoned facility manager wasn't using his Building Management System (BMS), also known as Building Automated Controls, as designed and programmed. Unlike most, that decision resulted from a very strong desire not to be held under contempt of court charges. Again.This facility manager overrode many of the automated features of his aging courthouse facility's controls and operated most systems manually, in HAND mode, so that he could keep courtrooms comfortable for a heat-sensitive judge. If he was uncomfortable on the bench for prolonged periods, the judge in question said, the facility manager would be "heavily sanctioned." One day, when the faulty, old HVAC and control systems were not operating to the fullest capacity, many of the courtrooms were extremely hot and humid. Our poor facility manager wound up in trouble with the law ­ well, at least until he promised to fix the BMS issues.From this extreme example comes a universal industry truth: when people are involved, facility control systems can be a facility staff's friend or very worst nightmare. With that in mind, here are nine tips on how you can use your BMS to your benefit ­ and that of your facility and its occupants.1. People are the No. 1 factor driving BMS inefficiency. Act accordingly.BMS do account for human comfort, but the environments they create can't be made to each individual's liking. What constitutes an optimal environment varies by person and can be based on any number of factors, including age, gender and clothing type.In general, let the automated control systems do their work ­ overriding setpoints and ignoring faulty sensors might lead to unfavorable consequences.2. Listen to building owners ­ and be receptive to occupants' feedbackBuilding owners often have certain requirements for temperature and humidity, based either on codes or financial considerations. In these cases, facility managers' hands are often tied.When it comes to building occupants, though, facility managers have more freedom. But that doesn't mean managers should ignore what people in the building are saying. Oftentimes, feedback from occupants is the first clue that something is wrong with a BMS.9 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR FACILITY OPERATING EFFICIENTLYBY J. WOODY THOMPSON, PE, CEM, LEED AP COMMISSIONING AND ENERGY REGION LEADER, RS&HIN MYOPINIONJ. Woody Thompson
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