A building management system (BMS) is the control layer that tells plant what to do: when air conditioning starts and stops, what temperature each zone holds, when ventilation runs and when lighting switches off. A well-set-up BMS saves energy and flags problems early. A neglected one quietly runs plant for empty floors and alarms nobody reads.
Why BMS programming matters
Buildings change faster than their control settings. Tenants move, floors are reconfigured, trading hours shift and temporary overrides get left in place. We regularly find systems running air conditioning on weekends for floors that have been vacant for months, or heating and cooling fighting each other in the same zone because setpoints overlap.
The cost is not only energy. Plant that runs longer than necessary wears out sooner, and alarm lists that are full of nuisance alarms train people to ignore the one that matters, such as a server room temperature rising overnight.
What we do
- Install BMS controllers, sensors and field devices for new and existing plant
- Program schedules, setpoints, dead bands and sequences of operation
- Set up alarms and notifications that are meaningful and go to the right people
- Review existing systems: overrides, schedules, trends and failed sensors
- Connect HVAC plant, ventilation and lighting control where appropriate
- Integrate with occupancy information from access control where the systems support it
- Document point lists and settings so the next person understands the system
We work across the controls, the plant being controlled and the electrical and network infrastructure it runs on. That matters, because many BMS problems turn out to be a failed sensor, a wiring fault or a network issue rather than a programming error.
What you receive
You receive a documented system: point list, schedules, setpoints and alarm settings, plus a summary of changes made and why. For reviews of existing systems, we provide a list of findings with the likely energy or maintenance benefit of fixing each one, so you can prioritise. Where your staff use the front end, we show them how to adjust schedules safely and read the alarms.
Where it fits with our other trades
A BMS sits where all three of our trades meet. It controls HVAC plant we service, it runs on power and network cabling our electricians install, and it can take occupancy information from the security system. Having one contractor responsible for all of it removes the usual gap where the controls contractor, the mechanical contractor and the electrician each assume the problem belongs to someone else.
BMS checks and schedule reviews can also be included in a maintenance contract, so settings are reviewed as the building changes rather than once every few years.
Think your building is running plant it does not need? Call (02) 9832 9871 or ask for a BMS review.
What's included
- Controller and sensor installation
- Schedules, setpoints and sequences
- Alarm configuration and notifications
- Review of overrides and failed sensors
- Point list and settings documentation
- Staff training on the front end