6/24/2014
Guidance on performance monitoring is featured in a newly published guideline from ASHRAE. ASHRAE Guideline 13-2014, Specifying Building Automation Systems, provide designers of building automation systems (BAS) with background information, recommendations for good practice, project considerations, and detailed discussion of options with respect to the design of a BAS system. The guideline includes online access to an example specification that illustrates the concepts described throughout the document.
The new informative Annex D Performance Monitoring was included to assist in the specification of performance monitoring systems.
"The guideline defines three levels of performance monitoring and provides criteria for each level," says Dave Kahn, chair of the Guideline 13 committee.
"This allows even the basic systems to realize some performance monitoring benefits. It allows monitoring and reporting of HVAC equipment function and operating efficiency, energy consumption and environmental conditions. Careful grouping of X-Y type plots can provide information required to monitor and, if necessary, troubleshoot each different part of the HVAC system. A Level 3 automated fault diagnosis can be used to predict faults. Performance monitoring can direct a building owner to additional energy savings potential at the plant or equipment level."
The Cost of Guideline 13-2014, Specifying Building Automation Systems, is $95 ($81, ASHRAE members). To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Contact Center at 1-800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 678-539-2129, or visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore.
