What is the building management system (BMS)?
A building management system (BMS), also known as a building automation system (BAS), is a computer-based control system installed in buildings.
The BMS can control and monitor the building’s mechanical and electrical systems, including ventilation, lighting, power, fire, and security.
But before we get into the details of this system, what are its benefits? Let us first imagine a story.
Your company has been awarded a new project; it is not particularly complicated.
But at least it contains many MEP systems, which will be installed inside it.
The MEP systems which can be controlled and/or monitored by the BMS system will be classified into three categories:-
(1): The first category is the mechanical systems and their equipment.
(2): The second category is electrical systems and their equipment.
(3) The third category is the low current systems.
So, we will start talking about mechanical systems:
The most common Mechanical equipment that you can find in most projects, like:
1.01: Chillers are either air-cooled or water-cooled.
1.02: Chilled water pumps, whether they are primary pumps or secondary pumps.
1.03: Air Handling Units (AHU).
1.04: Fan coil unit (FCU).
1.05: Variable Air Volume (VAV).
1.06: Duct heaters.
1.07: Fans (like Exhaust Fans, Jet Fans, Pressurization fans at staircases, and Smoke extract fans on the roof level).
1.08: Elevators.
1.09: Pumps (Like Firefighting pumps, Domestic water pumps, Sump pumps, Irrigation pumps).
The above are common mechanical equipment found in most projects, but they don’t mean these are all the mechanical equipment.
Now, we will talk about the most common electrical systems& connected to the BMS system, which you can find in most of the projects, like:
2.01: Ring Main Unit or (RMU).
(Free videos) Ring Main Unit (RMU) – Explanation for Its Components Practically On-Site
2.02: Transformers.
2.03: Panels, like Main distribution boards, sub-main distribution boards, ATS panels, Synchronization panels, and final distribution boards, regardless of whether these panels are connected to the normal or the emergency power.
2.04: Generators.
2.05: Uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
The above are the most common types of electrical equipment found in most projects.
Now, we will talk about the last category of the MEP systems connected to the B.M.S, which is the low-current systems as:
3.01: Data System: This is the system or the network responsible for the communication between all devices in the project.
3.02: Lighting control system: This system is used to control the operation of the lighting fixtures, including their number, working time, and location.
3.04: Access Control System (ACS).
3.05: Closed Circuit Television System or (CCTV).
There are other low-current systems that you can find in your project, like Master Clock System, Master Antenna Television,…and so on.
But I mentioned only the most common systems, which can be found in any project and can be integrated with the B.M.S. system.
So, after this fast overview of these MEP systems, let us say that our project is a hotel where all the previous MEP systems will be installed.
So, for example, if there’s a problem with the air conditioning system in the reception area for guests.
There are 2 scenarios for the maintenance team to solve this problem.
In the first scenario, your project doesn’t have a B.M.S. system installed.
So, to solve this problem, the maintenance team will run around checking the HVAC as-built drawings to see if any AHU feeds this reception area.
After that, they will run to this AHU and investigate the cause of the problem.
The problem can be caused by the fan, cooling valve, filter, or dampers installed on the supply or return, and this process of checking may take too long to solve.
In the second scenario, if you have a system that can monitor and control all the different MEP systems in your building from a central room.
This central room is called the workstation room, and this system is the Building management system (BMS).
The main benefit you will get from this system is the monitoring and control of all your MEP systems in the project.
This leads to rapid preventive and corrective actions by the maintenance team, along with significant cost savings from the enormous power savings.
(Free Video) Importance of the B.M.S. System and Types of MEP Systems
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