BFRL: 2008 Program Information (V 1.1)

Program Manager:
Steven Bushby
Revised: 9/28/2007

BFRL Goal:
Enhanced Building Performance

Relevant Links

www.BACnet.org
www.BACnetInternational.org

Cybernetic Building Systems

To develop, test, integrate, and demonstrate open Cybernetic Building Systems for energy conservation, life cycle cost savings, improved occupant productivity, safety and satisfaction, and support U.S market leadership in developing and using the technology. This work will be carried out in close cooperation with U.S. building industry partners including control system manufacturers, building owners/operators, utilities, and newly developing service companies.

What is the problem and why is it hard? Historically, building automation and control systems have been independent, vertically-integrated systems based on proprietary technology that prevent products and systems made by different manufacturers from communicating with each other. This resulted in “captive customers” unable to make changes or improvements to their systems except through the original control system manufacturer because the only alternative was to replace the entire system, which was usually cost prohibitive. A combination of pressure from building owners and emerging technology that enabled the packaging of some control system components with the mechanical equipment they control, led to the development of BACnet, a communication protocol standard that enabled the integration of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning products regardless of the manufacturer.

The emergence of standards combined with the decreasing cost and increasing capability of microprocessor-based controls is resulting in a radical change in the industry from a vertical structure to a horizontal structure where building automation system components can be purchased from many sources and combined in ways never before possible. As the potential of this emerging technology becomes apparent to building owners, building control companies, equipment and system manufacturers, energy providers, utilities, and design engineers are under increasing pressure to improve performance and reduce costs by developing cybernetic building systems that integrate more and more building services, including energy management, fire and security, transportation, fault detection and diagnostics, optimal control, the real time purchase of electricity, and the aggregation of building stock. How these systems communicate, interact, share information, make decisions, and perform in a “synergistic” and reliable manner needs to be addressed on an industry wide basis if cybernetic building systems are to be successful and if the U.S. is to obtain a significant share of the developing world wide market for such systems.

The problem is hard because it requires a completely new way of thinking about how building systems are designed and operated, how to create complex, reliable systems that can be operated by a limited and poorly trained staff, and how to merge technical expertise from historically independent disciplines. Furthermore, the economic benefits from the improved technology accrue mainly to building owners and the general public, a factor that limits the incentives for product manufacturers to develop the technology.

What is the new technical idea and why can we succeed now? The word “cybernetics” comes from the Greek work “steersman” and is defined as the science of control and communication of complex systems. Unlike the field of artificial intelligence (AI), which tends to focus on how information is stored and manipulated, cybernetics takes the “constructivist” point of view that information (and intelligence) is the attribute of system interactions (communications) and is not a commodity that is stored in a computer. In the field of cybernetics, “intelligence” is determined by the “observed conversations” (i.e., interactions) among the various components making up the (cybernetic) system. In other words, if a complex system “looks, acts, and is observed communicating intelligent information” it is “intelligent”, regardless of how the information is stored and manipulated internally.

A Cybernetic Building System involves energy management, fire detection, security and transport systems, energy providers, one or more utilities, an aggregator, numerous service providers, information handling, and complex control at many different levels.

BFRL is currently working with industry, building professionals, ASHRAE and trade organizations, university researchers, and other government agencies to develop and demonstrate Cybernetic Building Systems (CBS).

• BACnet testing standard approved as EN ISO 16484-6
• EN ISO 16484-5 revised to match BACnet 2004
• Establishment of an ISO Maintenance Agency to fast track changes to BACnet and its companion testing standard in the CEN and ISO standards process
• Completion of seven proposed addenda to BACnet 2004 for public review and comment. The BACnet enhancements represented by these addenda include:
- Web services
- Network security features
- Electrical load shedding control
- Features for lighting control systems
- Features for building access control systems
• First generation BACnet Firewall Router (BFR) source code released
• Completed state-of-the-art review on commissioning, including cost benefit, persistence, automated commissioning tools, and needs for net zero-energy buildings (ZEB)
• Developed draft commissioning procedures for advanced systems in ZEB
• Developed a standard commissioning cost-benefit methodology for the development of an international, on-line database
• Completed FDD technology demonstration at eight field test sites
• Developed tabulated set of robust FDD parameters, eliminating the need for site-specific configuration or training data
• HVAC&R Research publication describing system-level FDD tool
• Energy & Buildings publication describing air handling unit FDD tool
• Development of a building emergency scenario and demonstration of proof of concept tools for providing timely information to emergency responders
• Completion of a new ZFM-HVAC model that more effectively combines the capability to simulate HVAC systems and fires of various sizes
• Added the capability to model sprinkler systems to the VCBT and the ZFM simulation tool
• Development of a new simplified approach to dynamically changing the size and characteristics of the emulated building, increased the utility of the VCBT and reduced the time needed to set up emulations
• A USER interface package was ported to the VCBT. This package allows the user to visually interact with the development of a problem in both 2-D and 3-D and includes the necessary inputs to set up the HVAC system.
• A User’s Guide has been completed for ZFM and SDFM
• A complete revision and successful reballoting of the ASTM Life-Cycle Cost standard; development and inclusion of Homeland Defense case applications in both the Life-Cycle Cost standard and the Summary Guide standard; a revision and balloting of E 1557, the UNIFORMAT II ASTM standard format; and a white paper on macroeconomic construction data for BFRL management use.