SUNY Energy Futures: Fundamentals of Building Controls Systems

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Three 15-20 minute, self-paced, online courses will introduce facility operators, energy managers, engineering and project management staff, and other facilities management staff to the fundamentals of building controls systems. Designed by IREC, The State University of New York (SUNY), and Slipstream. 

Courses in this series are:

  • Basic HVAC Controls for Air-Based Systems
  • Building Control System Design
  • Building Control Project Implementation

After completing this series participants will be able to:

  • Explain basic HVAC equipment, systems, and controls for air-based systems
  • Explain building controls components: sensors, actuators, control loop, and control network architecture and how they interact within a system.
  • Read system documentation to understand building control system design, building layout and equipment locations.
  • Describe the design and implementation process and stages where they can participate to provide comments, understand design intent, etc.

  • Basic HVAC Controls for Air-Based Systems
    Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This module will introduce facility operators, energy managers, engineering and project management staff to basic HVAC controls for air-based systems.

    There are many heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that are designed for different applications, complexity, and controls. This course explains the basic HVAC controls concepts including building control loop, modern building control system architecture and system components, and building control sequence of operations.

  • Building Control System Design
    Product not yet rated Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This module will provide facility operators, energy managers, engineering, and project management staff an overview of Building Control System Design.

    This course provides an overview of the general building control system design process and the roles and responsibilities of the mechanical engineer and the controls engineer. It will also provide a brief explanation of the mechanical system, control schematic diagrams and points schedules, control system layout, network design, schedules and bill of materials, and control sequence programming. Examples of useful design information for building operators are given. Finally, how facility management can interact with the controls contractor in the controls design stage will be reviewed. 

  • Building Control Project Implementation
    Product not yet rated Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    This module will provide facility operators, energy managers, engineering, and project management staff an overview of Building Control Project Implementation.

    In this course, the general building controls field implementation process and roles of the mechanical engineer, controls engineer, controls technician, electrical contractor, testing and balancing contractor, and commissioning agent will be described. 

    Field implementation steps, including electrical installation, field-level direct digital control start-up, performance verification, trend review, testing adjusting and balancing (TAB), and commissioning, will also be explained. We'll review how facility staff can participate during the controls implementation process and how an understanding of the roles and steps involved can inform system operation and maintenance.