Building Controls and BMS: Application Guide AG 11/2019
About this book
The BSRIA Application Guide AG 11/2019, Building Controls and Building Management Systems, is the leading UK reference document for practitioners involved in the specification, installation, commissioning and management of control systems in non-domestic buildings. Published by the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA), this guide represents a comprehensive update of earlier editions and reflects advances in open-protocol systems, cloud-based monitoring, and net-zero carbon requirements. The guide begins with the fundamental principles of automatic control in building services: feedback loops, proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control strategies, and the role of sensors and actuators in maintaining set-point conditions for temperature, humidity, CO₂ concentration, and illumination.
It explains how control loops are structured and how stability, response time, and offset relate to practical performance in HVAC and lighting systems. A substantial portion of the guide addresses Building Management Systems (BMS) and Building Automation and Control Networks (BACnet, KNX, LonWorks, Modbus). It covers the hierarchy of field devices, controllers, supervisory workstations, and enterprise integration layers, explaining how data flows from sensors through programmable controllers to operator interfaces and energy management software.
The guide critically examines open versus proprietary protocols, stressing that modern specifications should avoid vendor lock-in by requiring compliance with recognised open standards. Energy metering and sub-metering strategies are treated in detail. The guide advocates for automatic meter reading (AMR) and integration with DERA (Dynamic Energy Resource Allocation) platforms, and it describes how BMS data can feed directly into energy benchmarking against CIBSE TM54 operational energy targets.
Fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) algorithms are presented as tools for identifying malfunctioning plant and poor control sequences without the need for manual inspection. The guide gives detailed guidance on control sequences for common plant items: variable air volume (VAV) systems, chilled water circuits, boiler sequencing, heat recovery ventilation units, and underfloor heating. It addresses the management of mixed-mode buildings where natural ventilation and mechanical systems must be co-ordinated to avoid simultaneous heating and cooling.
Occupancy detection using PIR sensors, CO₂-driven demand-controlled ventilation, and daylight-linked dimming are presented as standard good-practice measures for reducing unnecessary energy consumption. Commissioning and handover are given a dedicated chapter. The guide aligns with BSRIA BG 8/2009 and CIBSE Code M on commissioning management, emphasising the importance of correctly setting control parameters during commissioning and documenting the as-installed sequences of operation.
The guide also addresses soft-landings procedures, ensuring that occupants and facilities managers understand how to use the system effectively after handover. AG 11/2019 concludes with chapters on cybersecurity for BMS — a growing concern as building controls are increasingly connected to enterprise networks and the internet — and on the role of BMS in demonstrating regulatory compliance under Part L of the Building Regulations. It is an essential reference for building services engineers, M&E contractors, energy managers, and facilities professionals across the UK non-domestic building sector.