This is the first question I get asked when I tell most people about my career. Most people have never heard of the trade and don't even know what people who do it do. BMS Engineers design, install, and commission systems that efficiently control the built environment. You will find Building Management Systems in all sorts of buildings, from small domestic dwellings to large multi-storey office blocks. Each system is tailored to the project and commissioned accordingly. Many different titles describe the same job. Some titles include Building Controls Engineer, Building Energy Management Systems Engineer, and Automatic Controls Engineer, among others. Engineers usually come to the trade from other related disciplines such as commercial electricians (myself) or heating engineers. This is because the information often overlaps. As a BMS Engineer, you need a strong understanding of most building plant systems, such as refrigeration cycles, boiler plant, valve sizing, and more.

Typical tasks for the Building Management Systems Engineer:

Control panel design

Most Building Management Systems start on paper. Typically, new systems are designed based on the architect’s drawings, along with the mechanical consultants' designs and specifications. Retrofit jobs are often designed based on site surveys and existing documentation. Once the information is available, the BMS Engineer will identify which plant systems need to be controlled and convert them into points. With the points known, you can select the right control system. Several factors must be considered, including non-negotiable items that may be required in the specification, such as communication protocols, Controller manufacturer, panel form factor, etc. Once these decisions are made, the control panel can start to take shape in the form of panel drawings. These drawings need to cover everything required to control the plant. Once designed, the drawings are typically sent to the Mechanical Consultant for approval before production. https://bmsparts.co.uk - BCIA-Performance-Specification-for-BEMS

Document Production

A Building Management Systems Engineer will provide an O&M package once the project is complete. This often includes a set of standard documents such as the following:

• Points schedules
• Equipment schedules
• Control panel drawings
• Description of operation
• Site reports
• Commissioning certificates

Most of these documents form the BMS control system design. The team will refer to these documents throughout the project stages, from ordering equipment to commissioning the system.

Software Design

Today, modern BMS Control Systems are implemented electronically; the days of wall-mounted time clocks and optimisers are gone. A BMS Engineer will write bespoke software for each project. In some cases, the software logic can be cloned and applied to many different projects, but you will rarely get two identical jobs. The software is often built using existing project documentation. The BMS Engineer will need at least a copy of the control panel drawings or the points schedule to create software that suits the design.

Graphics Design

This often goes hand in hand with the software design, although depending on the project, a different engineer may complete the graphics. BMS software graphics provide the end user with an interface to control the system. These can be as simple or as advanced as required. Modern Building Management Systems allow the use of the latest technologies when creating a user interface. The engineer responsible for graphic design needs a strong understanding of the project to replicate the system accurately. They will also need to understand the Mechanical Consultant's specification to ensure the system complies.

Electrical Installation Checks

One of the first stages of commissioning is to check the electrical installation. This is also part of the point-to-point checks which ensure that all items are terminated correctly at both the control panel and the field end. The BMS Engineer must also ensure the field devices are installed correctly; a sensor can be correctly connected but still be in the wrong location. These checks are best carried out as early as possible to catch and correct any required changes. BMS Engineers are often on-site late in the project timeline; therefore, it is important to spot issues early to avoid delaying commissioning and, therefore, the project handover.

Mechanical Installation Checks

This is very similar to the electrical installation checks but arguably more important. Mechanical items can often be more complex and harder to rectify. During the pre-commissioning phase, the Building Management Systems Engineer will check that the mechanical items are correctly installed. In most cases, this comes down to engineers' experience. Sometimes itis hard to explain to experienced mechanical engineers that they installed a valve backwards or mixed up the flow and return pipes. But it happens, and it needs fixing as soon as possible.

Site Surveys

Site surveys are conducted for various reasons. They may be used to determine what is on-site for future upgrade work, offer energy-saving advice, provide a maintenance quote, or for other purposes. BMS Engineers are often well suited to carry out these surveys because they understand control systems and the associated plant.

Report Writing

This is a key skill for the BMS Engineer. Each site visit should end with a report that clearly identifies the work carried out, along with any additional work that may be required. Engineers' reports not only inform the customer about their site, but also provide the company with a record of the work carried out. This gives the next engineer on-site some job history, so no time is wasted re-covering old ground.

Commissioning

One of the most important tasks for a BMS Engineer. The commissioning stage of any project is key to ensuring a successful handover and continued efficient operation of the building. The BMS Engineer needs to coordinate with many other trades to successfully commission the control system. Obviously, this varies from job to job, but at a minimum, it requires coordination with the mechanical engineers. On larger projects, you may need to commit several days, if not weeks, to other trades. The first stage of any commissioning project is called pre-commissioning. This stage includes point-to-point checks to ensure all plant and field devices are terminated correctly. The field devices are also checked to ensure that they are installed correctly. Typically, no software needs to be installed for any of the pre-commissioning checks. At this stage, the plant may also be enabled in manual mode to ensure the BMS is operating the required outputs. Once all pre-commissioning checks are complete, the laptop will be removed from the bag, and the building controller will be powered up. At this stage, the software will be installed. The BMS Engineer will then systematically review the software to ensure it is configured correctly. Most of this testing will be carried out without operating any plant to ensure the software is correct and to prevent accidental issues caused by faulty software. Finally, the plant will be allowed to work through the BMS in automatic mode. The team will monitor and test the operation to ensure everything works as intended.

Handover / Demonstration

Often, the final stages of the project involve demonstrating the system and officially handing it over. This varies by job, but it can include a walk-around of the system, cause-and-effect witnessing, general operation tips, training on the front-end interface, and anything else needed for the end-user to operate the system. Once this process is complete, BMS commissioning is generally considered finished, and the system can operate automatically from then on.

Maintenance Work

A large part of the BMS industry falls under the maintenance and service sector, and for obvious reasons. Although a BMS system is designed to operate autonomously, it still requires maintenance to ensure all devices and controllers continue to operate as intended. A Building Management Systems Engineer carries out planned maintenance to optimise and, hopefully, reduce the building's energy consumption. The service work also identifies and fixes potential issues before they affect end users. Depending on the issue, this may affect comfort, consumption, or both. BMS Engineers carrying out service and maintenance work need to be organised and proactive. The engineer should ensure all items are checked correctly and produce a detailed report that gives end-users accurate information about the system's operation.

Interested in becoming a BMS Engineer?

If you're interested, visit the BCIA website to book industry-approved training courses.