Open Source BAS

[Bryan.Rickard]

I am looking for recommendations for BAS systems that can work in a prison environment and is non-technical user friendly. Throughout my Department we have a number of systems that do not work well without frequent use of a contractor to fix bugs in the system. if I paid a contractor to install a t-stat in my home, I would not expect to have to call the installer back to adjust it every time the seasons change. BAS should be the same or it is a waste of money. As an HVAC tech, there should be an easy way to tell individual items like dampers or valves to move full swing so I can test them for functionality.

[pecmsg]

There are a lot of systems out there. Being a government entity it will go out for bids and you'll pay the most for the least. What operating system is there now? Find a retiree and hire them full time!

[numbawunfela]

If you need to hire a contractor to adjust for seasons - your system was never installed or programmed properly

if you all cannot override outputs to check dampers - likely the last comment applies as well.

So you may be needing a good programmer to turn things around, not necessarily a system you can work on yourself.

If you insist on doing it yourself, Sedona is a programming tool that is free and open. Having that sort of system would allow you to make changes. Distech programming tools are also freely available.

I will say that there is a reason that good programmers are few and fat between. The most likely outcome is that you will try to.do it yourself, and will end up calling a programmer out anyway. But then again I do not know you and your crew.