HVAC & Building Automation Systems Study

Fifty-nine percent of engineers specify, design or make product selections for college/university buildings, according to the Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2019 HVAC & Building Automation Systems Study — and 84% of these engineers are responsible for determining the requirements/writing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and building automation system specifications for these projects. Below are five HVAC system and BAS findings as they relate to college/university buildings: 

1. Systems specified: HVAC controls (80%), air handlers (76%), BAS (75%) and pumps and pumping systems (75%) are the most common types of HVAC equipment and control systems currently being specified into college/university buildings. 
2. Design value: Engineering firms are specifying $3.17 million annually, on average, in HVAC and building automation/control products for new and existing college/university buildings, with 40% specifying more than $3 million. 
3. Recent HVAC changes: When specifying HVAC systems for college/university buildings, engineers have recently observed changes to energy efficiency (87%), codes and standards (82%), budgets/cost of projects or product specified (78%) and interoperability (50%). 
4. Specifications: For college/university buildings, performance HVAC and controls specifications are written 82% of the time, followed by prescriptive (80%) and open: alternate or substitute (67%). 
5. Design coordination: When specifying HVAC and controls for college/university buildings, the facility owner has the most input or impact on design, followed by the mechanical engineer and the facility manager. 

3 out of 4 engineers are responsible for researching and evaluating the options when selecting fire and life safety systems. Source: Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2019 Fire & Life Safety Study 

32% of engineers expect to specify renewable energy systems for one or more projects by December 2020. Source: Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2018 Electrical & Power Study 

½ of engineers consider product energy efficiency as extremely important when selecting HVAC products. Source: Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2019 HVAC & Building Automation Systems Study 

View more information at www.csemag.com/articles/2019-hvac-building-automation-systems-study. Amanda Pelliccione is the research director at CFE Media. 

More research 
Consulting-Specifying Engineer covers several research topics each year. All reports are available at www.csemag.com/research. 

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