The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology

Lining Out Electrical Subcontractors: Why It's Critical for BAS Success Ever had a BAS project go sideways due to wiring issues, unclear expectations, or finger-pointing between trades? Episode 520 of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast is your guide to avoiding those problems. If you're responsible for delivering successful BAS installs, you'll want to understand the real cost of skipping the subcontractor line-out process. From scheduling and leading effective meetings to practical tools that help avoid miscommunication, this episode provides clarity on a process that often gets overlooked until it's too late. Topics Covered This isn't about theory. It's about protecting your time, your budget, and your reputation.

Performing a point-to-point checkout may seem routine, but it's the difference between a reliable BAS and one that fails under pressure. In this week's episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we dive into the real purpose behind point-to-point checkouts and why rushing through them can derail your entire project. If you're in the field or leading a team, you'll want to ensure these checkouts are done right, because your commissioning team is counting on you. Topics Covered Start tightening up your checkout game.

Struggling to retain your building automation talent? In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we dive into how building automation companies can create effective career plans to improve retention, grow employee capabilities, and strengthen operational performance. Your people are your most valuable asset, but how often do you give them a clear, structured path forward? Most companies don’t and the best talent leaves. This episode explores how you can change that. Topics Covered Building a career architecture that aligns with technical roles Creating a measurable competency matrix for skill development Structuring 12-24 month individual development plans Linking training, mentoring, and shadowing to business KPIs Aligning pay bands and promotions with skills, not politics Tune in to learn how to build a workforce strategy that supports your employees and your bottom line.

Rejected submittals delay projects, damage credibility, and create extra work for every stakeholder involved. This episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast outlines how to build submittals that meet expectations from the start. Learn how to improve your documentation, streamline reviews, and strengthen relationships with engineers and owners. Topics Covered Strengthen your process and submit with confidence.

PM programs aren't just about checking boxes—they’re the backbone of operational efficiency, cost control, and asset longevity. In this latest episode, we explore the essential steps to building a preventative maintenance schedule that works. Whether you're starting from scratch or refining what you already have, this is your roadmap to reducing downtime and maximizing system performance. Topics Covered Start building your PM strategy today—it’s never too early to drive long-term results.

A strong network design isn't just a technical detail—it’s the foundation for long-term performance, stability, and scalability in your BAS deployments. This week, we're diving deep into how to design BACnet over IP systems that avoid congestion, play well with IT networks, and remain easy to maintain years after installation. If you're tasked with designing or troubleshooting BAS networks, this episode is for you. Topics Covered If you're building smart systems that need to last, this episode is packed with the design insights that matter.

Are you justifying the cost of training or watching it drain from your bottom line? When budgets tighten, training is often the first to go. But for those leading in building automation, that is a costly mistake. Our latest episode explores how to make a compelling business case for training. From direct costs to hidden efficiency losses, you’ll hear how to frame training as an investment with measurable ROI, not an overhead line item. Topics Covered: Make your workforce your competitive edge. This episode gives you the framework to start.

Undersized chilled water plants aren’t just inconvenient—they’re a daily operational headache for many facilities teams. If you’ve ever battled poor tenant comfort, rising energy bills, or emergency equipment failures, this episode is for you. This week, we’re diving deep into how to recognize and respond to chilled water systems that can’t keep up with building load. Whether you're managing an aging plant, dealing with building expansions, or planning long-term upgrades, this episode lays out a layered strategy roadmap. We explore: What really causes chilled water plants to underperform Immediate control tweaks that make a measurable difference Tactical load management for temporary relief Medium-term retrofit and supplemental cooling solutions Capital planning strategies to future-proof system capacity These aren’t just ideas—they’re battle-tested solutions for real-world HVAC challenges.

Air handlers in critical spaces are not your everyday systems. When it comes to operating rooms and clean rooms, standard HVAC playbooks don’t cut it. If you're working in these environments—or supporting teams who do—understanding the deeper logic behind sequences of operation is essential. This episode is your go-to resource for elevating your knowledge around critical environment control strategies. Here’s what you’ll explore: Don’t leave critical space performance to chance.

How many alarms in your BAS require action? If your alarm console feels like chaos, you're not alone. This episode explores how a structured alarm strategy improves operations in large facilities. It focuses on reducing noise, building trust in the system, and ensuring alarms drive the right actions. This episode helps you align your alarms with what matters so your team can respond with clarity and confidence. In this episode, we explore: The right alarm strategy keeps your team focused, your systems efficient, and your tenants comfortable.

Training is often the first thing cut when budgets tighten. But what if you could show that training delivers measurable ROI? This episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast focuses on how to justify training investments using numbers that matter to leadership. You’ll learn how to turn training into a proven profit driver. We cover: If you need to defend or grow your training budget, start here.

Are you truly in control of your building systems, or dependent on your vendor? Vendor lock-in increases costs, slows down repairs, and limits flexibility. But there’s a clear way to reduce risk: internal capability. This episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast walks through how to shift control back to your team through targeted training and planning. Key topics include: Common signs and causes of vendor lock-in Financial and operational impacts of relying on one provider How training restores technical and strategic leverage Steps to build and maintain in-house capability When to use vendors and when to manage tasks internally If you want more control and less cost, this episode is for you.

The industry is shifting and BACnet Secure Connect (BACnet SC) is becoming the new standard for protecting BAS networks from cyber threats. This episode walks you through what it is, why it matters, and how to prepare for the transition while keeping operations running smoothly. We’ll explore: • How BACnet SC strengthens cybersecurity for BAS networks • The key differences from BACnet over IP • Practical considerations before implementation • Real-world migration strategies and lessons learned • The future of BACnet SC in smart buildings Discover how BACnet SC can help secure your BAS network and set the foundation for future-ready building operations.

If you're responsible for training your building automation team and not seeing the results you need, this episode will challenge how you're approaching it. Most internal training programs fail because they miss the mark on what actually drives job performance. This episode will help you refocus on what matters. We unpack what makes a training program succeed, where most fail, and how to build one that aligns with real work in the field. This is a direct, practical look at solving workforce gaps through focused upskilling. In this episode, we’ll explore: If you want your techs producing real outcomes on the job, this episode will give you the clarity to move forward.

What makes a facility truly "smart"? This episode of the Smart Buildings Academy podcast challenges a common misconception: that automation alone guarantees intelligent facility management. If you've ever invested in advanced building automation systems (BAS) only to find them underutilized or misconfigured, this conversation will hit home. We walk through the often-overlooked human and organizational factors that determine whether your smart building is actually delivering on its promise. This episode is a must-listen for facility managers, technicians, engineers, and IT professionals working in the building automation industry. Explore the hidden pitfalls and practical insights around: If your BAS looks great but underperforms, or if your team struggles to keep up with evolving technologies, this episode provides the perspective needed to take meaningful action. Listen now and start reclaiming the true potential of your smart facility.

This episode is for building automation professionals ready to improve performance without waiting for a capital project. It focuses on direct, practical actions you can take to increase efficiency, reduce energy waste, and streamline operations using your current BAS tools. You'll walk away with a checklist of tasks that can be implemented immediately, helping you reduce noise in your system, sharpen team performance, and identify problems before they escalate. Key areas covered in this episode: Every building can run better. Start with these changes today.

Facility managers are expected to do more than ever. Your role now includes managing complex systems, reducing risk, and making decisions that impact the entire organization. This episode outlines what you need to understand to stay effective and relevant. Building automation systems are evolving. They are no longer just tools for comfort control. They are critical assets for energy management, compliance, cybersecurity, and long-term planning. If your approach hasn't changed, it's time to catch up. Key topics in this episode: This episode is for professionals who want to lead building performance, not just maintain it.

If you're tired of constant alarms, short-term fixes, and feeling like you're always behind, this episode is for you. This conversation focuses on helping building automation professionals step out of reactive mode and into a forward-thinking strategy that positions your facilities team as a critical part of business success. You’ll hear how teams can stop being viewed as a cost burden and start being seen as a strategic asset. This episode challenges how you approach maintenance, documentation, and performance. It offers a roadmap to help your team work smarter, reduce waste, and align with organizational outcomes. In this episode, we’ll explore: Listen now to learn what’s holding your team back and how to take the next step.

Estimating in building automation is not just about pricing. It's about influencing how a project performs, how it's delivered, and whether it turns a profit. If you're involved in estimating, bidding, or scoping BAS work, this episode is built for you. Michael Roper expands on the fundamentals from a previous episode and takes a deeper look at how to approach estimating with accuracy and control. The focus is on precision, awareness, and building estimates that hold up in the field. In this episode, you'll explore: If you’ve ever dealt with missed labor, vague specs, or post-award surprises, this episode helps you tighten up the process and build confidence in your numbers

Facility owners are not waiting anymore. Across healthcare, higher education, government, and critical infrastructure, a growing number are building internal teams to self-perform automation work. This shift is not driven by cost, but by frustration, urgency, and the need for consistent, reliable service. In this episode, you'll hear exactly why this trend is accelerating and what it means for your business. Owners are not trying to compete with contractors, but they no longer trust the current model to support their operations. If you're in the contracting or OEM space, this episode is a must-listen. Topics covered include: · The sharp rise in owner-led training and self-performance initiatives · How inconsistent technician assignments are damaging service relationships · Why vague service agreements are no longer acceptable to facility managers · The operational risks driving owners to bypass traditional contractors · A practical framework to rebuild trust and maintain long-term service relationships If you're ready to understand what owners really need and how to stay ahead of this shift, this episode will point you in the right direction.