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Eight trends in HVAC, BAS

Respondents to the Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2015 HVAC and Building Automation Systems (BAS) Study identified eight high-level findings.

By Amanda Pelliccione, Consulting-Specifying Engineer November 27, 2015

In the past 12 to 18 months, survey respondents indicated what aspects of HVAC and BAS design has changed. Data are shown by average amount changed, with the largest (48% change) at the top. Courtesy: Consulting-Specifying EngineerRespondents to the Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2015 HVAC and Building Automation Systems (BAS) Study identified eight high-level findings:

  1. Building structures: More than half of mechanical engineers specify product selections for office buildings, industrial/manufacturing facilities/warehouses, educational facilities, and government buildings/military facilities.
  2. Selection involvement: Seventy-four percent of respondents determine requirements/write specifications for HVAC systems, equipment, and controls.
  3. Design value: Engineering firms are annually specifying $2.4 million, on average, in HVAC and BAS products for new and existing buildings, with 27% specifying more than $5.0 million.
  4. HVAC challenges: At least half of respondents agree that energy efficiency and an inadequate budget for good design are affecting the future of HVAC systems.
  5. BAS challenges: Two-thirds of engineers reported interoperability and complementing systems as a top challenge when designing BAS, followed closely by an inadequate budget.
  6. Products specified: Fans and air movement, air handlers, and rooftop units were the top three HVAC equipment types or control systems currently being specified by mechanical engineers.
  7. Sources of design revenue: Seven out of 10 respondents cited fans and air movement, pumps and pumping systems, and air handlers as having generated design revenue for their firms within the past year.
  8. Time spent researching: The average mechanical engineer spends 32% of their billable hours/time at work researching and/or specifying HVAC systems and BAS.

Access the full 2015 HVAC and Building Automation Systems report to view additional key trends findings.

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