Active Functional Specifications for the Design and Supervision of build-ing services

Diese Arbeit entwickelt eine Methodik zur Spezifikation und Prüfung von Funktionen gebäudetechnischer Anlagen und führt den Nachweis ihrer Anwendbarkeit in der Praxis. Ausgangspunkt ist die Erkenntnis, dass eine Ursache für die häufig festzustellende suboptimale Funktion von Gebäuden ein mangelhaftes Qualitätsmanagement in der Gebäudeautomation ist. Eine Analyse von Funktionsbeschreibungen zeigt eine weitgehend beliebige Verwendung von freien Texten und grafischen Darstellungen. Als Antwort auf dieses Defizit wird die Methodik der Aktiven Funktionsbe-schreibung vorgestellt. Mit einem vereinfachten Modell aus Zustandsräumen können Anlagenfunktionen durch Betriebsregeln spezifiziert werden. Nach der Umsetzung werden Betriebsdaten der Anlagen zu einzelnen Zeitpunkten auf Übereinstimmung mit den Betriebsregeln geprüft. Die Ergebniswerte für die Zustandsräume können über geeignete Zeit-räume aggregiert werden. Die relative Häufigkeit gültiger Werte in einem Zeitraum wird als Betriebsgüte definiert. Sie ist das Qualitätsmaß für die Umsetzung der Spezifikation und kann als Anforderung an Anlagenfunktionen in Ausschreibungen und bei Abnahmen verwendet werden. Die Methodik wird auf drei typische gebäudetechnische Anlagen angewendet. Dabei wird gezeigt, dass die Spezifikation von Funktionen und deren Überprüfung wie beschrieben für die untersuchten Anlagen und Funktionen möglich ist. Die Vereinfachung der Beschreibung bietet die realistische Möglichkeit einer zeitnahen Anwendung in der Praxis. Forschungsbedarf besteht dazu neben der Erprobung im Feld im kontrollierten Einsatz in Anlagentestständen, um standardisierte Funktionsbeschreibungen für typische Anlagen und geeignete Grenzwerte für die Betriebsgüte zu entwickeln. Mit der Aktiven Funktionsbeschreibung steht die dringend benötigte durchgängige Methodik zur funktionalen Qualitätssicherung von Gebäuden und Anlagen zur Verfügung.This work presents a methodology for the specification and evaluation of functions of building automation systems and proofs its practical applica-bility in building projects. Starting point is the insight that a lack of quality management is a source for frequent malfunctions of building automation systems. An analysis of functional specifications of current buildings shows a largely arbitrary use of free texts and graphics. As an answer to this deficit the methodology of Active Functional Specifi-cations is presented. With a simplified state space model it is possible to specify system functions using operational rules. After the implementation of the functions measured data of discrete points of time from the automation system can be evaluated. The results of the state space evaluation can then be aggregated over useful periods of time. The relative frequency of valid results within a period of time is defined as the quality of operation. It is the quality measure for the implementation of the specification and can be used as requirement for operations in tenders as well as for commissioning and hand over procedures. The methodology is applied on three typical building services. It is shown that the specification and evaluation of functions is possible for the selected systems as described. In addition first limit values for the quality of operation are derived that can serve as initial measures for a standardization of the methodology in design and operation. The simplification opens the realistic opportunity for an application in building design and operation within short time. Besides the application in field tests a need for further research exists in the application of the methodology in test beds to develop standardized specifications and appropriate limit values for the quality of operation. Active Functional Specifications provide the urgently needed integrated methodology for a functional quality management for buildings and building services

Energy efficiency and comfort in office buildings: The german case

The building construction in Europe during the last 15 years has brought along a common solving target, to tackle the problem of Energy Efficiency and Comfort in work spaces. The proposals for change and betterment are oriented towards the development of a "transparent" architecture using large enveloping surfaces of glass panels. This approach is endowed with the concepts of being altogether ecology friendly and sustainable. Nevertheless, the usage and the experience through time have triggered an alarm to the field scientists. The objective of the work is to detect the most relevant aspects affecting both the Energy Efficiency (EE) and the users' Comfort of work spaces in order to elaborate a set of proper calculus and design tools. A field research work has been undertaken here on the basis of on-site measurements and questionnaire responses to study 19 office buildings in Germany. From the energy monitoring, and the analysis of comfort levels, certain optimization potentials have been discerned. It is observed that the EE cannot be achieved by just connecting the building to the energy networks after the construction is finish, but -quite on the contrary- by integrative planning and monitoring throughout the building's useful life, allows for proper correction measures that result in better EE and Comfort levels.La construcción de edificios en los últimos 15 años en Europa persigue el objetivo común de dar respuesta al problema de la Eficiencia Energética y el Confort en espacios de trabajo. Las propuestas de cambio se inclinan por el desarrollo de una arquitectura “transparente”, con extensas superficies de vidrio expuestas. Dicha práctica se hace llamar ecológica y sustentable. Con el tiempo, el uso y la experiencia ponen en alerta a científicos del área. El objetivo del trabajo es detectar los aspectos más relevantes que afectan la Eficiencia Energética (EE) y el Confort de espacios reales de trabajo para la elaboración apropiada de herramientas de diseño y cálculo. Para ello, se lleva a cabo un trabajo de campo en base a mediciones y encuestas en 19 edificios de oficina, en Alemania. Del monitoreo energético y del análisis del Confort se detectan potenciales de optimización. Se observa que la EE no se logra al conectar el edificio a la red energética una vez finalizada la obra arquitectónica. Por el contrario, la planificación integral, el monitoreo y el seguimiento en la vida útil del edificio permiten corregir y lograr mejores niveles de EE y Confort

Advanced system design and operation of GEOTABS buildings: design and operation of GEOTABS systems

This guidebook provides comprehensive information on GEOTABS systems. It is intended to support building owners, architects and engineers in an early design stage showing how GEOTABS can be integrated into their building concepts. It also gives many helpful advices from experienced engineers that have designed, built and run GEOTABS systems

Eficiencia energética y confort en edificios de oficina: El caso alemán

The building construction in Europe during the last 15 years has brought along a common solving target, to tackle the problem of Energy Efficiency and Comfort in work spaces. The proposals for change and betterment are oriented towards the development of a "transparent" architecture using large enveloping surfaces of glass panels. This approach is endowed with the concepts of being altogether ecology friendly and sustainable. Nevertheless, the usage and the experience through time have triggered an alarm to the field scientists. The objective of the work is to detect the most relevant aspects affecting both the Energy Efficiency (EE) and the users' Comfort of work spaces in order to elaborate a set of proper calculus and design tools. A field research work has been undertaken here on the basis of on-site measurements and questionnaire responses to study 19 office buildings in Germany. From the energy monitoring, and the analysis of comfort levels, certain optimization potentials have been discerned. It is observed that the EE cannot be achieved by just connecting the building to the energy networks after the construction is finish, but -quite on the contrary- by integrative planning and monitoring throughout the building's useful life, allows for proper correction measures that result in better EE and Comfort levels.La construcción de edificios en los últimos 15 años en Europa persigue el objetivo común de dar respuesta al problema de la Eficiencia Energética y el Confort en espacios de trabajo. Las propuestas de cambio se inclinan por el desarrollo de una arquitectura “transparente”, con extensas superficies de vidrio expuestas. Dicha práctica se hace llamar ecológica y sustentable. Con el tiempo, el uso y la experiencia ponen en alerta a científicos del área. El objetivo del trabajo es detectar los aspectos más relevantes que afectan la Eficiencia Energética (EE) y el Confort de espacios reales de trabajo para la elaboración apropiada de herramientas de diseño y cálculo. Para ello, se lleva a cabo un trabajo de campo en base a mediciones y encuestas en 19 edificios de oficina, en Alemania. Del monitoreo energético y del análisis del Confort se detectan potenciales de optimización. Se observa que la EE no se logra al conectar el edificio a la red energética una vez finalizada la obra arquitectónica. Por el contrario, la planificación integral, el monitoreo y el seguimiento en la vida útil del edificio permiten corregir y lograr mejores niveles de EE y Confort

An algorithmic module toolkit to support quality management for building performance

Data from building automation systems is so far used for the operation of building systems and components only. The following work shows how this data can be used to enhance the building’s performance by strategically detecting potential sources for building optimization. With this method, faults and optimization potentials of the building operation can be detected; thus, the quality gap regarding efficiency and comfort aspects between design and operation can then be reduced. Furthermore, the intelligent use of data enables the realization of economic savings to support facility management with regards to increasingly complex HVAC systems. Effective quality management – rapid, transparent and cost effective – is carried out with the aid of digital methods, which are already state of the art in other industries