BEMS Occupancy Assessment
Building Occupancy Patterns
1. What are the typical operating hours of the building (e.g., weekdays, weekends, holidays)?
Optimising HVAC schedules to match actual building use reduces unnecessary energy consumption.
2. Are there seasonal changes in occupancy patterns or usage (e.g., reduced staff in summer or increased activity in winter)?
Seasonal variations affect heating, cooling, and ventilation requirements, necessitating schedule and setpoint adjustments.
3. Are there specific areas with variable or intermittent occupancy (e.g., meeting rooms, breakout areas)?
Demand-based HVAC control can minimise energy use when these areas are unoccupied.
4. What is the maximum expected occupancy in key zones (e.g., offices, open-plan areas)?
Knowing peak occupancy helps ensure ventilation and temperature control are sufficient without over-conditioning spaces.
5. Are there areas that remain unoccupied for extended periods (e.g., storage rooms, unused offices)?
Reducing HVAC operation in these areas saves energy while maintaining system focus on occupied zones.
Occupant Activities and Comfort
6. Are there frequent complaints about temperature, humidity, or air quality in specific areas?
Complaints highlight areas where HVAC systems may need recalibration or zone-specific optimisation.
7. Do you notice temperature inconsistencies between different zones or rooms?
Uneven temperature control often indicates poor zoning, airflow issues, or imbalanced setpoints.
8. Are temperature or humidity settings regularly overridden by occupants?
Frequent overrides suggest a mismatch between BEMS programming and occupant needs, requiring optimisation of schedules and setpoints.
9. Do certain activities (e.g., high heat from equipment, dense occupancy) create thermal discomfort in specific areas?
These areas may require specific adjustments to airflow, cooling, or setpoints to improve comfort and system efficiency.
10. Are occupancy patterns well-matched with the current HVAC zone schedules?
Ensuring alignment avoids conditioning unoccupied spaces and reduces energy waste.
Zone-Specific Optimisation
11. Are meeting rooms, kitchens, or other intermittently occupied spaces conditioned even when unoccupied?
Automating HVAC based on occupancy sensors or schedules reduces energy usage in these spaces.
12. Do large open-plan areas experience hotspots or cold zones?
These areas may need adjustments in air distribution, damper positioning, or sensor calibration for consistent comfort.
13. Are there spaces requiring specific environmental conditions (e.g., server rooms, archive storage)?
These spaces should operate independently of general occupancy-based schedules to maintain required conditions.
14. Are HVAC settings currently the same across areas with different occupancy levels?
Different occupancy densities require different ventilation and temperature controls to balance comfort and energy efficiency.
15. Are any areas consistently over- or under-conditioned during operational hours?
Adjusting system control or equipment for these areas prevents wasted energy and improves comfort.
System Monitoring and Data Utilisation
16. Do occupancy sensors provide accurate data for system control?
Faulty or poorly located sensors can lead to inefficient HVAC operation and incorrect system responses.
17. Is the system generating trend data on occupancy, temperature, and HVAC performance?
Analysing trend data helps identify inefficiencies and opportunities for further optimisation.
18. Are HVAC systems regularly cycling on/off outside of occupancy hours?
This could indicate issues with schedules or sensor miscalibration, wasting energy unnecessarily.
19. Are ventilation systems set to provide airflow based on actual occupancy rather than fixed rates?
Adjusting ventilation rates based on demand improves efficiency without compromising air quality.
20. Are system alarms or reports indicating recurring faults related to occupancy mismanagement?
Frequent alarms may indicate programming or sensor issues that can be resolved through optimisation.
System Adjustments
21. Have seasonal setpoint changes been implemented for heating, cooling, and humidity?
Adjusting setpoints seasonally ensures comfort while maximising system efficiency.
22. Are demand-based ventilation systems configured and operating effectively (e.g., CO2 levels triggering airflow adjustments)?
Demand-based ventilation saves energy by conditioning spaces only as required.
23. Do heating and cooling systems ramp up unnecessarily in areas with short-term occupancy (e.g., staff passing through briefly)?
Optimising ramp-up rates or deadbands prevents energy waste in transient zones.
24. Have deadbands between heating and cooling setpoints been reviewed recently?
Widening deadbands reduces the likelihood of simultaneous or excessive heating and cooling.
25. Are systems optimised for staggered start/stop times to avoid peak loads at the beginning and end of operating hours?
Staggered start/stop times distribute energy demand, improving efficiency and reducing strain on equipment.
