SCOPE: The Technical Committee on Smart Building Systems (SBS), TC 7.5, is concerned with the development and evaluation of technologies that could enable the widespread application of smart building systems. “Smart” buildings should take advantage of dynamics characteristics of building shell and HVAC system, automation, communications, and data analysis technologies in order to operate in the most cost-effective manner.

This implies integration of building services such as HVAC, fire, security, and transportation; the automation of many of the operation and maintenance functions traditionally performed by humans; the interaction with outside service providers such as utilities, energy providers, and aggregators; methods which consider dynamic and interactive characteristics in the design or comfort conditioning systems. TC 7.5 was merged with TC 7.4 in June 2008. Currently, four subcommittees form the backbone of the TC’s activities: building operation dynamics, fault detection and diagnostics, wireless applications, and building/utility interface

Welcome to the homepage of ASHRAE Technical Committee 7.5 on Smart Building Systems. The TC was merged with Technical Committee 7.4, Building Operation Dynamics, in June 2008. The new committee focuses on the development and evaluation of technologies that are intended to enable widespread application of "smart" capabilities in building systems. "Smart buildings" take advantage of dynamic characteristics of building shell and HVAC systems, automation, modern communications, and data processing technologies to operate in the most cost-effective manner possible. This implies integration of building services such as HVAC, fire, security, and transportation, automation of many of the operation and maintenance functions traditionally performed by humans, and interaction with outside service providers such as utilities, energy providers, and aggregators. The committee also is concerned with the methods of building system operation which minimize energy used through the consideration of dynamics and interactions.

The committee currently has four application-focused subcommittees, which form the backbone of the committee's activities: building operation dynamics, fault detection and diagnostics, wireless applications, and building/utility interface. We expect that these subcommittees will change over time as these fields become more mature and results of research become commonplace in HVAC&R practice and as the interests of committee members change over time. The key constant, however, will be a focus on smart building systems.

We welcome new participants to the committee. If you are interested in joining us, read through these pages, attend our subcommittee and full committee meetings at the ASHRAE Winter or Annual Meetings, volunteer to contribute to a program or to development of an idea for potential ASHRAE research, or contact the Committee chair, a subcommittee chair, or any of the committee members. We'd be glad to discuss the current activities of the Committee and your ideas.