Johnson BAS boosts building energy management

  • September 23, 2024
  • William Payne

Johnson Controls has updated its Building Automation System (BAS), Metasys, which is designed for commercial, industrial and institutional buildings, regardless of industry. The update, Metasys 14.0, improves a commercial building’s performance and sustainability while enhancing occupant comfort, health and safety. It adds new features that offer an improved user experience, enhanced network efficiency, flexibility and security, simplified administration and improved energy management. It becomes the first version to feature a continual release model.

The Metasys 14.0 release includes analytics tools that increase building and troubleshooting efficiency, including preconfigured energy dashboards that report on energy usage and details by space, allowing users to find and reduce energy waste without additional add-on toolsets.

A flattened architecture provides greater flexibility and increases the efficiency of communication between devices. The upgraded BAS can now support up to 800 IP devices directly integrated with ADS and ADX servers across a range of IP protocols, including but not limited to BACnet/IP, BACnet/SC and ModBus TCP, extending the system scale without the need for an additional engine.

The new platform enhances system security and compliance including single sign-on capability. The update also minimises administrative burden and enables IT departments to centrally manage permissions and manage threats. The new platform also features enhancements to the user interface that provide a unified and simpler experience when navigating a Metasys system, including the ability to reach key data such as alarm and audit information with fewer clicks.

“Using Metasys 14.0’s next generation analytics tools, building managers can quickly access energy consumption information, providing clear insights to achieve energy goals while optimising their HVAC operations,” said Bill Schwebel, vice president and general manager, Global Building Automation Systems & Controls at Johnson Controls. “This update showcases our commitment to delivering top tier building automation systems for commercial spaces, making it easier and faster than ever to access critical building data.”

Ahead of the release, test customers tried and evaluated Metasys 14.0 and its new capabilities, including the University of Minnesota. Dan Bellows, controls engineer supervisor, University of Minnesota said:

“The University of Minnesota is excited about Johnson Controls latest ADX revision 14, which now contains a BACnet client. This allows communications directly from our ADX to any BACnet controller or device. Our users appreciate the Metasys User Interface single sign on feature. Our IT department is delighted to start the implementation of IPv6, which is now supported by Metasys 14.0.”