What Are Building Diagnostics?
Definition
Building diagnostics is the process of determining the causes and solutions to problems in buildings.
Why it Matters
Buildings often do not perform as designed. Failures of building components and systems can impact the functional performance, cause damage, increase costs and create hazardous conditions or unhealthy environments.
Building diagnostics is the holistic process of data collection & analysis to predict faults, abnormalities, and defects in the condition, internal environment and/or performance of the equipment that makes up a building's infrastructure.
The general steps to conduct a building diagnostics are:
- Collect data
- Identify the problem
- Define solutions
- Implement repairs
- Verify results
The three main types of building diagnostics are commissioning, sensor-based monitoring, and investigation diagnostics.
This process can be carried out unaided (using naked eye) but often aided by advanced technology such as equipment-level performance tracking devices and other building sensors.
Commissioning, or Human senses-based building diagnostics, while rigorous, tends to be subjective and error prone.
On the other hand, digital and real-time performance readings, combined with advanced analytics are both precise and continuously improving. This empirical evidence drives maintenance prioritization to reduce waste in activities and extend equipment life.
The end product of building diagnostics is a prediction of impending defects/faults in equipment and suggestion of appropriate remedial solutions.
Human senses-based building diagnostics is not an exact science and is subjective. On the other hand, digital and real-time performance readings, combined with advanced analytics are both precise and continuously improving. It is important that this empirical evidence drives maintenance prioritization, otherwise there will be waste in activities and a reduction of equipment life.
