Shows / The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
Welcome to the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, the world's largest podcast dedicated to the building automation industry! Join our expert instructors every week as they break down the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in smart buildings. No matter your position in the industry and whether you're a beginner or expert, this podcast delivers the knowledge and strategies you need to learn and stay ahead in the industry. With expert insights, special guest interviews, and real-world…
Episodes
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 568: Estimating Owner Direct BAS Work for Sales
Estimating owner-direct BAS projects comes with a unique challenge: What happens when there are no drawings, no specifications, and no clearly defined scope of…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 567: Tuning a PID Loop
Is your PID loop constantly hunting, responding too slowly, or struggling to maintain a stable setpoint? For building automation professionals, PID tuning can…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 566: Integrating Audio Visual Systems into BAS
Your building automation system may be missing valuable information that already exists elsewhere in the building. What happens when your BAS and audio visual…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 565: Proper Labor Estimation for Sales
A building automation project can look profitable when it is sold and tell a very different story when it closes out. Often, the problem is labor. Hardware…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 564: What a PID Loop is Really Doing
When a PID loop starts hunting, a valve keeps swinging, or a space refuses to settle at setpoint, changing tuning values can feel like the obvious next move…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 563: Preparing for Effective Service Calls
A service call can start going wrong before you ever arrive at the building. A vague work order. Missing credentials. No clear site contact. The wrong tools…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 562: Estimating Electrical Loads for Secondary Power Loops
A secondary power loop can look completely healthy while creating problems that technicians chase for months. A valve struggles to reach the set point. A…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 561: Database Fundamentals
Databases sit behind more of your building automation work than you might realize. Every time you pull trend data, investigate an alarm, restore a system…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 560: Damper Sizing 101
A control loop that hunts all day may not have a controls problem. The real issue could have been locked into the system before the controller was ever…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 559: How to Coordinate with Electrical and Mechanical Contractors
In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we tackle one of the most common sources of friction on a controls project: coordination between…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 558: IP Security Fundamentals
Building automation systems are more connected than ever. That connectivity brings new capabilities, but it also changes what you need to know to design…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 557: Valve Sizing 101
A control valve can look right on paper and still create control problems in the field. For building automation professionals, valve sizing directly affects…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 556: Reading Catalog Sheets for Technicians
Most building automation professionals have done it. Open the catalog sheet, find the wiring diagram, glance at it, and move on. What if the information you…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 555: Windows Services and Task Scheduling
Most building automation professionals know how to work inside a BAS. Fewer know what keeps that BAS running behind the scenes. When Windows services or…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 554: Why BAS is a Great Career Choice
Most career conversations focus on college or the traditional trades. But what if there's another path that offers strong earning potential, constant learning…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 553: BAS Fundamentals for Building Operators
If you're responsible for keeping a building running after the installation is complete, how confident are you with the building automation system you use…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 552: IP Networking Troubleshooting Commands
Every building automation professional will eventually face a controller that goes offline, graphics that stop updating, or trends that suddenly disappear. The…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 551: Job Site Safety
Every day on a building automation job site, you make decisions that affect more than just the success of a project. They affect whether you and your team go…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 550: Proper Panel Wiring and Layouts
This episode tackles a topic that impacts every BAS project but rarely gets the attention it deserves: control panel design and wiring. The quality of your…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 549: IP Troubleshooting in BAS
If your building automation devices are moving to BACnet/IP, troubleshooting communication issues requires a different mindset than checking wiring and…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 548: Performing a Job Site Walk for Owner-Direct Projects
Owner-direct BAS projects can be some of the highest-margin opportunities you'll encounter. They can also become some of the riskiest. The difference often…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 547: Proper Project Closeout
What happens after the BAS project is "done" often determines whether the system actually performs over the next 10 years. Too many projects reach substantial…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 546: VPN and Remote Access in BAS
Remote access is no longer optional in building automation. But every connection to your BAS can also become a pathway for risk if security is treated as an…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 545: How to Perform BAS Sales Takeoffs Without Missing Scope
If BAS sales takeoffs feel inconsistent, the issue usually is not the tools. It is the process. Episode 545 breaks down how to create accurate BAS takeoffs…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 544: Functional Testing vs Commissioning
If you've ever been on a project where "commissioning" meant checking a few points and signing off, you've seen the problem firsthand. Confusion between…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 543: Access Control Fundamentals
Access control issues don't wait for a convenient moment. You're on-site, the clock is ticking, and the door isn't behaving the way it should. What you do next…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 542: UL Panel Design
If you work with control panels in building automation, the design behind them impacts more than you think. Safety, troubleshooting speed, and future…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 541: Service Call Triage - Is it the BAS or the HVAC?
You get the call: "comfort issue." That is all the detail you have. Now you are stuck deciding where to start, how to diagnose faster, and how to avoid wasted…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 540: Commercial Fire Alarm Basics
Fire alarm systems are often treated as background infrastructure until something goes wrong. This episode challenges how you think about commercial fire alarm…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 539: Troubleshooting Techniques for Building Operators
Every building operator eventually faces the same challenge. An alarm goes off, a complaint comes in, or equipment stops working. The pressure is on to fix it…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 538: BAS Fundamentals for HVAC Mechanics
If you work in HVAC, you already troubleshoot complex mechanical systems every day. But what happens when the problem shows up on a BAS screen instead of…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 537: Proper Mentoring for Field Leaders
If you lead field teams in building automation, you already know the challenge. Technical skills alone do not create strong field leaders. Many teams still…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 536: Power Monitoring and Management
Power monitoring is no longer just an electrical concern. It directly impacts how your HVAC systems perform, how stable your BAS is, and how much your building…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 535: VAV Box Control Theory
If you work with commercial HVAC systems, you touch VAV boxes every day. But are they working with your air handler or quietly fighting it? In episode 535 of…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 534: IP Networking in BAS
If you are working in building automation and still treating networking like an IT problem, this episode is for you. When devices stop communicating, alarms…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 533: BACnet-SC Overview
BACnet over SC is starting to show up in specs, submittals, and IT conversations more often. If you touch BAS networks, this episode helps you understand what…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 532: MSTP Wiring Strategies
How solid is your MSTP wiring strategy? MSTP communication issues can derail even the most well-planned BAS projects. If you've ever chased phantom controller…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 531: IP Addressing Fundamentals
IP addressing issues are one of the top causes of system downtime, failed discovery, and data loss in building automation systems. In this episode of the Smart…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 530: Fundamentals of Electricity and How It Applies to Building Automation Systems
What's really causing your building automation issues? In episode 530, we dig deep into the fundamentals of electricity and how they impact everything from…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 529: Proper P2P Checkout Techniques
A single missed point in a BAS checkout can snowball into expensive callbacks, downtime, and frustrated clients. In this episode, you'll walk away with a…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 528: The Future of BAS - Trends Every Facility and Service Team Should Watch
The role of a BAS tech is changing. Are you ready? The future of building automation is not coming; it's already unfolding. With less manual intervention, more…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 527: Beyond Alarms - How to Use Your BAS Data to Prevent Failures
You know the alerts. The flashing messages. The alarms that go off after the damage is already done. But what if you could see the failure before it becomes a…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 526: From Lead to Loyalty - The BAS Sales Cycle Explained
Selling to owners is different and more powerful. In episode 526 of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we dive deep into the owner-direct BAS sales process…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 525: Optimizing Operator Workflows - Daily BAS Tasks that Drive Facility Performance
Daily decisions can make or break facility performance. In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we take a deep dive into the BAS operator's…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 524: Commissioning Like a Pro - Field-Tested Strategies for Reliable BAS Startups
Commissioning can make or break the success of your BAS projects. But it's more than just a checklist. This episode challenges how you approach commissioning…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 523: Spec Smarts - What Every BAS Salesperson Should Know About Project Specs and Submittals
Spec Smarts: What Every BAS Salesperson Should Know If you're in BAS sales, your relationship with specifications and submittals can make or break your…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 522: Troubleshooting Common HVAC Control Failures
When comfort complaints roll in, it's easy to assume mechanical failure. But the real culprit? Controls. In this episode, we walk through how to identify and…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 521: Top 5 strategies to improve your facility operations today using building automation systems
Facility operations teams face growing pressure to improve performance and reduce costs. But too often, the building automation system is underutilized. In…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 520: How to Line Out Your Electrical Subs
Lining Out Electrical Subcontractors: Why It's Critical for BAS Success Ever had a BAS project go sideways due to wiring issues, unclear expectations, or…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 519: How to Correctly Perform Point to Point Checkouts
Performing a point-to-point checkout may seem routine, but it's the difference between a reliable BAS and one that fails under pressure. In this week's episode…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 518: How to Create Career Plans to Grow and Retain Your Employees
Struggling to retain your building automation talent? In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we dive into how building automation companies…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA-517 Strategies to Design Submittals That Aren't Rejected
Rejected submittals delay projects, damage credibility, and create extra work for every stakeholder involved. This episode of the Smart Buildings Academy…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 516: Creating a PM Schedule For Your Facility
PM programs aren't just about checking boxes—they're the backbone of operational efficiency, cost control, and asset longevity. In this latest episode, we…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 515: Designing BACnet-IP Networks
A strong network design isn't just a technical detail—it's the foundation for long-term performance, stability, and scalability in your BAS deployments. This…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 514: How to Make a Business Case for Training Your People
Are you justifying the cost of training or watching it drain from your bottom line? When budgets tighten, training is often the first to go. But for those…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 513: Strategies for Dealing with Undersized Chilled Water Plants
Undersized chilled water plants aren't just inconvenient—they're a daily operational headache for many facilities teams. If you've ever battled poor tenant…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 512: Understanding Air Handler Sequences for OR's and Clean Rooms
Air handlers in critical spaces are not your everyday systems. When it comes to operating rooms and clean rooms, standard HVAC playbooks don't cut it. If…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 511: Creating an Effective Alarm Design & Management Strategy for Large Facilities
How many alarms in your BAS require action? If your alarm console feels like chaos, you're not alone. This episode explores how a structured alarm strategy…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 510: How to Measure the ROI of Building Automation Training
Training is often the first thing cut when budgets tighten. But what if you could show that training delivers measurable ROI? This episode of the Smart…
- The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology
SBA 509: Vendor Lock-in Vs. Internal Capabilty
Are you truly in control of your building systems, or dependent on your vendor? Vendor lock-in increases costs, slows down repairs, and limits flexibility. But…