Dive Brief:
- Johnson Controls has launched an update to its building automation system for commercial, industrial and institutional buildings, aimed at improving energy management, network connectivity and occupant comfort.
- Metasys 14.0 comes with “next-generation” analytics tools, enhanced security features that include a single sign-on capability and a simplified administration and user interface, Johnson Controls said in a news release Wednesday. It also supports up to 800 IP devices directly integrated with Johnson Controls’ ADS and ADX servers, the firm said.
- Through its analytics tools, this newest iteration of the Metasys system will provide building managers with quick access to energy consumption information, providing clear insights “achieve energy goals while optimizing their HVAC operations,” Bill Schwebel, vice president and general manager of global building automation systems and controls at Johnson Controls, said in a statement.
Dive Insight:
The Metasys system allows building managers of enterprise and multisite portfolios to connect commercial HVAC, lighting, fire and security systems in one platform, enabling them to reduce risk and improve productivity, building efficiency and sustainability, according to Johnson Controls’ website.
“For buildings to become truly smart, its facilities must bring together data from all systems and equipment, automatically alert and adjust environments for safety and efficiency, and provide teams with easy-to-access recommendations. The updates included in Metasys 14.0 can move facilities closer to reaching this level of smart – and even autonomous – building operation,” Babak Haghayeghi, product management director of building automation systems, global products, at Johnson Controls, said in an email.
The latest enhancements include a flattened architecture, which enables more IP devices to be configured on the Metasys server without the need for additional hardware. The building automation system’s updates bring additional features such as connected workflow lifecycle tools, a device health indicator designed to improve troubleshooting and reduce downtime, and user interface enhancements that Johnson Controls says will deliver “key information in fewer clicks,” according to a fact sheet on Metasys 14.0.
As part of these user interface enhancements, a current alarm system will help users quickly identify and act on critical alarms, while graphics manager user permissions will allow non-admin users to view, add or edit graphics, increasing efficiency and protecting the full database, Johnson Controls says.
Meanwhile, preconfigured energy dashboards — available with a trial license — will help users analyze, visualize and report energy use and consumption by type and space to make more informed decisions related to their sustainability goals, per the fact sheet.
Metasys 14.0 also features airside and waterside HVAC applications based on ASHRAE Guideline 36, High-Performance Sequences of Operation for HVAC Systems, driving standardization to save on time spent commissioning systems, Johnson Controls says. This updated version contains a continual release model that will change the way functionality is introduced to the system, per the release.
“Today’s building landscape, its technologies and challenges are evolving at a rapid pace. While a periodic release is updated with new features and capabilities to respond to those changes and challenges, operators must wait for the release date to access them. In comparison, a continual release model makes it possible for operators to access the latest technologies and advancements as soon as they are developed,” Haghayeghi said. “This on-demand access can help ensure a building’s BAS can evolve in time with the industry, helping facilities gain a competitive advantage.
The University of Minnesota is one of the customers that has tried and evaluated Metasys 14.0’s capabilities ahead of its launch, said Dan Bellows, controls engineer supervisor at the university. Johnson Controls’ latest ADX revision 14 now contains a BACnet client that facilitates communications “directly from our ADX to any BACnet controller or device,” Bellows said in a statement. “[The University of Minnesota’s] IT department is delighted to start the implementation of IPv6, which is now supported by Metasys 14.0,” Bellows added.
