guideline36_conformance_test 0.1

Abstract

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has established a set of standardized high performance sequences of operation for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems in buildings through their "Guideline 36". In order to achieve the intended performance, these sequences must be translated and programmed accurately in the Building Automation System (BAS) controllers. Standardizing these sequences will allow for a more efficient product delivery mechanism where the sequences are programmed and tested centrally by each manufacturer, and then distributed to their dealers/engineering contractors. This approach would minimize the need for each installer to re-interpret and program the sequences, reduces risk of errors, and reduces the time required for commissioning in the field. To achieve this goal, a performance validation method is needed to provide independent confirmation that each manufacturer has programmed the Guideline 36 sequences accurately. A standardized method of test would also avoid the need for manual interpretation (and the associated human variability) that is required with typical functional testing approaches by automating the inputs and the range of expected responses. This software "guideline36_conformance_test" has been developed to conduct standardized, repeatable and manufacturer independent tests to validate that a BAS controller has been programmed in conformance with Guideline 36. Manufacturers would provide the controller (or the control program) and the software would run a suite of tests by setting a set of inputs to the controller and verifying the output signals from the controller matches the expected output as set by Guideline 36.