Well-designed BAS drawings reduce installation errors, speed commissioning, and make long-term maintenance easier. This guide covers essential standards for control system documentation.
The written description of how the system should operate:
Complete I/O schedule including:
Schematic showing control relationships:
Physical connection details:
Consistent naming is critical. A good convention includes:
[Building]-[System]-[Equipment]-[Point Type]-[Description]
Examples:
BLD1-AHU-01-SAT (Building 1, AHU 01, Supply Air Temp)BLD1-VAV-201-DMP (Building 1, VAV Box 201, Damper Position)BLD1-CHW-PMP1-SS (Building 1, Chilled Water Pump 1, Start/Stop)Best Practices:
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| SAT | Supply Air Temperature |
| RAT | Return Air Temperature |
| MAT | Mixed Air Temperature |
| OAT | Outside Air Temperature |
| DAT | Discharge Air Temperature |
| SP | Setpoint |
| DMP | Damper |
| VLV | Valve |
| SS | Start/Stop |
| STS | Status |
| ALM | Alarm |
| CMD | Command |
Every project should include updated as-builts with:
```mermaid
graph TD
ROOT["ProjectName/"]
SPEC["01_Specifications/"]
DRAW["02_Drawings/"]
SUB["03_Submittals/"]
PROG["04_Programming/"]
AS["05_AsBuilts/"]
ROOT --> SPEC
ROOT --> DRAW
ROOT --> SUB
ROOT --> PROG
ROOT --> AS
SPEC --> S1["Section_230900_BAS.pdf"]
DRAW --> D1["M-601_ControlDiagram_AHU1.dwg"]
DRAW --> D2["M-602_ControlDiagram_VAVs.dwg"]
DRAW --> D3["M-603_NetworkRiser.dwg"]
SUB --> SU1["PointsList_Rev2.xlsx"]
SUB --> SU2["SequenceOfOperations_Rev3.docx"]
PROG --> P1["Controller Backups"]
AS --> A1["Final Documentation"]
## CAD/Drafting Standards
- Use manufacturer-provided CAD symbols when available
- Layer naming: M-CTRL-EQUIP, M-CTRL-WIRE, M-CTRL-TEXT
- Include revision block with date and changes
- PDF exports should be searchable (not flattened)
## Coordination with Other Trades
BAS drawings should cross-reference:
- **Mechanical** - Equipment schedules, airflow diagrams
- **Electrical** - Panel schedules, power availability
- **Fire Alarm** - Interface points, shutdown sequences
- **Plumbing** - Domestic hot water, medical gas (if applicable)
## Quality Checklist
Before issuing drawings, verify:
- [ ] All points from SOO appear on points list
- [ ] Point names are consistent across all documents
- [ ] Wire gauges match signal types and distances
- [ ] Network segment device counts are within limits
- [ ] Terminal assignments dont conflict
- [ ] Sequences match specification requirements