Building Management System
A Building Management System, or BMS, monitors and controls building services such as HVAC, lighting, ventilation, alarms, and energy use.
What this term means in maintenance
A Building Management System, or BMS, monitors and controls building services such as HVAC, lighting, ventilation, alarms, and energy use.
What a BMS may control
A BMS may monitor or control:
- Air-handling units
- Chillers
- Boilers
- Pumps
- Ventilation
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Lighting
- Energy meters
- Alarms
- Schedules
Practical example
The BMS identifies high chilled-water temperature and raises an alarm. Facility maintenance investigates pump performance, valve position, and chiller condition.
BMS and CMMS
The BMS provides operating data and alarms. A CMMS controls maintenance work, asset history, parts, labor, and completion.
Integration opportunities
BMS alarms or conditions can create work requests or maintenance notifications when appropriate.
Common mistake
Sending every BMS alarm directly to maintenance without filtering and priority rules can create excessive noise.
Related concepts
Related maintenance terms
Keep exploring connected CMMS, reliability, and maintenance planning terms.
Facility Maintenance
Facility maintenance is the planned and reactive work required to keep buildings, utilities, infrastructure, safety systems, and shared services operational.
Energy Monitoring
Energy monitoring is the measurement and review of electricity, fuel, steam, compressed air, water, or other utility consumption to identify cost, efficiency, and equipment-performance changes.
Work Request
A work request is a reported maintenance need submitted for review before it becomes an approved work order.
Building Management System FAQs
- What does BMS stand for?
BMS stands for Building Management System.
- What does a BMS monitor?
HVAC, temperature, humidity, ventilation, lighting, energy, schedules, and alarms.
- How is a BMS different from a CMMS?
The BMS monitors and controls building services. A CMMS manages maintenance work and history.