Controls Engineering
What is the building controls industry?
The Building Controls industry is dynamic, exciting and fast moving, quite literally the cornerstone in the construction of any modern energy efficient structure.
A Building Controls Engineer is responsible for designing and maintaining the control system within a building, ensuring that the heating and ventilation systems keep the environmental conditions required by the occupants, while minimising the energy and financial costs of the building.
Building Controls Engineers are able to read and understand electrical and mechanical drawings supplied by the design team and are then able to discuss the implementation of a controls system with the building owner or customer. From there they oversee the installation of the building controls systems and configure them to meet the requirements of the design team. An engineer will work with many trades on a construction site and will, in his career, gain a working knowledge of each. In addition a Building Controls Engineer will be confident in the inspection and faultfinding of existing Building Controls Systems and able to identify enhancements and improvements to the existing system.
What about a future career?
There are a variety of job roles and opportunities for career development within the Building Controls industry to include
- Service Engineer
- Project Manager
- Project Engineer
- Graphic Designer
- Strategy Designer (Software Control Strategy)
- Commissioning Engineer
There are also future opportunities for higher education, self-employment and business ownership.
On completion of the Attitude Apprenticeship a qualified Apprentice can currently expect a salary of between £20k-£25k with fantastic prospects for the future.
Job Roles
Service Engineer
Once a building controls system has been installed a Service Engineer will be responsible for ensuring that it continues to operate to its optimum efficiency at all times whilst exploring opportunities for further energy savings.
By making software adjustments the system can be continually tailored to meet the customers requirements. If faults do occur a Service Engineer will be responsible for fault finding the building controls system and associated 3rd party equipment. By carrying out performance reports on a system a Service Engineer will be able to recommend and implement software changes, additionally as customer requirements change a Service Engineer will be able to provide quotations for additional works.
Project Manager
A Project Manager is responsible for the smooth running of building controls projects. This will include working closely with clients and other contractors to ensure the project is delivered on time and in accordance with the project specification. The Project Manager will plan and co-ordinate all aspects of the building controls installation managing the day to day activity of Project Engineers, installers and sub-contractors through to final documentation and handover of the completed system.
Project Engineer
A Project Engineer will report to a Project Manager and will carryout the design and commissioning of the building controls project. He will review the specification and develop a controls design to meet the requirements, this will be fully documented. He will check equipment selection and ensure orders are placed in a timely fashion and he will work with installation contractors to ensure site works proceed in accordance with the plan. During the commissioning of a system the Project Engineer will put to work the system in accordance with the specification and will demonstrate this to the customer.
Graphic Designer
A Graphic Designer is responsible for producing the PC display graphics for customers to maintain control of their BEMS. Accurately interpreting the layout of physical plant by graphical representation this will provide the customer a user friendly overview of their system.
Strategy Designer (Software Control Strategy)
A Strategy Design engineer will interpret the client’s requirements with regard to the operation of the HVAC equipment controlled by their controls system. The Strategy Design Engineer will then create a building controls strategy to meet these needs using specially designed controls software tools.
Commissioning Engineer
A Commissioning Engineer will ensure that all equipment connected to a building controls system responds correctly to control signals supplied, they will also work with other trades to check correct operation of items of plant.
Apprenticeship Case Studies
The Trend Attitude Apprenticeship Scheme recruits candidates for Trend and its partner organisations, providing certificated qualifications in conjunction with Trend internal product training and practical on-the-job training.
Jenny Kortan - Trend Technical Support
“I was unhappy in my role as an administrator and wanted a challenge. I did not think I would be capable of being a Controls Specialist but surprised myself when I took up the opportunity to join Trend’s HVAC apprenticeship. Heating and ventilation does not sound very exciting but you get to work on both software and hardware, which makes the job interesting.”
