Automated Guideline 36 Validation

Building automation systems frequently underperform due to inconsistent control implementation, gaps in commissioning, and project‑specific reprogramming that “reinvents the wheel.” American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Guideline 36 (G36) offers standardized, high‑performance sequences of operation that can improve comfort, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency. Major building automation system manufacturers have also begun to release G36 programming libraries. However, in the absence of an objective, vendor‑agnostic test standard, users cannot reliably assess their conformance, completeness, or robustness. Early field experience has shown inconsistencies and incomplete implementations, illustrating the need for a rigorous and repeatable validation method. This project developed a draft method of test and demonstrated an automated, repeatable bench‑scale validation approach to confirm that control programming conforms to G36 sequences of operation, thereby enabling scalable quality control, supporting codes and standards, and reducing deployment risk. The method uses a software testbed connected to a physical building automation system controller to apply scripted operating conditions and compare the controller’s outputs to expected results. The approach provides objective, vendor‑neutral validation that can be performed by programming developers as well as independent testing organizations.Key accomplishments include:Test architecture and scripts: Developed a modular test structure based on discrete test steps and test blocks, enabling detailed evaluation of controller responses across a range of G36 airside sequences. Machine-readable test input files include a point mapping index for a Building Automation and Control Network point translation, test script files providing detailed test conditions and expected responses, and a configuration file defining test selection and reporting intervals.Software tool enhancements: Collaborated with two federally funded research teams to develop software tools capable of implementing the new test procedures. Pilot testing: Conducted iterative pilot testing with a building automation system manufacturer's G36 variable air volume reheat program and with an open-source G36 programming implementation. These pilots confirmed the feasibility of automated conformance testing and informed refinements to the test scripts, point naming, and software requirements.Industry and standards engagement: Worked closely with building automation system manufacturers, ASHRAE G36 committee members, and California Title 24 stakeholders. The project team successfully proposed and formed ASHRAE SPC 236, a new standard committee dedicated to developing this method of test into an American National Standards Institute standard. A standardized method of test will:Provide clear, objective criteria for evaluating G36 conformance.Improve quality and consistency of manufacturer programming libraries.Reduce the need for project‑specific programming and troubleshooting.Support codes and standards, including future Title 24 cycles.Strengthen the foundation for utility programs seeking to promote advanced controls.By validating control programming at the library level, the method of test enables scalable quality assurance before installation, reducing downstream commissioning burdens and improving long‑term system performance.To advance toward publication of ASHRAE Standard 236 and support broader market adoption, the following actions are recommended:Continue refining test scripts and definitions through the Standard 236 project committee, prioritizing core G36 airside sequences.Expand pilot testing to additional manufacturers’ programming libraries to address architecture and point‑exposure variations.Secure dedicated funding for ongoing method of test development, which requires deep technical expertise and familiarity with G36.Coordinate with California state codes (Title 24) and utility programs to establish pathways for integrating validated G36 programming into policy and incentive frameworks. This project establishes the technical foundation and industry momentum necessary for a widely accepted, automated standard for validating G36 control programming, supporting a more reliable and efficient built environment.