The Smart Buildings Academy Podcast | Teaching You Building Automation, Systems Integration, and Information Technology

Hosted by Smart Buildings Academy

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Episodes

562

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, the world's largest podcast dedicated to the building automation industry! Join our expert instructors every week as they break down the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in smart buildings. No matter your position in the industry and whether you're a beginner or expert, this podcast delivers the knowledge and strategies you need to learn and stay ahead in the industry. With expert insights, special guest interviews, and real-world training, our episodes are designed to inform, educate, and empower. Many companies even use our podcast as a free training resource for their teams. Subscribe now! Visit us at www.smartbuildingsacademy.com to check out the numerous FREE training resources we offer.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 10, 2026Episode 56143 min

SBA 561: Database Fundamentals

Databases sit behind more of your building automation work than you might realize. Every time you pull trend data, investigate an alarm, restore a system, review an audit trail, or move information between platforms, a database is part of the process. For building automation professionals, understanding database fundamentals can help you troubleshoot more effectively, plan systems more confidently, and have better conversations with IT teams. In Episode 561 of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we break down databases from a building automation perspective. You'll learn what's happening behind the scenes when your systems store and retrieve data, why certain database decisions matter in the field, and where common problems can surface over the life of a system. Topics Covered • How databases support modern building automation systems • The database concepts and terminology BAS professionals should recognize • Why trends, storage, timestamps, and retention deserve attention • What backups, restores, accounts, and audit trails mean for system reliability • How clearer ownership boundaries can improve collaboration between BAS and IT teams You don't need to become a database administrator. You do need enough understanding to recognize what your systems depend on and ask the right questions before a database issue becomes a building automation issue.

September 3, 2026Episode 56022 min

SBA 560: Damper Sizing 101

A control loop that hunts all day may not have a controls problem. The real issue could have been locked into the system before the controller was ever programmed. In this episode, we dig into damper sizing and why this often-overlooked mechanical decision matters to building automation professionals. Incorrect damper sizing can show up as poor comfort, wasted energy, premature actuator failures, noise, and unstable control. Knowing what to look for can help you distinguish between a programming issue and a mechanical problem that tuning alone will never solve. Topics Covered • Why damper sizing directly affects control performance • The relationship between damper selection and control authority • What to consider when evaluating airflow and velocity • How blade configuration changes with the application • Common damper and actuator issues that create problems in the field If you troubleshoot HVAC controls, commission systems, or review designs, understanding what is happening mechanically can help you get to the root cause faster.

August 27, 2026Episode 55920 min

SBA 559: How to Coordinate with Electrical and Mechanical Contractors

In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we tackle one of the most common sources of friction on a controls project: coordination between electrical, mechanical, and controls teams. As a building automation professional, you often sit directly between multiple trades. When responsibilities are unclear, a missing connection or misunderstood scope can quickly become a schedule problem, a budget problem, and eventually a relationship problem. This episode explores how you can approach those coordination points earlier and gain better visibility into the interfaces that affect your work. You'll hear how to identify potential gaps before they reach the field and how to navigate conflicts without damaging the working relationships you'll need on this project and the next one. Topics Covered Why electrical, mechanical, and controls handoffs break down Where Division 23 and Division 26 responsibilities can create scope gaps How furnish, install, and terminate responsibilities affect controls projects What to consider when coordinating controls interfaces and field dependencies How to approach jobsite conflicts while protecting schedules and relationships When controls sits in the middle of the project, you have a unique view of how the building fits together. This episode will help you think differently about using that position to keep projects moving.

August 20, 2026Episode 55846 min

SBA 558: IP Security Fundamentals

Building automation systems are more connected than ever. That connectivity brings new capabilities, but it also changes what you need to know to design, install, and maintain them responsibly. In Episode 558 of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, we explore IP security fundamentals through the lens of building automation. You'll get a practical framework for thinking about where vulnerabilities can emerge, how building networks differ from traditional IT environments, and why cybersecurity is becoming a core competency for controls professionals. If IP addresses, VLANs, firewalls, remote access, or cybersecurity frameworks have felt like someone else's responsibility, this episode will help you understand how they connect to the systems you work with every day. Topics Covered Why connected building systems require a different approach to security The IP networking concepts every building automation professional should understand How layered security applies to BAS and operational technology environments The risks surrounding remote access, legacy protocols, and third-party connections How controls and IT teams can approach building cybersecurity together As building systems become more connected, understanding how to protect those connections becomes part of doing the job well.

August 13, 2026Episode 55724 min

SBA 557: Valve Sizing 101

A control valve can look right on paper and still create control problems in the field. For building automation professionals, valve sizing directly affects what you see at the controller. Unstable loops, limited valve travel, poor response, and persistent comfort complaints may appear to be programming or tuning issues when the real problem started with valve selection. In Episode 557 of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, Valve Sizing 101, you'll learn how to think about control valves as precision control elements rather than simple devices for passing water. Understanding what happens between valve sizing, pressure drop, authority, and the coil can help you recognize when a hydronic problem needs more than another round of loop tuning. Topics Covered • Why valve sizing matters to BMS technicians and controls professionals • How valve authority affects modulation and control stability • What oversizing can do to valve performance and usable range • Why valve characteristics matter for heating and cooling coils • Where cavitation and flashing enter the valve sizing conversation If you work with hydronic systems, AHUs, terminal units, or control loops, this episode will help you connect what you see in the BMS to what is happening at the valve.

August 6, 2026Episode 55629 min

SBA 556: Reading Catalog Sheets for Technicians

Most building automation professionals have done it. Open the catalog sheet, find the wiring diagram, glance at it, and move on. What if the information you skipped is the reason a device works perfectly or becomes the next callback? This episode explores one of the most overlooked skills in building automation. Learning how to read a catalog sheet goes far beyond wiring. It helps you catch problems before installation, evaluate substitutions with confidence, and make better technical decisions throughout a project. Topics Covered • Why the catalog sheet is one of the most important documents on every project • How to spot hidden issues before startup and commissioning • What to compare when evaluating substitute devices • The role documentation plays in faster troubleshooting years later • How reading specifications builds stronger technical judgment over time The difference between a smooth startup and a costly callback may come down to a few minutes spent reading the right information.

July 30, 2026Episode 55542 min

SBA 555: Windows Services and Task Scheduling

Most building automation professionals know how to work inside a BAS. Fewer know what keeps that BAS running behind the scenes. When Windows services or scheduled tasks stop working, the symptoms often appear in the BAS, but the root cause lives deeper in the operating system. Knowing where to look can help you troubleshoot faster, reduce downtime, and become the technician others rely on when systems refuse to cooperate. In Episode #555 of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, you'll learn why these Windows features play such a critical role in building automation and what you should understand before the next service interruption. Topics Covered • What Windows services are and why BAS platforms depend on them • The settings that influence how services behave during startup and failures • How Task Scheduler automates critical BAS operations • Where to look when scheduled tasks or services stop working • Why reading system logs is one of the most valuable troubleshooting habits you can develop The more you understand what's happening beneath your BAS, the more confident you'll be when diagnosing issues that others overlook.

July 23, 2026Episode 55429 min

SBA 554: Why BAS is a Great Career Choice

Most career conversations focus on college or the traditional trades. But what if there's another path that offers strong earning potential, constant learning, and opportunities to grow into technical, leadership, sales, or business ownership roles? If you enjoy solving problems, working with technology, and building valuable skills that can take you in multiple directions, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on why building automation deserves a closer look. Topics Covered • Why building automation offers a unique career path beyond college and traditional apprenticeships • The wide range of career opportunities available within the industry • How continuous learning creates long-term career growth and earning potential • What makes building automation different from many other skilled trades • Why demand for skilled building automation professionals continues to grow Whether you're considering your next career move or helping someone else explore their options, this episode may change how you think about the future of the industry.

July 16, 2026Episode 55329 min

SBA 553: BAS Fundamentals for Building Operators

If you're responsible for keeping a building running after the installation is complete, how confident are you with the building automation system you use every day? Many operators spend hours responding to alarms, adjusting schedules, and handling comfort complaints, yet the BAS can still feel overwhelming. Understanding how the system works from the operator's perspective can make every decision more effective and reduce unnecessary frustration. In Episode #553 of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, you'll learn how to better understand the system you're already using and develop the mindset needed to operate it with confidence. Topics Covered • What every building operator should know about how a BAS is organized • How alarms, schedules, and trends work together to tell the story of your building • Common operator habits that improve day-to-day system performance • Why understanding the system matters before making adjustments • When it's time to solve a problem yourself and when to involve your controls contractor If you've ever wondered whether you're getting the most out of your building automation system, this episode will help you look at it in a new way.

July 9, 2026Episode 55240 min

SBA 552: IP Networking Troubleshooting Commands

Every building automation professional will eventually face a controller that goes offline, graphics that stop updating, or trends that suddenly disappear. The question is whether you'll spend hours guessing or quickly identify the real problem. In this episode of the Smart Buildings Academy Podcast, you'll learn how to approach IP network troubleshooting with a structured process that helps you isolate issues layer by layer. You don't need to be a network engineer to become more effective at diagnosing common BAS networking problems. Topics Covered • How to troubleshoot network issues with a step-by-step process • The commands every BAS technician should know • Common networking mistakes that cause communication failures • Why understanding network layers leads to faster troubleshooting • BAS-specific networking challenges that technicians encounter every day The next time a building goes offline, you'll have a clearer path to finding the root cause with confidence.