What is Fault Detection and Diagnostics?

Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) is an analytical method for surveilling systems within your building. It relies on BMS/EMS data to continuously monitor the system in real time, looking for small changes in temperatures, setpoints, building schedules, etc. If a performance anomaly is detected, FDD software notifies the users of the issue (and sometimes the root cause) to allow quick corrective action. FDD can be used to monitor HVAC, lighting, power, refrigeration, and industrial machinery. 

Why is FDD good for performance contracting?

When a customer enters into a performance contract, they typically pay for the project through an off-balance-sheet financing approach, allowing the reductions in the utility bill to cover the cost of the measures. FDD is important to embed within a performance contract, as the ESCO needs to maintain optimal equipment performance to: 1. Ensure they are meeting their guaranteed savings, 2. Ensure the customer’s newly installed equipment is operating optimally and, 3. Quickly manage any operational issues within the facility. 

Why should FDD be combined with an M&V process?

M&V and FDD go hand in hand, as M&V can detect a shift in energy consumption, and the FDD can pinpoint its cause. They are great to combine for either a whole facility savings approach (IPMVP Option C) or equipment level savings approach (IPMVP Option A & B). FDD platforms can also help the M&V professional determine if a non-routine adjustment should be logged for the fault that occurred, allowing the baseline to be adjusted (IPMVP Option 3) or the data to be removed (IPMVP Option 1).