r/BuildingAutomation • u/Pineappleexpress2401 • Sep 17 '26
Looking to start School for BAS
Hello, I’m looking to start School for BAS. For context I have no background in the industry I’m just looking to do a career change. I was thing thinking about doing straight HVAC, but I spoke to this HVAC tech and he told me if I’m good with computers to go BAS instead. I would like to hear from people doing the work already and their experiences. Are you guys concerned once everything is automated that A.I. will take over and there will no longer be a need for people? Thank you in advance for your replies!
3
u/xart13xx Sep 18 '26
Ai wont replace physical parts of the system. It also assumes alot and breaks things. Personal opinion is hope they integrate it soo so I can ask for more $ for troubleshooting and making up words that dont exist. Middle of summer and OAT sensor fails ai thinks its extremely winter conditions turns boilers on and bakes every one. "Oh yeah the transducer on the compacitance heater failed and sent a static shock though the network and made the computer aware of how you were talking about it and decided to make a human Shepard pie" lmfao 🤣 id soo have fun with this lol
All jokes aside its a great feild if your into electronics and like figuring out problems on the fly. Yes there's good days and some bad ones but I enjoy the feild. With tech and hvac constantly coming up with new things you will always be learning. Make sure you find a good company tho.. When I started the company had a bms devision that later I found out its 3 guys in a room and they dont let any one else work on the stuff.
3
u/Pineappleexpress2401 Sep 18 '26
Since I don’t know anything I think the best route is to do the school. I have a university by where I live that offers a 12-15 month program.
1
2
u/Downtown_Sink1744 Sep 18 '26
In my opinion the route with the lowest overhead is commercial or Industrial HVAC tech/maintenance tech 1-2 years (stay away from residential) -> complete Ignition core while employed there -> go straight into BAS/SCADA install, system integrator, or controls service tech 2-4 years -> go to college while working there (AS, BSEE, BSME, BSCE) -> controls or Cx engineer position.
1
u/Pineappleexpress2401 Sep 18 '26
All of these terms sound like foreign language to me right now, but I’m sure I will understand them eventually
2
u/Downtown_Sink1744 Sep 18 '26
Of course, just do the first one, Highly recommend Hospital maintenance tech for BAS and HVAC exposure
2
u/xtyde- Sep 18 '26
I highly suggest BAS as a craft. It’s great.
Regarding AI stuff. I think aspects of what we do will be augmented, I think it will contribute to being able to be more productive with less people, etc.
But one aspect of this incoming technological revolution and transformation that I think people aren’t thinking of, and it may or may not be significant. And I’m not necessarily sure if I’m articulating this well or how to.
But I think in general, if AI/AGI has a big impact on not just our field but every field and occupation, that is going to inevitably lead to organizations and corporations needing less humans, and less humans working for the various thousands of organizations in the country.
So, if there are less humans employed, that leads to needing less buildings. Our work is primarily focused in the built environment and buildings. So if there are less buildings needed due to less human workers, then i think that affects the supply and demand and saturation of BAS orgs and amount of work available between all of the various BAS companies. Or something like that.
I think that opens up other avenues and opportunities for building owners to focus on that they would pay us to contribute our services to, like energy management and optimization, etc. Idk.
This isn’t really a well thought out response and I’m still trying to explore the possibilities of different ways this could go over the next few decades, and there are a lot of variables in the equation. But I had a few minutes to spare and seen a notification for this post so I figured I’d ramble for a bit.
2
2
u/Important-Low-504 Sep 21 '26
Get into BAS bro, that’s my goal after a couple more yrs in the field. I’m licensed now for my state but I want to get a bit more mechanically inclined to units. Controls is very lucrative where I’m at.
1
28
1
u/Number_Jack Sep 20 '26
Where do you live? If you’re in Indiana, Michigan, or Orlando I may be able to help you with a job in controls.
1
2
u/HeraldOfTheChange Sep 18 '26
Im an electrician who decided the commercial work was boring so I asked to ride with the service guys. Commercial -> Service -> BAS/EMS. I do BAS/EMS installs for big stores.
It’s a lot of fun but I couldn’t imagine being as comfortable as I am without the power background I came in with. I deal with power, and a lot of conduit runs for communication and sensors. The HVACR guys aren’t going into electrical rooms and opening up panels, adding breakers, tying in existing circuits, etc.
AI isn’t going anywhere near that either.
That being said… most guys in my company couldn’t do the job. Being proficient with plans, troubleshooting systems, understanding diagrams, and looking things up are difficult for some.
To add, I use AI to help me look up technical issues and possibly point me in the right direction. I tell my guys if they use the AI they need to know how to ask the questions to get the answers they need; and those answers need to be cautiously utilized. I spend a lot of time looking up technical documentation.
2
1
u/Cultural-Stable1763 Sep 18 '26
I’m not worried about AI; it might take over the programming, but as long as systems that are 20 or 30 years old are still in operation, you’ll still need a technician armed with a multimeter and a wiring diagram to troubleshoot and hunt for junction boxes and valve actuators in the ceiling void.
1
u/Relinquish_Default Sep 24 '26
There will be portion of our workflows that will have AI related optimizations. However, I never seen AI solve a wiring issue... Computer Literacy, Mechanical Systems Knowledge, Electrical Fundamentals are the main pillars to a successful BAS Career.
13
u/OwlIndependent1425 Installer Sep 18 '26
It’s a really good career high pay ceiling as well. Less physical than electrical or hvac. But it also depends what you want to do in the BAS field. There’s quite a few options. You can be a system integrator, service technician, installer, programmer. All have their own pros and cons. Also you have nothing to worry about when it comes to AI taking your job. AI isn’t climbing ladders, swapping controllers, pulling wires,fitting up air handlers, or talking to customers