Understand your building
You do not need engineering knowledge to understand your building. This page tells you why a space gets too warm or too cold, and what you can do.
Common questions
Why is my room too hot or too cold?
A schedule in the building control system sets the temperature for most spaces. The wall thermostat does not give you full control. The outdoor temperature, the sun, and the number of persons in the room also have an effect. If the room is not comfortable for many days, report the problem. A sensor, a damper, or a schedule is frequently the cause.
Why did the temperature change on its own?
The system changes between the occupied mode and the unoccupied mode automatically. This saves energy outside the normal hours. If you work late or on a weekend, the system can stay in the unoccupied mode. It does not know that you are there.
Can I just turn the thermostat down myself?
In many commercial buildings, the wall thermostat is only a display. The central system has the control. If you change the setpoint, the new value stays for one or two hours. Then the system goes back to the schedule.
Who do I actually contact?
Speak to your building manager or the facilities team first. They can see the system. They can repair the problem, or they can send a BAS technician.
Do these checks first
Do these checks before you call for help. Many problems have a simple cause. If the cause is not simple, your notes will give the technician good data.
Check the airflow
Hold your hand near a vent or a diffuser. Feel and listen for air movement. If there is no air movement, and the space is more quiet than usual, the unit for your area is possibly off. Write down what you find.
Think about the weather
After a very cold night or a very hot weekend, the system can be slow. It can need 30 to 60 minutes to make the space comfortable again, especially in the early morning or after an unoccupied period. Wait before you report a problem.
Adjust the setpoint, if you can
If your space has a thermostat or a sensor that you can adjust, change the setpoint by 1 or 2 degrees. Then wait for a response. In many buildings, the new value stays for only one or two hours. Then the system goes back to the schedule. Do this check before you report a problem.
Compare your space with other areas
Go to a corridor, an adjacent office, or a different floor. Compare the temperature. A problem in one room and a problem in the full building have different causes. This data is very useful to the facilities team.
Find the thermostat for your zone
The thermostat for your area is sometimes in a different room, a shared space, or the office of a coworker. A person in that room can change the setpoint. One shared setpoint controls the temperature of the full zone.
Do not compare the wall sensor with a portable thermometer
Sensors can drift, and they need calibration at intervals. A sensor on a cold outer wall, or in direct sunlight, can show an incorrect value.
But be careful. The wall sensor is almost always more accurate and better calibrated than a telephone, a desk device, or a low-cost thermometer. The wall sensor measures the temperature at its position on the wall, not at your desk and not at the window. The temperature in a room is not the same at all points. A difference of 2 to 3 degrees between two corners is normal.
Before you report a problem
- Write down the room or the zoneRoom numbers and nearby landmarks help the technician find the correct equipment quickly.
- Write down the time the problem startedComfort problems frequently start with a schedule change or a known event.
- Find out if the problem is local or building-wideA problem in one room and a problem on a full floor have different causes.