Novant

Documentation

Asset Types

This page lists all available asset types, along with their descriptions and key attributes. Use this table as a reference when identifying, categorizing, or managing assets within your project.

TypeDescriptionOntology
elec.meter

Electric Meter

A meter that measures the usage or consumption of electricity.

VBIS: EP-Me
REC: Electrical_Meter
Brick: Electrical_Meter
Haystack: equip, elec, meter
elec.panel

Electrical Panel

An enclosure that distributes electricity from the main power source to circuits, providing control, protection, and organization for a building’s electrical system.

VBIS: EP-ConEP
REC: Electrical_Panel
Brick: Electrical_Panel
Haystack: equip, elec, panel
fire.alarm

Alarm Device

An audible fire alarm device in a fire system alerts occupants to the presence of a fire or emergency through loud sounds, such as sirens or horns.

VBIS: FD-AAD
REC: Fire_Alarm
Brick: Fire_Alarm
Haystack: equip, fire, alarm
fire.pump

Pump

Pump used in a fire suppression system to ensure adequate water pressure and flow to deliver water to sprinklers or hydrants during a fire.

VBIS: FS-Pu
REC: Water_Pump
Brick: Water_Pump
Haystack: equip, fire, pump
fire.sprinkler

Sprinkler

A sprinkler in a fire suppression system detects heat from a fire and automatically releases water to extinguish or control the flames.

VBIS: FS-Sp
REC: -
Brick: -
Haystack: equip, fire, sprinkler
fire.tank

Tank

Water tank used in a fire suppression system to ensure a readily available water source, providing a backup to maintain the required flow and pressure during fire emergencies.

VBIS: FS-Ta
REC: Water_Storage_Tank
Brick: Water_Storage_Tank
Haystack: equip, fire, tank
light.luminaire

Luminaire

A complete lighting fixture used to produce and control light in a space. It includes not just the light source (such as a bulb, LED, or fluorescent tube), but also all necessary components to distribute, direct, and manage the light. This can include reflectors, lenses, diffusers, housings, and electrical connections.

VBIS: EL-Li
REC: Luminaire
Brick: Luminaire
Haystack: equip, lighting, luminaire
light.panel

Lighting Panel

A lighting control panel centralizes lighting management, using switches, sensors, and timers to automate zones, improve energy efficiency, and enable remote control, dimming, and scheduling in smart buildings.

VBIS: EL-ConEP
REC: -
Brick: -
Haystack: equip, lighting, panel
generic

Generic

A generic asset.

VBIS: -
REC: Equipment
Brick: Equipment
Haystack: equip
mech.ahu

Air Handling Unit

An enclosure with a fan that delivers air to a space via ductwork and performs one or more of the functions of cleaning, heating, cooling, humidifying, dehumidifying, ventilating or circulating the air.

VBIS: ME-AHU
REC: AHU
Brick: AHU
Haystack: equip, ahu
mech.chiller

Chiller

Refrigerating machine used to transfer heat between fluids. Chillers are either direct expansion with a compressor or absorption type.

VBIS: ME-Chr
REC: Chiller
Brick: Chiller
Haystack: equip, chiller
mech.chwcoil

Chilled Water Coil

A cooling element made of pipe or tube that removes heat from equipment, machines or airflows that is filled with chilled water.

VBIS: ME-Co-Co-Ch
REC: Chilled_Water_Coil
Brick: Chilled_Water_Coil
Haystack: equip, coolingCoil, water
mech.cu

Condening Unit

A device responsible for cooling down and condensing refrigerant vapor into liquid as part of an air conditioner or heat pump system.

VBIS: ME-ACC
REC: Condenser
Brick: Condensing_Unit
Haystack: equip, air, condenser
mech.ct

Cooling Tower

A cooling tower is a heat rejection device that rejects waste heat to the atmosphere through the cooling of a water stream to a lower temperature, using either evaporation or soley the air to cool the working fluid.

VBIS: ME-CT
REC: Cooling_Tower
Brick: Cooling_Tower
Haystack: equip, coolingTower
mech.damper

Damper

Element inserted into an air-distribution system or element of an air-distribution system permitting modification of the air resistance of the system and consequently changing the airflow rate or shutting off the airflow.

VBIS: ME-Da
REC: Damper
Brick: Damper
Haystack: equip, damper
mech.doas

Dedicated Outdoor Air System Unit

A device that conditions and delivers 100% outdoor air to its assigned spaces. It decouples air-conditioning of the outdoor air, usually used to provide minimum outdoor air ventilation, from conditioning of the internal loads.

VBIS: -
REC: DOAS
Brick: DOAS
Haystack: equip, ahu, doas
mech.fan

Fan

Any device with two or more blades or vanes attached to a rotating shaft used to produce an airflow for the purpose of comfort, ventilation, exhaust, heating, cooling, or any other gaseous transport.

VBIS: ME-Fa
REC: Fan
Brick: Fan
Haystack: equip, fan
mech.fcu

Fan Coil Unit

Terminal device consisting of a heating and/or cooling heat exchanger or 'coil' and fan that is used to control the temperature in the space where it is installed

VBIS: ME-FCU
REC: FCU
Brick: FCU
Haystack: equip, fcu
mech.filter

Air Filter

A device composed of fibrous or porous materials which removes solid particulates from the air.

VBIS: ME-AFP
REC: Filter
Brick: Filter
Haystack: equip, air, filter
mech.gas_meter

Gas Meter

Meter that measures the usage or consumption of gas.

VBIS: FRD-GM
REC: Gas_Meter
Brick: Gas_Meter
Haystack: equip, gas, meter
mech.hp

Heat Pump

A self-contained unit designed to transfer heat energy to or from a designated space, capable of offering both heating and cooling functions

VBIS: ME-HP
REC: Heat_Pump
Brick: Heat_Pump
Haystack: equip, air, heatPump
mech.hrv

Heat Recovery Ventilator

Heat Recovery Ventilator: An energy recovery ventilation system that operates between two air sources, recovering residual heat from exhaust gas to preheat or precool fresh outside air.

VBIS: ME-ERV
REC: -
Brick: -
Haystack: equip, ahu, doas, heatRecovery
mech.hwcoil

Hot Water Coil

A heating element typically made of pipe, tube or wire that emits heat that is filled with hot water.

VBIS: ME-Co-He-Hh
REC: Hot_Water_Coil
Brick: Hot_Water_Coil
Haystack: equip, heatingCoil, water
mech.iaq

Indoor Air Quality

A sensor which provides a measure of air quality.

VBIS: BMC-AQT
REC: Air_Quality_Sensor
Brick: Air_Quality_Sensor
Haystack: equip, airQuality
mech.mwu

Makeup Water Unit

Equipment that adds water to plant processes to compensate for losses.

VBIS: ME-ARU
REC: -
Brick: -
Haystack: equip, makeup, water
mech.pump

Pump

Machine for imparting energy to a fluid, causing it to do work, drawing a fluid into itself through an entrance port, and forcing the fluid out through an exhaust port.

VBIS: ME-Pu
REC: Pump
Brick: Pump
Haystack: equip, pump
mech.radiator

Radiator

Heats a space using exposed pipes or coils. Hot water and steam radiators are often cast iron and installed directly in the space or along the baseboard. Electric radiators are typically installed on the baseboard.

VBIS: ME-Ra
REC: Radiator
Brick: Radiator
Haystack: equip, radiator
mech.rtu

Roof Top Unit

Packaged air conditioner mounted on a roof, the conditioned air being discharged directly into the rooms below or through a duct system.

VBIS: ME-ACU-PDX
REC: RTU
Brick: RTU
Haystack: equip, rtu
mech.split

Split System

Split system air conditioner where the blower and evaporator are located indoors, and the compressor and condenser are located outdoors.

VBIS: ME-ACFCU-DX-HW
REC: RTU
Brick: RTU
Haystack: equip, rtu
mech.vav

Variable Air Volume Unit

A device that regulates the volume and temperature of air delivered to a zone by opening or closing a damper.

VBIS: ME-ATU-VAV
REC: VAV
Brick: VAV
Haystack: equip, vav
mech.vfd

Variable Frequency Drive

Electronic device that varies its output frequency to vary the rotating speed of a motor, given a fixed input frequency. Used with fans or pumps to vary the flow in the system as a function of a maintained pressure.

VBIS: ME-EMS-VSD
REC: VFD
Brick: VFD
Haystack: equip, motor, vfd
mech.vrf

Variable Refrigerant Flow Unit

VRF systems uses refrigerant as the heat transfer medium, circulating it between a central outdoor unit and multiple indoor units. The system adjusts the flow of refrigerant to each indoor unit based on the specific cooling or heating needs of individual zones.

VBIS: ME-ACC-VRF
REC: VRF_System
Brick: VRF_System
Haystack: equip, vrf
mech.water_meter

Water Meter

Meter that measures the usage or consumption of water.

VBIS: WDN-WM
REC: Water_Meter
Brick: Water_Meter
Haystack: equip, water, meter
sec.ac

Access Control

A security access control device restricts or grants entry to a building or area by verifying credentials like keycards, biometrics, or PINs.

VBIS: SE-ACon
REC: Access_Control_Equipment
Brick: Access_Control_Equipment
Haystack: equip, security, accessControl
sec.cctv

Closed-Circuit Television

CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television) is a video surveillance system that transmits signals from cameras to specific monitors. It’s widely used for security, monitoring, and crime prevention in public spaces, businesses, and homes. Unlike broadcast TV, CCTV is a closed system, meaning its feed is limited to selected viewers.

VBIS: SE-CCTV
REC: -
Brick: -
Haystack: equip, security, cctv
sec.md

Metal Detector

A metal detector is a device that detects the presence of metal objects. Commonly used for security screening, it emits electromagnetic waves and detects changes in response to metal, helping to identify weapons or contraband.

VBIS: SE-MD
REC: -
Brick: -
Haystack: -