The building industry is undergoing significant changes, and the future is approaching rapidly. For NEBB to maintain its status as the premier global certifying organization for building systems professionals, it must adapt to these changes, integrate new technologies into its procedures and training methodologies, and advocate for ongoing education to ensure its professionals remain at the forefront of developments. To do so, NEBB is currently implementing or pursuing four initiatives to allow the NEBB community to thrive in the evolving building environment:
A New Technical Committee
To formalize its commitment to innovation, NEBB has recently formed the Future Technologies Ad Hoc Committee (FTAC). This committee is primarily tasked with staying informed about new developments in building technologies, distinguishing between advancements that could significantly impact the building systems industry and those that are merely trends. The FTAC communicates regularly with other NEBB Technical Committees to ensure awareness of developments that may affect their specific disciplines. This responsibility is substantial, as AI influences nearly all eight NEBB disciplines. However, this diligence is essential for keeping Technical Committees updated and ensuring that relevant information reaches NEBB Certified Professionals.
Updated Procedural Standards
As NEBB Certified Firms and Certified Professionals know, the NEBB Procedural Standards for each discipline are routinely revised and updated. This standard practice, upheld by all Technical Committees, ensures that new trends in system design, control, and best practices are integrated into the standards that all NEBB members follow. One initiative currently under investigation is the incorporation of AI into the online versions of the published Procedural Standards for each discipline.
Consider this scenario: you are employed by a NEBB Certified Firm and encounter a system design or layout you have never seen before. While the latest publication notes that a key advantage of being a NEBB Certified Firm is the ability to contact NEBB HQ or fellow Certified Professionals for guidance, what if there were a faster option? In the first article of this series, we noted how AI programmers utilize Large Language Models (LLMs) to teach AI how to respond to inquiries. What if AI could be trained on the NEBB Procedural Standards? With such a tool, you could theoretically consult “NEBB-Bot” (or whatever the chatbot is named) to ask specific questions about your project and how to implement the NEBB Procedural Standards effectively. This readily accessible tool could be immediately utilized by all Certified Firms as a primary resource for fieldwork or office direction, saving time and money on projects while ensuring all NEBB members know the necessary steps and their order to deliver quality results. While this may seem ambitious, the FTAC is actively exploring ways to provide these benefits to NEBB members. Stay tuned; the future promises to be even brighter for NEBB.
NEBB Mobile App
Did you know NEBB has its proprietary mobile app? Based on a recent survey of current NEBB members, you are not alone if you were unaware. The NEBB app features a built-in calculator that helps users navigate the formulas on the NEBB Formula Sheet to obtain essential information on the spot. For instance, you can calculate airflow at a traverse location or water flow through a coil based on pressure differential readings. While these functions are undoubtedly useful, what if the app offered access to additional NEBB resources, documents, or even the chatbot mentioned earlier? The possibilities are vast, and NEBB is committed to further developing its app into a tool that meets all its members’ needs.
Training in Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) has gone mainstream and appears to be here for the long term. With major companies like Meta, Sony, and Microsoft heavily investing in VR and augmented reality technologies, there is much potential to maximize this resource. NEBB has begun exploring the possibility of offering online training using VR to assist its members and anyone seeking certification.
Imagine registering for a NEBB seminar from the comfort of your home and being able to interact verbally with classmates and instructors over the internet. This would significantly reduce the cost of attending a seminar by eliminating the need for travel while providing the same high-quality education from Certified Professionals nationwide.
Additionally, NEBB HQ has been utilizing its new Robert B. Gawne Training Center, which is equipped with the tools, equipment, and controls necessary for trainees to learn everything from balancing a diffuser to setting up a hydronic system. Normally, in-person attendance would be required to benefit from this training. However, with VR technology combined with AI data, you could theoretically access these resources remotely, taking readings that demonstrate how a system responds to various adjustments. This could all occur in real-time, providing world-class training to NEBB members globally.
Furthermore, anyone seeking certification as a NEBB Certified Professional or Certified Technician must pass written exams in their chosen discipline. Currently, preparing for these exams involves studying books from the body of knowledge associated with that discipline. The online NEBB Learning Center has recently been updated with newly published sample problems relevant to each discipline, helping users identify areas for review. This resource is accessible to anyone free of charge (Simply visit NEBB.org > Education > NEBB Learning Center and create an account if you haven’t done so already). The NEBB Learning Center will continue to be enhanced with more tools to benefit all of NEBB.
When Will These Changes Happen?
All these initiatives are being explored by NEBB HQ and its Future Technologies Ad Hoc Committee. Some will require additional infrastructure, such as more servers and video recording equipment, which will take time to implement. Nevertheless, NEBB is committed to supporting its members with the latest technology and resources to ensure you have everything needed to succeed in your trade.
The robots aren’t here to take our jobs yet, but they can be used to enhance both you and your buildings. This new technology can improve our built environment, making it more efficient, run more smoothly, and provide greater comfort to occupants. It can also help us hone our respective crafts, become better tradespeople and skilled engineers, and continue to progress as our industries evolve. AI is still relatively new, but it has become an integral part of our world and is not going away anytime soon. Rather than fearing this new technology, be prepared to embrace it, with NEBB as your guide into the future.