- Joined
- May 27, 2021
- Messages
- 1,122
- Age
- 64
- Location
- Coquitlam British Columbia Canada
- Bike
- 2009 ST1300
Around 1982 I seriously considered dropping out of the work force and weighing in on an expensive Computer College course after being pitched the excitement of the expanding field and employment possibilities. After a very dynamic introduction I was invited into a classroom to sit alongside one of the courses presently in progress, see what is happening.
I didn't see anything. For me at least. After a brief glance of the monochrome lines of text, I was fascinated at the stillness of watching thirty odd guys sitting staring, typing, staring.
I ended up the long way around, the long way around in a sense.
I worked in a service division of a controls company who's policy in the later 80's was that no BAS training opportunities would be given to any trade unionized employees. Had to quit the union and join the company, yeah, well, saw how that one went. As new versions of hardware and software came along, those proficient with the first generation were effectively Pidgeon holed and passed over for training oppotunities and starved out.
The wave of new recruits for the later BAS systems came from within the company in the form of already hired, already site familiar unionized Instrument Mechanics who were trying to make a living from an ever shrinking group of pneumatic based installations.
Just as I was exercising an opportunity [Instrumentation Mechanic] for a third trade qualification with the same company, getting signed up, challenging my first year training, working full time at one of the last all pneumatic industrial locations under contract, most of the unionized Instrumentation Crew saw the writing on the wall and joined the company to become BAS Technicians [not what they called them]. Some did well, I mean they didn't see much of their wives or kids or anything, but they were making it.
For me, I already had two trades, and I was getting paid journeyman rate to learn and accumulate hours in a third. When a fellow employee announced his retirement at one of the large industrial sites where I worked periodically, they requested that I fill the position. A bit of a compromise, but still a no brainer and turned out a good place to sit out the storm to come.
I remember finally there was one small DDC system on site and, hard as I tried, the company would not let me have anything to do with it.
It wasn't until years later and miles away on a large same vendor same brand BAC site that I had the good fortune and opportunity to be trained by a former BAS Tech.
By then it was just an exercise; the equipment was already scheduled for upgrading but the lesson was clear; first I was glad I didn't stare too long into the monochrome and reach into my wallet.
Even BACnet; how did that not work in practice to sew various generations and manufaturers of stand-alone controllers together and provide sites with practical alternatives and choices.
As new and exciting [remember the stones singing behind the windows launch] as developments are, they have the primary effect of consistently keeping the majority of those that follow at least one step behind. Works perfect.
I didn't see anything. For me at least. After a brief glance of the monochrome lines of text, I was fascinated at the stillness of watching thirty odd guys sitting staring, typing, staring.
I ended up the long way around, the long way around in a sense.
I worked in a service division of a controls company who's policy in the later 80's was that no BAS training opportunities would be given to any trade unionized employees. Had to quit the union and join the company, yeah, well, saw how that one went. As new versions of hardware and software came along, those proficient with the first generation were effectively Pidgeon holed and passed over for training oppotunities and starved out.
The wave of new recruits for the later BAS systems came from within the company in the form of already hired, already site familiar unionized Instrument Mechanics who were trying to make a living from an ever shrinking group of pneumatic based installations.
Just as I was exercising an opportunity [Instrumentation Mechanic] for a third trade qualification with the same company, getting signed up, challenging my first year training, working full time at one of the last all pneumatic industrial locations under contract, most of the unionized Instrumentation Crew saw the writing on the wall and joined the company to become BAS Technicians [not what they called them]. Some did well, I mean they didn't see much of their wives or kids or anything, but they were making it.
For me, I already had two trades, and I was getting paid journeyman rate to learn and accumulate hours in a third. When a fellow employee announced his retirement at one of the large industrial sites where I worked periodically, they requested that I fill the position. A bit of a compromise, but still a no brainer and turned out a good place to sit out the storm to come.
I remember finally there was one small DDC system on site and, hard as I tried, the company would not let me have anything to do with it.
It wasn't until years later and miles away on a large same vendor same brand BAC site that I had the good fortune and opportunity to be trained by a former BAS Tech.
By then it was just an exercise; the equipment was already scheduled for upgrading but the lesson was clear; first I was glad I didn't stare too long into the monochrome and reach into my wallet.
Even BACnet; how did that not work in practice to sew various generations and manufaturers of stand-alone controllers together and provide sites with practical alternatives and choices.
As new and exciting [remember the stones singing behind the windows launch] as developments are, they have the primary effect of consistently keeping the majority of those that follow at least one step behind. Works perfect.
