在当今以技术为导向的社会，“系统”一词可能是使用最为过度的词。这个词适用于从航天飞机导航设备到一次性剃须刀的所有东西。韦伯斯特将系统定义为“组成复杂或统一整体的事物或部分的有序组合”，这是一个真正的通用定义。该术语适用于控制建筑物所需的活动时，可定义为事物或部分的有序组合，形成一个统一的整体，目的是优化对建筑物的控制。当考虑将系统应用于建筑控制时，最好将建筑划分为子集功能，即:。 e、 、温度控制、能源管理、资产保护、管理信息功能等。每个应用程序都可以代表整个建筑管理系统中的一个子系统。根据系统架构的不同，这些子系统功能可以相互组合或保持独立。以下是对这些应用程序、各种系统体系结构的讨论，以及关于评估与系统开发和/或选择相关的权衡的一些指南。引文:德克萨斯州休斯顿ASHRAE学报第88卷第1部分研讨会

The term "system" is probably the most overused word in today's technology-oriented society. The term is applied to everything from space shuttle navigation apparatus to disposable razors. Webster's defines a system as "an ordered combination of things or parts forming a complex or unitary whole," truly a general purpose definition. This term, when applied to the activities required to control a building, can be defined as an ordered combination of things or parts forming a unitary whole, with the objective of optimizing the control of a building. When looking at applying systems to building controls, it is best to divide the building into subset functions, i.e., temperature control, energy management, asset protection, management information functions, etc. Each of these applications can represent a subsystem within the total building management system. Depending on the system architecture, these subsystem functions can be combined with each other or remain separate. What follows is a discussion of these applications, various system architectures, and some guidelines on evaluating the trade-offs associated with system development and/or selection.