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SOMA Controls

Controls Retrofit & Modernization

Upgrade pneumatic controls, rebuild controls panels, and replace aging BAS in stages that fit your building.

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Side-by-side conceptual comparison of a controls panel with uneven wiring and missing labels, and a neatly routed, consistently labeled panel
Panel retrofit comparison. AI-generated illustration, not a SOMA project photograph.

Start with the controls
you already have.

One air handler or a building-wide migration. Each scope starts with a survey of what can stay and what needs to change.

Pneumatic-to-DDC conversion

Convert pneumatic controls to direct digital control (DDC), with updated sequences, schedules, alarms, and trends. Start with one air handler, a floor, or a group of zones.

What we retain, replace, and verify
Retain
Serviceable equipment and compatible actuators, where the survey supports reuse.
Replace
Control devices and interfaces; actuator replacement where required, coordinated with the trades.
Verify
Point response, sequences, actuator travel, and agreed failure behavior.

Retained pneumatic actuators still need compressed air. The scope records that dependency.

Controls cabinet & panel retrofits

Make aging controls cabinets easier to service. We define the controller, power, relay, terminal, and wiring changes before coordinating fabrication and installation.

What we retain, replace, and verify
Retain
A suitable enclosure and verified field wiring, only after condition and compatibility review.
Replace
The agreed controls assembly, identification, drawings, and termination records.
Verify
I/O, panel interfaces, control power, backups, and functional operation within the agreed scope.

Controls panels are the focus. Electrical distribution and mechanical installation remain with the appropriate trades.

Phased BAS migration

Replace obsolete or hard-to-support controls in stages. Controller, supervisor, and network changes include the operator graphics and records needed at handoff.

What we retain, replace, and verify
Retain
Compatible field equipment and supported controllers that still serve the building.
Replace
Selected controllers or software, plus the graphics, database, and interfaces in scope.
Verify
Communications, alarms, schedules, trends, sequences, and recovery from agreed failure conditions.

Age alone does not decide replacement. Condition, access, licensing, and compatibility shape the migration.

Plan the cutover.
Document the result.

Agree the equipment, work windows, trade responsibilities, and restoration plan before making changes.

  1. Assess

    Survey the installed controls, field devices, wiring, sequences, and available records.

  2. Plan

    Define retained and replacement components, trade responsibilities, work windows, and restoration provisions.

  3. Modernize

    Coordinate the agreed controls retrofit and migrate programming, graphics, and databases in stages.

  4. Commission

    Verify the sequences in scope against the design intent and hand off documentation.

Engineering through handoff

Engineering, programming, commissioning, and documentation are part of the agreed controls scope.

Installation and licensing

  • Hardware supply and installation require a separately agreed controls package.
  • We do not perform electrical or mechanical installation labor.
  • We do not resell the BMS software license; you own or procure it.
Graphics, databases, and operator workflows
Graphics modernization
Rebuild dated, cluttered operator graphics into clear, fast screens: readable floor plans, equipment pages, alarms, and trends on the controllers you already own.
Database cleanup
Clean up the control database so points, schedules, and references are consistent and maintainable after years of changes.
Point naming and mapping cleanup
Standardize point names and mappings so operators and the next contractor can read the system.
Sequence review
Review sequences of operation against the design intent and how the building actually runs, and correct what has drifted.
Alarm and trend cleanup
Remove redundant alarms so important faults are easier to find. Set up trends that record behavior and help with troubleshooting.
Operator workflow improvement
Make equipment status, alarms, and trends easier to find so operators can investigate issues more quickly.
Legacy migration planning
Plan a phased move from obsolete controllers and software, replacing unsupported equipment where needed.

For protocol, equipment, and network integration, see Building Systems Integration.

Deliverables and operating outcomes

Deliverables

  • An agreed retrofit scope with retained and replacement components identified
  • Panel, point, and sequence records for the work in scope
  • Functional checkout and a documented owner handoff
  • Rebuilt operator graphics for the equipment and systems in scope
  • A cleaned control database with standardized point names and mappings
  • Reviewed sequences of operation corrected against design intent
  • Rationalized alarms and documented trends
  • A phased legacy-migration plan for obsolete controllers

Operating outcomes

  • A documented retain-or-replace decision for the controls in scope
  • Clear, readable operator graphics on retained or replacement controllers
  • A clean control database with consistent point naming
  • Reviewed sequences, schedules, and rationalized alarms and trends
  • A modernization path that retires what is obsolete without an unnecessary rip and replace

What stays with your team

You receive the agreed drawings, point records, backups, and verified sequences and graphics for the retained or replacement controls. SOMA Controls adds no required subscription or proprietary middleware; existing OEM software, licenses, and maintenance terms remain part of the system scope.

Common questions

Can pneumatic actuators stay in place?

Sometimes. We assess their condition, control requirements, and air supply before deciding whether to retain them with an electro-pneumatic interface or specify replacement. Retained pneumatic devices still depend on the air system.

Who installs panels and field devices?

Hardware supply and installation coordination are defined in a separately agreed controls package. Electrical and mechanical installation labor is performed by the appropriate trade partners, not SOMA.

Will the building need a shutdown?

The work may need equipment outages. We agree cutover windows, responsibilities, and restoration provisions around the building’s operating needs; uninterrupted operation is not guaranteed.

Do you replace our controllers?

Not unnecessarily. Modernization runs on your existing control hardware wherever the hardware still supports the work.

Can you phase the work?

Yes. We plan the stages around building operations and the work in scope.

Where do graphics and database cleanup fit?

Both remain part of Controls Retrofit & Modernization: rebuilt operator graphics and a cleaned-up, consistently named control database are coordinated within the modernization scope.

Related reading

Related controls services

Controls retrofit & modernization

What needs to change in your building?

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