A wireless controller from Danfoss for wet underfloor heating systems can provide individual room or floor temperature control, with the option of wireless remote control. Based on Z-wave 2-way wireless technology, the CF2 system is easy and quick to install, commission and service.

The average of 7 m of cabling associated with sensors in a building-management system quickly add to the cost and time of installing such systems. Andreas Schneider looks at the many benefits of wireless, self-powered devices.

A condensed version of its energy-management suite has been launched by eSight. Called eSight Essential, it is extremely intuitive to install and use and highlights the excessive and wasteful use of energy — enabling organisations to reduce their energy spend, improve efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.

The steady expansion of Cambridge University’s BEMS over the last few years using the campus-wide IT network has already brought major benefits — and will continue to do so as the rolling programme of control upgrades continues.

Standard Life’s new 8-storey, 9000 m2 development at Old Bailey in London has a building-management system designed for multi-tenancy occupancy, with up to two tenants on each floor. Designed and installed by Integrated Control Systems, the system incorporates extensive monitoring of chilled and low-temperature water, gas and electricity via a LON interface to provide data for tenant billing.

Clarkson Controls has recently completed the installation of an Elesta composite building-management system for the new 3-storey Sikh temple at Leamington Spa. The nature of the various activities in the temple mean that its occupancy can vary from fewer than 10 people to several thousand, so the demands for heating and ventilation vary enormously.

Switchtec’s Anly range of timers for mounting on DIN rails are compact and multi-functional, enabling panel builders and equipment manufacturers to build more intelligent control panels. The H3D-M single-pole changeover timer, for example, has seven output modes (on delay, on pulse, delay off, off pulse, on pulse, cyclic pause start and cyclic pulse start).

Commissioning and checking a building management system ensures that it operates effectively and delivers energy-saving benefits. Ian Ellis, president of the BCIA outlines some important points for new and existing buildings.

BG Controls was responsible for the design, installation and commissioning of the sophisticated BMS for the new leisure centre at Catterick Garrison — the UK’s largest army base. Facilities in the £21 million centre, which is also open to the public, include a 25 m 6-lane competition pool, training pool, teaching pool and a 6-court sports hall for 5-a-side football, basketball, volleyball, netball and badminton. There are also cricket nets and trampolines.

Titan Products has released two BACnet-enabled control products operating to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 135. Both products operate on native BACnet over MS/TP, and Titan offers bespoke software engineering for customers needing to create a special control function of interface their products onto a BACnet system.

Using microwave detectors to control lighting in the Queen’s Court residential/business development in Hull is expected to reduce electricity consumption by £10 000 to £12 000 a year. The 7-storey city-centre complex includes 115 executive apartments and two floors of penthouse apartments. It is also home to the regional headquarters of the BBC.

Radiotech’s wireless energy-management system now qualifies for Enhanced Capital Allowances. The company offers a wide range of radio telemetry products for sub-metering applications. Low-power radio transmitters and data concentrators enable simple collection of metering data.

A flexible approach to the design of lighting control systems is key to achieving performance and maximum energy-saving benefits, now and in the future, says Stephen Woodnutt.

John Nichols share his ideas on how end users can benefit from open control protocols such as BACnet.

Why stop at controlling a building’s services when you can control the building itself? Charlotte Townend explains.

Joe Douglas explains how easier access to BEMS data and the development of software tools to analyse it are helping to prevent energy waste

Glow-worm’s range of ‘intelligent’ room controls is specifically designed to work with Glow-worm appliances to create advanced heating systems. The Climastat, Climapro and Climapro RF (wireless) ranges of controls are designed for use with the Flexicom, Ultracom and Ultrapower sxi boiler ranges.

The latest version of Philips Dynalite’s lighting-control software and operator interface simplifies the management of lighting-control systems. Called MapView, it enables operators to program complex tasks into advanced macros. They can also make manual changes quickly and easily and implement timed or scheduled events. Other capabilities include accessing a wide range of data on the performance and condition of devices. Finally, tests of lighting systems can be automated.

Sontay has introduced two wall-mounted sensors to improve the control of lighting in commercial and public buildings. One is a light-level transmitter, and the other is a passive infra-red detector to monitor room occupancy as part of an integrated building-control system. Key improvements include extended range and field of view to increase the area coverage of each sensor.

KeTech 2As, one of the UK’s largest independent control-system integrators, has been appointed to the Priva Partner Network. KeTech 2AS has offices in Bristol and Preston and offers the full range of control services associated with mechanical heating, ventilation and air conditioning and process-control/energy-management installations.

Jung KNX intelligent controls are being used to control lighting on new practice pitches at Gateshead International Stadium. The pitches are some 300 m from the main arena, and the lighting is controlled via a single 2-core KNX communications cable from the reception to the 14 lighting pillars around the pitches. The system was installed by systems integrator Durable Technologies.

EnOcean now offers a developer’s kit for its bidirectional Dolphin platform for self-powered wireless technology that ‘harvests’ energy from its surroundings. The EDK300 kit supports the bidirectional TCM300, TCM320 and STM300 modules. Miniaturised transceivers can transmit information and also receive it, enabling, for example, a sensor to indicate if a window is open somewhere so that heating or air conditioning can be turned down.

City Inn’s flagship hotel in Westminster, London, is working to reduce its electricity consumption with the installation of a monitoring system from t-mac Technologies. City Inn has begun a pilot programme to identify the effect on electricity usage of changing staff operating procedures and adding a new level of sophistication to the hotel’s building-management system.

Carlo Gavazzi has introduced a range of sensors for a wide range of environmental variables. These new CGES sensors can measure CO2 levels, humidity, temperature and airflow as part of complete solutions for energy management, HVAC and smart building applications.

The tallest building in the City of London, Tower 42 (formerly the NatWest tower), is progressively replacing its analogue fire detection and alarm system using the latest MZX digital technology from ADT Fire & Security. Because the MZX system can operate over most cable types, existing cables in Tower 42 are being reused to reduce costs and minimise disruption. It is also not necessary to install the new system alongside the old one and test it before final changeover.

Schneider Electric has completed the strategic transformation and brand migration of TAC to Schneider Electric, adding building management and security to its core competencies. Dave Beradi, UK managing director of Schneider Electric’s buildings business, formerly TAC UK, says, ‘Establishing the buildings business as the centre of one of Schneider Electric’s core competencies is a major company-wide initiative. We can now take multiple solutions from our comprehensive portfolio through one seamless customer interface to become a single-source energy-management provider.’

Just when you might have thought that the building-controls market had peaked comes growth of well over 20% overall — according to the latest figures from the Building Controls Industry Association.

Modern variable-speed drives can become an integral part of a building-management system — and eliminate the need for motor control panels. John Reid describes the realities.

The LON communication protocol has a history stretching back about 15 years, and is firmly placed as a control technology for future generations, as Ron Bernstein explains.

An ocean liner arrives at the City Cruise Terminal in Southampton about 60 times a year, but when it does the terminal needs to be ready for hundreds or even thousands of passengers to disembark and others to join the ship.

The INVent controller for Monodraught’s Sola-boost natural-ventilation system can control up to four zones and includes connections for sensors for temperature, rain, carbon-dioxide and windspeed/weather. Other features include a built-in BMS fault signal alarm, heating interlock/occupancy facility, fire service keyswitch over-ride facility and interconnection with a fire alarm to automatically close dampers in response to an alarm.

Honeywell’s Enterprise Buildings Integrators (EBI) working with LonWorks technology links building-management systems with financial and personnel records and supply chain of Italy’s leading financial newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore in its new headquarters in Milan.

A simple and cost-effective way of presenting real-time data for electricity consumption, carbon emissions and costs is provided by PRI’s Scroller for XP.

Electrical-accessory manufacturer Crabtree has developed a range of KNX switches as part of its Platinum range. The KNX control protocol is embedded in these switches, so they can communicate using the KNX bus to a host of other devices such as sensors, actuators and smart controllers.

To avoid problems with temperature sensors caused by the ingress of moisture, especially at the interface between the lead and the sensor, ATC Semitec has developed a range of TPE-encapsulated sensors with leads and sensors of the same material to create a waterproof barrier rated to IP68 and capable of operation at up to 105°C.

The ability of KNX intelligent-building technology to integrate and manage many different building-services functions and systems is fully exploited in a multi-purpose commercial headquarters building in Cheshire. Forum House was built three years ago and provides 3000 m2 of space on two floors.

The xitec processor from TridonicAtco is the latest in a line of intelligent ballasts to follow the successful ASIC generations. It is based on two decades of technology and knowledge producing dimmable and non-dimmable ballasts and offers sophisticated functionality for lamp and lighting management.

Sontay has added a new series of gas sensors and a water detection alarm to its product offering. They provide a valuable addition to a building-management system.