KNX integrates control of systems at Oundle School
The KNX protocol for building control brings together multiple intelligent building controls in the new SciTec building at Oundle School. It is a new centre for sciences, art, design and technology that embraces green technology. It provides significant energy savings, and pupils will be able to monitor energy usage.
The KNX protocol brings together the control of lighting, underfloor heating, natural ventilation, metering, full HVAC and various other elements. All report to a common visualisation package. Using KNX enabled all the control requirements to be connected using the same bus system — making for simple installation and only one system to set up and commission. Andromeda Telematics carried out the installation.
KNX technology in the main HVAC plant room provides boiler sequence control, weather compensation and pump control. Solar panels on the roof pre-heat domestic hot water in the winter and fully heat it in the summer.
Some parts of the lighting installation have DALI control, with presence detection and constant-light control to dim luminaires according to the amount of daylight available. Areas without DALI control have intelligent switching using presence detectors.
Readings from meters for water, gas and electricity are sent over the KNX bus, and the integrated head-end visualisation package enables the maintenance team to monitor and control the system via a web tablet PC.
