THE INTELLIGENT APPROACH

John Corbin, Director of Engineering at Intelligent Control (UK) looks into the often thorny issue of HVAC integration and provides some insight into the help and support his company provides.

Here at Intelligent Control (UK) we are proud to say we have been North Gold Partners and systems integrators for 18 years. Personally 22 years. We have grown to a team of nine in that time. We have implemented the North commander range of HVAC integration and controls creating great reliable integration to all major HVAC systems and AV systems. As the North platform evolves, we are adapting the way we provide control system and support with new North Commander Hub remote monitoring. We are now seeing more requirements from clients for external monitoring and control with plant alerts to users and maintenance teams alike.

This is now in FULL release from North Building Technologies for us to offer enhanced remote support. IC can (with some thought about the way the system you have integrated) upgrade any commander from 2015 onwards with supported version 2 hardware. The benefits for each property will be the FULL data logging and alerting all data points. Alarm alerts are emailed when a point changes such as boiler fault or leak detection.

You will be alerted via the www.CommanderHub.com website to your to your nominated email address. We can also see if boiler and plant operational temperatures deviate outside limits set times and basically if it’s on the system, and configured, you will see the point data logged too. If you have a North Commander system and want to discuss HUB we would be pleased to hear from you and get you connected. Remember on an IP Scan the network adaptor will report ‘Cygnal Integrated Products, Inc’ open the web interface and hit configure or support. Do call us and mention ‘It’s All About Numbers’.

MORE ON SIMPLE CONTROLS

The traditionally viewed simple option is to have multiple, mis-matched thermostats, which run independently and often fight each other to achieve a level of desired comfort. This uses up a lot of energy. As we move towards an all-electric future, the base load we place on our properties will increase. From a control systems perspective, we look to make sure Part L is considered in the form of a ‘No Fight’ system between the cooling and heating systems. This option is often overlooked for domestic properties and seen as part of a Building Management System and a large cost at the outset. Building management systems have a bad rap as being for hotels and shopping centres only so we use the term heating and cooling management system over BMS. This is really what’s happening in an integrated system that is well thought out at the outset.

While on the point of integrated controls, we always ask for the AC manufacturers to provide us with the open interface. We integrate all of our systems with the North Commander, our preferred platform for control and integration.

Do call us and mention ‘It’s all about the numbers’.