Essential Install November 2016 | Page 29

Essential Install | HVAC DID YOU KNOW: The oldest form of under-floor heating is the Hypocaust which used a fire and a raised floors to warm Greek and Roman dwellings is as aware of the challenges and pressures installers face when caught between what the end-user wants and increasingly what the developer is willing to pay for. Phil argues: “This can be a challenging area; we have all heard some of the stories of poor systems that have not delivered and left customers with a bad experience. Some developers can over-sell a little what is actually possible, particularly with some of the constraints that are present in some MDU projects. Our route to success here has been to keep things as simple as possible.” Phil underlines that HVAC control can suffer as developers look to save money and cut down on the amount of control panels going into a build, often just ending up with one by the front door, which cuts down on the convenience for the client – yes portable control via tablets can help – but the client does not always want to go that route for something as simple as turning the heat up or down, it can feel over-engineered. For apartments, Phil says he always recommends that if there is going to be only one control point for the HVAC system it needs to be in the main living area. A further trend Phil identifies in the MDU sector is more HVAC manufacturers providing simple ways to connect direct to an automation platform, meaning control products or platforms that often sit in-between the HVAC system and the main automation platform are sometimes not needed. Control via this route is perhaps less sophisticated, but also less complex to achieve. Phil says there are pro and cons to both approaches, but as with any project, the question the installer needs to ask is ‘what level of control does the client really need’? Another headache Phil identifies is the lack of redundancy now being pushed for by some developers. With automation providers increasingly asked to deliver the same performance and reliability, with less budget for less kit, apartments and sometimes even whole floors are being asked to run via smaller and smaller infrastructure. This means that if a problem develops it can be a big one not restricted to one location. Phil says the news is happier in the single dwelling and smaller specialist developer market as everyone tends to be better educated and installers should have more room for manoeuvre to deliver the performance wanted, with system redundancy built in. Phil says: “You still do get the odd client that thinks one Nest can run a whole large house, but on the whole, the knowledge and appreciation of what is possible and what is needed is better in this market.” Phil adds that when working out the HVAC needs of a property, don’t forget the power of window treatment, which can often deliver a big part of the solution offering ambient light and therefore temperature and comfort SensibleEssentialInstal_banners_02_Layout 1 right. 18/09/2014 17:10 Page 4 control in its own The Crestron system can of course offer really bespoke solutions for those clients that want to control every room and have floor-plans ect, whilst the Pyng platform is there to provide a solution when that level of functionality is not needed. Phil adds: “The manufacturers of HVAC equipment are experts in their field; they have been at it for many years and have created some very powerful and intelligent systems. Our area of expertise is automation, so in this sector we see our role as to not to interfere with the systems too much and just present the information and control level that the client wants. We ask ourselves the same question installers should be: are we adding value or complexity? As evidence that HVAC manufacturers are increasingly seeing the need to offer more control, Heatrae Sadia recently announced that is has upgraded its FBM point of use vented storage water heater to offer higher levels of energy efficiency, greater defence against Legionella and more importantly from an integration point of view, the incorporation of Building Management System (BMS) technology. Suited mostly to commercial settings, these permanently plumbed units are generally sited next to the point they serve and are fed directly from the cold water mains, eliminating the need for a boiler or expensive pipe runs. Heatrae Sadia says it is the first product of its kind to be optimised for BMS and is suited to facilities where highlevel maintenance management is crucial. The unit can be monitored and controlled remotely, which means any faults can be detected and rectified as quickly as possible. More Information: Sensible Heat [phone], www.sensibleheat.co.uk Invision [phone], www.invisionuk.com Tenways Engineering [phone], www.coolmasternet.co.uk Heatmiser [phone], www.heatmiser.com Heatrae Sadia [phone], www.heatraesadia.com Crestron [phone], www.crestron.eu Heatstore [phone], www.heatstore.co.uk Electrorad [phone], www.electrorad.co.uk [email protected] www.sensibleheat.com sensible heat Advanced HVAC controls for the home November 2016 | 27 HVAC.indd 27 21/11/2016 09:50