FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
A SMART HVAC SYSTEM
JMARTANS
BUILDING AUTOMATION TIPS FROM INDUSTRY
What does a historical building and an
industrial plant have in common? For
Malta’s Grand Master’s Palace, it’s a smart
HVAC system. As smart technology
develops, building managers are
increasingly turning to automation systems
to streamline their processes. Here, Vincent
Deguara, operations manager at building
automation provider JMartans Automation,
looks at what facilities managers can learn
from industrial automation.
There was a time many years ago that
digital control was considered a strictly
industrial concept, existing as a means of
improving process speed and efficiency to
increase throughput and output. However,
smarter technology has changed the value
and appeal of this type of automation. It’s
no longer just about the output, but the
outcome.
The changing nature of automation
has made it more attractive to facilities
managers, who can now incorporate it into
their buildings to reap similar benefits to
their industrial counterparts. Because the
concept of building automation covers
everything from internet-connected
security systems to smart lighting, we can
take inspiration from industry to see how
facility managers can use automation to
uncover savings.
MONITOR OUTCOME, NOT
OUTPUT
Most commercial facilities don’t have a unit
of production output that can be directly
influenced by automation. Yet interestingly,
an increasing number of industrial
businesses are focussed on controlling their
expenses and resources.
Energy usage is a prime example of this,
and it’s one that facilities managers should
also focus on. According to statistics from
the European Commission, buildings
contribute approximately 40 per cent of
annual energy consumption across the EU.
In comparison, 2015 figures highlighted
that industry uses approximately 25 per
cent of all electricity in the EU.
Facilities managers can reduce energy
usage with building automation by
implementing smart HVAC systems, which
can regulate energy usage based on inputs
- such as whether the room is in use or not.
102
PECM Issue 35
Combining this with a building energy
management system (BEMS), such as those
designed and delivered by the team at
JMartans, allows for greater control over
costs and insight into use.
START FROM THE TOP
One of the most effective lessons that
facilities managers can take from industry
is the importance of top-down automation.
This means having a structure in place so
that individual automated systems can
collectively add value by being centrally
controlled.
For example, many industrial businesses
use equipment sensors and enterprise
resource planning (ERP) systems to
manage and monitor factory processes and
equipment performance. Facility managers
can replicate this using a computer-based
system that provides this functionality in
buildings.
A building automation system (BAS) is one
such system, which effectively operates as
a central control point for individual facility
systems, such as air conditioning units
and security networks. The controllers of
these devices can be interconnected in a
tiered direct digital control (DDC) system
architecture, where facility managers and
building technicians can view and control a
building from one entry point.
In practical terms, this would mean facilities
managers could regulate the usage of HVAC
equipment and control lighting from a
remote location, keeping the energy usage
under control for a greener facility.
These are just a couple of automation
lessons that facility managers can take from
industry. As smart technology develops and
extends what is possible with automation,
we will see more similarities in the way
these sectors operate. For now, the most
effective way to see what your facility can
achieve with automation is to consult with
a building automation expert and develop
a bespoke system that meets your needs.
www.jmartans.com