UNDERFLOOR HEATING INTELLIGENT CONTROLS


MONITORING IN MAYFAIR


Reducing energy consumption is critical, especially in apartment blocks, which are susceptible to high levels of energy waste. Warmafl oor was commissioned by AECOM Building Services Engineers to install its control strategy at 5 Hanover Square, a development of fi ve luxury apartments in central London.


Energy effi ciency and cost savings formed a key part of the project brief and the individual time and temperature control of each room, in compliance with 2010 Building Regulations Part L, was appealing. The system was tailored for each apartment and controls the underfl oor heating and fan coil units to enable automated switching between heating and cooling modes.


Heating can be controlled from a touchscreen tablet interface


maintenance strategy with embedded diagnostics to alert users to malfunctions, aims to minimise repair costs. Rather than using wireless technology,


Many systems use RF wireless technology, which requires frequent battery changes that are both disruptive and costly for building users – Mike Lamb


the system consists of a bespoke wiring diagram and confi guration, which Warmafl oor claims is low in cost and ensures minimal maintenance. ‘Many systems use RF wireless technology, which requires frequent battery changes that are both disruptive and costly for building users,’ says Lamb. The system can control up to 32 zones


from one central location, with each zone boasting its own sensor, which is connected in a hard-wired BUS cabling system to the input/output logic box relay units and a central touch-screen control pad which can be located anywhere in the property. So far TICS have been installed in two apartment schemes: Mont Havelet in Guernsey and 5 Hanover Square in Mayfair, London (see box). J&B Hopkins was the M&E consultant


for Mont Havelet. Project manager Adam Hill says: ‘An inadequate controls system had the ability to scupper our energy effi ciency targets. With poor controls, it is not unusual to fi nd that some portions of a building are greatly overheated as means of maintaining comfortable conditions in other apartments. ‘Warmafl oor ensured that users can


control the heating, ventilation and hot water from one central touchscreen control with discrete sensors in each room.’ CJ


50 CIBSE Journal December 2012


This ensures the temperature selected in each room is achieved when it is needed, and helps to maintain a straight-line performance throughout the duration of heating time. There are also programmed settings for both summer and winter modes – a benefi t that provides total user control and maximises energy effi ciency. The system also allows the co- ordination of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, heat pumps, boilers and even garden sprinklers and lights.


The system is able to ascertain which is best suited to the energy need, and ensure that the most expensive source is used only when needed. This helped 5 Hanover Square achieve an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating for its sustainable methodologies in construction and building services design. The precision such a system provides is also important for cutting costs. The controls strategy at Hanover Square is accurate to 0.5°C in comparison to the 4°C of usual thermostats, facilitating lower energy consumption and reduced running costs. With the estimation that every degree Celsius overshoot equates to 10% energy waste, this potential 3°C temperature reduction allows for signifi cant fi nancial savings. Other features that enhance cost effi ciency include the system’s programmable winter and summer settings, which enable high energy savings throughout the year, and the energy saver scheduling, which optimises energy use.


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