Editor’s choice
A Smart move for commercial contractors
There is a now growing opportunity for commercial contractors to use their mechanical and electrical capabilities combined with their wider knowledge of control systems to move into the Smart Homes sector according to heating controls specialist Honeywell
survey carried out by Honeywell has revealed that near- ly 50 per cent of homeowners are interested in having a Smart Home that is connected remotely to a PC, tablet or phone. Following the launch of its whitepaper around Smart Homes of the future, Andy Mansfield, marketing communica- tions manager at Honeywell, believes there is no doubt that smart technology is knocking on the door of the home.
A Smart or Connected Home has interconnected devices and systems with centralised control providing access for the owner or occupier to make adjustments or monitor their home from wherev- er they are.
The complexity and interoper- ability of the ‘Smart Home’ has virtually no limitations; heating, air conditioning, lighting, security and audio-visual systems can be integrated and presented graphi- cally to the user who can adjust, monitor and receive alarms on a web enabled smart device. There are practically no limita- tions in what can be achieved in a Smart Home using open systems, integration software and the internet. The only restraint is the number of devices, sub systems and the user’s budget.
Research has shown that a typi- cal user’s primary Smart Home needs are to be able to remotely control the heating and lighting with security and audio visual being secondary requirements. However a significant issue in the development of Smart Homes is not the technology of the devices and systems but the deliv- ery and installation of the system to the homeowner. It requires ‘Smart’ installers to encompass the skills required to deliver a smart or connected home system. In an average domestic installa- tion there is clear differentiation between the electrical (power and lighting) and the mechanical (plumbing and heating).
The majority of domestic heating installations are gas fired
36 | September 2014 | HVR
There is ample scope for commercial contractors to form ‘Smart Home Alliances’
central heating with a central programmer for the boiler and thermostatic valves for each radiator. A Gas Safe registered installer fits the central heating system with usually the controls and power supply to the boiler wired and connected by a quali- fied electrical contractor.
The controls are straightforward – usually no more complicated than thermostats, timers and motorised valves being connected from a wiring diagram supplied by the controls manufacturer. However, the advent of Smart Homes is changing the level and span of skills needed for an installation. It requires the upskilling of the contractor to take on the requirements of a more complex control system and wider scope of work.
The smart contractor needs to be competent in installing electri- cal and mechanical equipment and more advanced controls which, depending on the size and com- plexity of the Smart Home installa- tion, are becoming closer to those used in light commercial buildings. There has always been a ‘gap’ between commercial and domes- tic heating installations requiring different levels of skills and system knowledge. Although size and complexity usually defines a com- mercial installation, in buildings such as small guest houses, large residences converted to offices and care homes the difference or gap becomes blurred or unclear. With small or light commercial
buildings the differentiator is often the complexity, supply route and installation of the control system that defines it as a commercial installation. In simple terms a commercial installation has a control panel and a domestic installation does not.
There are of course exceptions to this; large luxurious houses and apartments do have very complex integrated systems with quite impressive control panels but from a budgetary and engineering aspect they are effectively a com- mercial building.
Looking at Smart Homes, there is an opportunity for commercial contractors to use their broad range of mechanical and electrical capa- bilities combined with their wider knowledge of control systems to move into this growing sector. Although Smart Homes may be a comparatively new concept in the domestic controls sector, integration, communication and graphical displays of information have been long established in
commercial buildings. Commercial contractors are used to working with HVAC control systems and the application of Building Management Systems (BMS) is well within their experience and knowledge base.
A Smart Home is a mini BMS incorporating both mechanical and electrical services such as lighting. The use of web-based integration controllers, networks and routers are almost universal in the Building Management Systems and are within the technical grasp of commercial mechanical and electrical contractors.
The majority of Building Management Systems and commercial HVAC controls are engineered, installed and commis- sioned by independent systems installers. With approximately 300 BMS systems installers in the UK and Ireland there is ample scope for commercial contractors to form ‘Smart Home Alliances’ to deliver Continued on page 38
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