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FEATURE | 4-NOKS


IS WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY READY FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN 2015?


Billal Vindhani of energy management and building control product specialists 4-noks, discusses the wider adoption of wireless sensor technology in Facilities Management.


Developments in wireless standards now mean that wireless mesh networks are ready to take their rightful place in the system integrator tool box. However, the economic situation has changed over the last decade, resulting in budget constraints and unaffordable maintenance expenses, whilst, legislative changes demand that building owners and facilities managers achieve greater efficiencies.


MESH NETWORKING A mesh network is a local area network (LAN) which is


usually wireless and decentralised in nature; advances in microelectronics and miniaturisation, allowing more computing power to be embedded within inexpensive wireless devices. Each node, such as data communication equipment (DCE) or data terminal equipment (DTE) such as digital telephones, printers, routers or computer workstations, is connected to many others and configured in such a way so as to allow connections to be rerouted around broken or blocked paths.


A mesh network is capable of self-discovery on the network. As nodes leave the network, the mesh topology allows the nodes to reconfigure routing paths based on a new network structure. The characteristics of mesh topology and ad-hoc routing provide greater stability in changing conditions or failure at single nodes. Through this relaying process, a packet of wireless data finds its way to its ultimate destination, passing through whatever intermediate nodes are available. The result is literally, a mesh of intersecting communication lines.


THE BOTTOM LINE Energy efficiency savings is one of the greatest benefits of


wireless networks. Since energy-efficient control systems typically produce double-digit savings, the ability to go wireless for low installation costs is a powerful incentive for many facility managers.


Wireless networking also produces savings through simplified maintenance, flexibility, and the opportunity to improve building performance for significantly reduced energy costs. For both new structures and old, wireless networking is expected to grow significantly, improving existing applications retrospectively and opening up new ones as the technology matures.


A CLOSER LOOK Self-configuring: Mesh networks are self-configuring because


each device in the network contains a micro-controlled router. This means that changing the network or adding a new wireless controller is a simple process.


Self-healing: Just as importantly, mesh networks are self- healing. If a device loses contact with one neighbour, it simply finds another one to ‘talk’ to.


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Simplified maintenance:Wireless networks are easier to maintain. Maintenance personnel can use a laptop or handheld diagnostic device to communicate and perform diagnostics, without running wires.


Flexibility: Free from wiring and all the associated problems and costs, building owners can place wireless controllers virtually anywhere. Instead of hiring wiring architects and teams of technicians, then phasing installation over a period of weeks or months, one person can walk around the building, placing controllers wherever needed.


THE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES Retrofits and upgrades: Since over 90% of existing


buildings are wired, the immediate potential for using wireless controller networks in these buildings is in phased upgrades, expansions, or layering new capabilities onto the existing wired network.


Commercial offices: Office environments and layouts change often; wireless solutions offer significant savings and less disruption for tenants or occupants.


Retail: The potential energy savings are especially attractive to retailers because they typically operate on extremely narrow profit margins.


New construction: Increasingly, new buildings are expected to take advantage of wireless technology to reduce initial costs and offer tenants greater flexibility and on-going savings.


Hotels/hospitality industry: Wireless solutions allow changes or retrofits with minimal disruption to customers, avoiding customer dissatisfaction or loss of income.


Museums and historical buildings: Wireless technology offers a unique solution to implement controls without damaging the historical integrity.


Fast track projects: Deadlines that would be impossible to meet with wiring solutions are made possible, and simplified using wireless networks.


Small remote structures: Areas that previously were not worth the cost and trouble can now be monitored and controlled, such as parking gates, pumping stations, warehouses and storage facilities.


Dangerous installations: Many walls in older buildings cannot be penetrated without exposing workers to asbestos. Wireless networks help avoid these problems.


www.4-noks.co.uk 4-NOKS : TOMORROW’S FM YEARBOOK 2015/16


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