FOCUS: OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION


Commercial buildings have changed considerably over the last 10 years or so and with new technology being introduced on an ongoing basis, the process of evoluon is far from over. Mark Redfern, managing director at Wieland, explains the role modular wiring plays in creang truly intelligent buildings and how it oers flexibility for the future


Smart thinking W


e live in an increasingly connected world and the term intelligent building has


become part of the common vernacular. The Intelligent Building Dictionary defines it as ‘a building that integrates technology and process to create a facility that is safer, more comfortable and productive for its occupants, and more operationally efficient for its owners. Advanced technologies – combined with improved processes for design, construction and operations – provide a superior indoor environment that improves occupant comfort and productivity’.


To leverage the future focused capabilities of an intelligent building, strategic planning is vital. Numerous options are available in terms of building and system design, and in order to meet the need for a flexible, cost effective and reliable power infrastructure there has been a significant increase in the use of modular wiring systems. The concept behind modular wiring is simple – from a pre-approved design a manufacturer produces and tests a system in a quality controlled environment, providing a complete installation from the respective distribution board to the furthest point of a circuit. This process is highly efficient and can reduce installation times by up to 75 per cent. Virtually any intelligent building, regardless of size and complexity, can utilise this technology, with components delivered to site and simply connected together in a complete ‘plug and play’ installation that can be used for a wide range of building services – from lighting and security to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). It vastly reduces, and in many cases eliminates, the need for on-site electrical connections and cuts the number of qualified electricians required to carry out installation work. Furthermore, installation schedules can be completed with greater


predictability and by reducing work on-site there is far less risk posed by improperly configured assemblies. During the second-fix stage, for example, the rapid speed of connection is impressive and this gives project managers the flexibility


to free up personnel more quickly to tackle other work. Additional time- savings can also be achieved by making use of innovative product developments such as a flat cable connection system that combines a busbar and cable into one product. These use a safe tap-off adaptor with a piercing contact that eliminates the cutting and stripping of cable. Leading manufacturers will also be able to provide support at all stages of the project, ensuring that installations are standards compliant for guaranteed performance and reliability. Creating an intelligent building involves more than just connecting the various facilities systems and building services and there is growing recognition that buildings that can continually adapt to how they are being used are more efficient and can save energy, while increasing occupant comfort and productivity. Some of these buildings have uniform room layouts, allowing wiring configurations to be duplicated, which greatly simplifies the design, and allows it to be installed in less time and with less wastage. Modular wiring installations are also simple to reconfigure allow for future design changes. For example, business intelligence is a vital element of modern commercial premises and by analysing usage, traffic flow and occupancy, organisations are able to operate more securely and efficiently, maximise space utilisation, control energy management of unoccupied space, plan for typical peak and off peak demands and ensure that every available square metre provides a return on investment (ROI).


A building that has a modular wired infrastructure can facilitate changes of use so that lighting, HVAC and other building services can be quickly reconfigured to maintain the desired comfort conditions and avoid extensive re- wiring work. Having a traditionally wired system in place can make such changes very complex and time consuming, and can prohibit the ability of intelligent buildings to evolve over time to best suit occupant needs. Conversely, a modular wiring system reduces disruption and overall cost when it comes to optimising space. According to the World Green Building Council buildings and construction account for 39 per cent of energy related CO2 emissions,


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with 28 per cent coming from energy use in buildings and a further 11 per cent from the construction industry. It also states that the total floor area of buildings is expected to double over the next 40 years, to 465 billion square metres. It is therefore no surprise that a growing number of companies are taking their corporate social responsibilities (CSR) seriously by making their buildings as sustainable as possible. As the construction industry increasingly turns to more environmentally friendly products and working techniques, there is a convincing sustainability argument in favour of employing modular wiring systems in an intelligent building. The pressures on project costs have not diminished the appeal of green installation methods – owners and managers of intelligent buildings expect to see progress in this area and modular wiring has a significant part to play in achieving this objective. Just as importantly, modular wiring systems do away with on-site cutting and fabrication, eliminating wastage and improving health and safety. There is also less packaging and what there is can often be re-usable, so the cost of waste removal from a site will be avoided. Exact quantity ordering also means that materials are not over supplied and waste is therefore reduced, while components can even be packed and labelled on a room, zone, floor or even building basis.


Safety is also a key benefit of modular wiring and systems must meet the requirements of BS 8488, which identifies the need for system design, installation and verification for conformity with BS 7671, and guarantees that manufacturers supply solutions that meet a defined standard.


In order to comply with IEC 61535 couplers should be constructed so


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that when inserting the male connector the earth connection is made at least 1mm before the current carrying contacts become live. Connectors should also lock together automatically when they are engaged and be designed so that the clamping units of the cables are relieved from pull, thrust and abrasion. Couplers should be mechanically coded to prevent one system being plugged into the components of another. Although not specifically referred to in IEC 61535, it is advisable to use couplers that are colour coded so that different circuits can easily be identified, while those with a ‘screwless’ construction can help ensure maintenance free operation during the lifetime of the installation. When it came into force in 2013 the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) laid down harmonised rules for the marketing of construction products in the European Union (EU). Most cables within Europe that are designed for permanent installation within commercial buildings have been subject to the CPR and covered by BS EN 50575 since 2017. For modular wiring systems this means that, while the assembly itself cannot be tested to CPR standards, flexible cables used in the construction of the system should be compliant with the standard.


Modular wiring technology delivers tangible, commercial and operational benefits, provides occupants with a more effective working environment, and offers the potential to develop a building into a truly intelligent facility. Furthermore, these benefits increase as new manifestations of the modular wiring concept come to the market. In order to take full advantage, system design must be flexible and agile, and ready to respond to new applications and changing needs.


BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MARCH 2020 35


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