INDUSTRY COMMENT
How BEMS can
Caspian® B
With meteorologists predicting an earlier than usual start to wintery conditions compared to last year, now is the time for commercial property owners to take advantage of the latest advancements in technology, such as building and energy management systems (BEMS). BCIA President Stacey Lucas explains
EMS are used in hospitals, offices, hotels, and schools across the UK, thanks to their incredible energy efficiency and money- saving potential. However, as the colder days and nights rapidly approach, building owners and facility managers are soon going to need effective central heating that is not only energy efficient but also working at its optimum level. This need is exacerbated further by the fact that many of the heating systems found in hospitals and other non- residential buildings across the UK are more than 40 years old, increasing the likelihood of faults or breakdowns. With buildings like these heavily reliant on reliable and affordable heating when the temperatures drop, it’s
imperative that ways in which this can be provided effectively and efficiently are identified. As such, BEMS may have the ideal solution.
Working alongside the building’s heating system, the BEMS can be configured to protect the building and its contents through effective frost protection. Offering three stages of protection, the BEMS will begin by circulating water around the heating pipes before adding heat into the circuit when needed and then heating the building when internal temperatures reach the designated threshold. With frost protection heavily impacting the performance of the boiler and central heating system, it’s imperative that the BEMS is serviced and monitored regularly to prevent issues during the winter season.
Utilising sensors placed throughout the building will enable the BEMS to monitor and collect data on the building’s heating and energy consumption. The data can then be used to identify patterns and trends in heating use, enabling building owners and facility managers to make data-driven decisions to improve efficiency.
For instance, this can reveal which areas of the building are using the most energy and requiring the most heating, allowing building owners to target those areas for conservation efforts.
Able to constantly monitor the performance of all major services and operations in the building, including heating, a building automation system can instantaneously receive and communicate any problems or alarm conditions. This will enable building owners to have accurate and up-to-date information on all aspects of their building’s performance and have any problems rectified before they can cause serious issues. For example, any buildings that have sealed central heating systems have an increased risk of expansion vessels developing faults. While all sealed central heating systems have rises and falls in pressure as the system heats up and cools down, huge swings either way normally indicate a problem.
This is exactly why it’s important to regularly have your expansion vessels checked and serviced. Doing so can reduce the likelihood of problems developing, whether that’s pressure loss or poor water quality.
Additionally, the BEMS can be programmed to activate a shutdown in certain conditions - for instance, if high temperatures that could damage pipework or equipment are detected. The crucial aspect of BEMS is that these systems can allow problems to be addressed without major disruption caused by downtime, absolutely vital when the temperatures drop. Furthermore, repair costs can be reduced by utilising scheduled maintenance throughout the year.
Correctly implemented, a BEMS can enable the simple, effective, and reliable control and automation of all building services and operations, including the heating. Utilising technology like programmable thermostats and occupancy sensors, the smart building system can be automatically adjusted to turn heating on and off dependent on the amount of people in the room and the time of year.
Especially in the coldest season, having heating programmed to automatically turn on when an occupant enters the property will enhance comfort and improve energy efficiency at the same time. With the winter soon to be upon us, ensuring optimum heating performance is of paramount importance. A correctly designed and implemented BEMS is an ideal way of doing that, not just for the reliability and control it brings but also the peace of mind of knowing problems can be identified and rectified early.
- Engineered for a 20% increase in heat output* - EC only fans for improved efficiency - 5-year guarantee - Manufactured in the UK
- Greater energy savings when specified with Smart Control
* Average increase across Caspian product range Fan
Convectors now redesigned to boost heat output by 20%
A single heating solution for a variety of applications - high, low or ceiling mounted installation
01245 324900 |
sales@smithsep.co.uk SmithsEP.co.uk | @SmithsEP_UK | #ThinkSmiths
SMTHS_BSEE_CASPIAN_128x358mm_SEPT_2024.indd 1 Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk Smiths EP hp BSEE
Sep24.indd 1 09/08/2024 16:37 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2024 7 12/8/24 20:19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46
