ENCLOSURES & AIR MOVERS FEATURE
Having been approached to provide support when the Building Management System at the Think Tank building in Lincoln needed replacing, SG Controls and Integration contacted Spelsberg UK which recommended its AK enclosure range for the project
THINKING ABOUT solutions for Smart Buildings S
mart Buildings are capable of automating a host of building services
such as heating, lighting, security and communications with the purpose of improving energy efficiency. However, they depend on an effective Building Management System (BMS) to optimise the benefits – such as savings on energy costs and carbon emissions. When it became apparent that the BMS at the Think Tank building in Lincoln needed to be replaced, SG Controls and Integration was approached to provide support. The Think Tank building is owned by the City of Lincoln Council, managed by the University of Lincoln and based near to the University campus. Its purpose is to offer a hi-tech facility for budding start-ups originating from the University itself or from the surrounding areas. It was originally built with a completely automated management system to reduce its carbon footprint and offer resident businesses the very best in terms of comfort, network speeds and conferencing opportunities. The original BMS, however, was not suitable for the task required of it – leading to numerous operational issues within the building and unexpectedly high energy usage. Aware of the issues, the building’s managers turned to SG Controls, a specialist in integrated building automation installation. Steve Goldspink, SG Controls managing
director, said: “The Think Tank is high-tech, well designed and the perfect location for any modern start-up business to grow. When the Think Tank approached us about their BMS it became apparent that the best solution in the long-term would be to install new wiring and hardware which would offer all the functions and efficiencies a building of this type could need. “As businesses are working out of the
Think Tank all year round, we understood the building would have to remain open while we carried out the work. Having worked with numerous banks and trading institutions we were well experienced to take on the challenge.” SG Controls specified a range of products from Loytec. These are DIN-rail mounted,
to meet building standards, the AK range has a standard IP65 rating, making them suitable for installation in such areas without any extra expense. In addition, the high quality finish of the units enhances the overall aesthetic of the range, an important consideration for a building known as much for its style as its functionality. “Working directly with Spelsberg offered
distinct advantages throughout the project,” added Goldspink. “McCusker
with modular capability, making it possible to build the system up as the incumbent BMS was uninstalled bit-by- bit. To keep the wiring tidy and cost efficient, it was deemed best that distribution panels be used to house the controllers, I/O modules, gateways and routers. A modular solution was favoured to allow the installers to add sub-panels as the project progressed. Having worked with Spelsberg UK on previous projects, Goldspink approached the company to see what solutions were available. Clare McCusker, area sales manager for Spelsberg UK, commented: “When Goldspink explained his requirements it was clear that he would benefit from our modular AK distribution housings. The enclosures can easily be mounted adjacent to each other, meaning that his team could build up the control panel as each new system was installed. Additionally, the Perspex windows at the front of each enclosure provide access for the system controls UI’s (User Interfaces) whilst protecting the internal wiring. “We worked directly with SG Controls
throughout the project, so we could even offer customisation to each enclosure to make sure that it was delivered with the correct entry options and any necessary accessories.”
MEETING REQUIREMENTS As part of the installation project, many of the panels had to be installed in areas that were classified as ‘wet plant rooms’ – mounted near water cylinders and pipes. Where other solutions may have required an additional cabinet housing
The AK range from Spelsberg met the application requirements. As the enclosures can be mounted adjacent to each other, the team could build up the control panel as each new system was installed
and the team were able to make recommendations and even design solutions which, when they were delivered, integrated seamlessly with the panels that were already installed. The communication helped us to speed up the delivery of the project, ultimately making it more cost effective for the customer. “In our business technology is always
developing, so we hope to be back at the Think Tank before long with the latest add-ons and possibly future upgrades. Thanks to the modularity of the AK units we know that we’ll easily be able to add new controller modules, cable conduits and expand the system without having to re-wire the existing units.”
Spelsberg
www.spelsberg.co.uk DESIGN SOLUTIONS | APRIL 2016 11
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