Buildings are getting smarter. They are taking lot many systems within themselves. Safety and security may be just one aspect of the new acquisitions. The concerns related to climate change have brought in greener technologies and resource shortages are forcing gadgets with maximum efficiency. Comfort and well being is urging atmospherics to be personalised. Space constraints are demanding miniaturisation and integration of varied systems. Urbanisation and concern for saving time on commutation is making individuals opt for stocking up on and preservation of food and medicine.
The new-age buildings therefore take a variety of gadgets and gizmos for cooling, heating, ventilation, access control, optimisation of energy use, sensing hazards such as fire or dust storm, synchronising the sunlight with internal lighting, maintenance of roof gardens and central surveillance of the premises. Conventionally, all such systems were supplied, installed, operated and maintained by a variety of vendors. They followed varied protocols independent of each other with no facility for interface, thereby making facility management a mirage.
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Besides regulating the internal environment, BMS can also be linked to access control (for a variety of turnstiles or doors for ingress as well as exits), closed-circuit TV, fire alarms, smoke detectors and can even connect them to lifts to shut them off from use during emergencies. For instance, ‘Desigo CC’ by Siemens can prepare a building for an entire day’s schedule.
Says Shreenivas Chiluka, Manager, Sales and Marketing at Siemens, the Desigo CC system integrates lighting, HVAC (i.e., heating, ventilation and air-conditioning), shading, power, fire safety and security. It allows the operator to see what is happening across the building from his seat instead of having to access multiple systems. While meeting current needs, it even allows future migration.
It provides a quick overview of the system and puts focus and attention on the most relevant information. A variety of sensors can control illumination during daylight hours and in accordance with the needs.
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Concern with regard to energy conservation has led to introduction of inverter-driven air-conditioners. The 3D DC Inverter technology allows continuous adjustment and control of the frequency of compressor of the indoor and the outdoor units.
According to Sankalp Saboo of Bhutoria Airconditioning, the DC Inverter Technology which runs with a brushless direct current motor (BLDC) leads to nearly 40% saving in energy as the system reaches the set temperature quickly, adjusts the accelerator and keeps the temperature comfortable at the time.
The need for preservation of food and medicine and vital industrial solvents has limitlessly expanded the range of cold storages. Teledoor, a German company, has come up with a walk-in refrigerator which could be customised to all kinds of needs.
Hitachi has come up with supercooling, stabilizer-free refrigerators which can keep the food fresh for 12 hours during power cuts. These fridges can operate under voltage fluctuation between 130 and 300 volts.
Copper replacing aluminium On another level, copper is fast replacing aluminum in heat exchanging components. Copper alloys are stated to have remarkable intrinsic anti-microbial properties. According to Avinash Khemka of International Copper Alliance, a body promoting use of copper, leading companies manufacturing HVAC appliances around the world are opting for copper coils which can reduce bacterial, fungal and viral contamination.
Besides, these are longer lasting, resistant to corrosion and reduce the volume of refrigerant required to run the appliances. Since copper tubes are of lesser diameter i.e., 5mm (than aluminum’s 7 mm), cost-wise the difference is covered while attaining high reliability of the products, adds Avinash.
The author can be contacted at maqsiraj@gmail.com