Here at ConServ Building Services, our Building Controls and Automation division is expanding rapidly and we are doing some really exciting work. We have been working with Charter Schools USA to install individual control systems in several of their schools and then tie them together with a Honeywell Niagara Enterprise server. The Enterprise server ensures that all of their Building Control needs can be met from one convenient site with monitoring, trending, alarming and of course, control of many of their buildings from one place. We are also performing multi-system integrations in many buildings across Florida and beyond.
With the Honeywell Niagara AX platform, we can build on an existing control system almost regardless of the manufacturer and manage that control system without having to replace all of the individual controllers and sensors. This means huge savings to the customer who wants to upgrade their control system due to malfunctioning, inoperable or simply outdated user interfaces but still has operable hardware. Where most control companies would have to remove the existing control system and replace it from scratch, we can simply add onto the existing system by selecting the correct drivers and interfaces to communicate with it. Once we have integrated with the existing system and built a new interface, any individual controllers that fail over time can simply be replaced with new Honeywell controllers.
The benefits of control system integration are many, however, that is not all that the Honeywell Niagara AX platform allows us to do. We are also using this platform to install controls for Lighting, Chiller and Pump systems, Door Card Access, and Security Cameras. Using this unique platform, the control system can interface directly with many types of RTUs, Chillers, VFDs and more. Since the majority of this equipment has all of its own sensors, safeties, and control algorithms, there is no need to add another controller and sensors. Just interface directly with the equipment and let it do what it has been designed to do, all the while monitoring, trending, scheduling, and controlling set points and other functions of the equipment. For Door Card Access and Security, we use the Honeywell Niagara AX Security platform which is built on the same technology. This means that we can interface with many different security panels in existing buildings, much the same way as integrating with an existing HVAC or Lighting control system. We can also build the Door Card Access system from the ground up integrating Door Status Switches, HID or Indala Card Readers and Keypads, Motion Sensors, Glass Break Sensors, Cameras, and a wide variety of other sensors and devices to truly secure an individual building.
For the energy conscious customer who wants to keep a close eye on their energy usage, we are installing Honeywell Submeters to monitor electrical use and water meters to monitor water usage. With the Honeywell Niagara AX Platform, we can install the Honeywell Tenant Billing System which allows a building owner to automatically generate bills for their tenant’s electrical and water usage. This allows the building owner to charge less per square foot of rented or leased space and helps them to keep their building full while recovering costs for energy usage by the tenants.
Once the control system is in place for an individual building, we use the Enterprise platform to integrate multiple building control systems into one Enterprise server. This includes the HVAC, Lighting, Security, Energy and other control systems which may be in the individual buildings. Using an Enterprise server, a building owner or the facility maintenance personnel can monitor and control all of these functions in multiple buildings across a campus, across the street, or on the other side of the world. The possibilities are virtually unlimited and we are installing these systems now, as you are reading this. It is a very exciting time for the ConServ Building Services Building Controls and Automation division and for ConServ in general. We’re very excited to be a part of the evolution of building control.
If you would like to learn more about ConServ Building Services or building controls and automation, contact a ConServ location near you.
ConServ Building Services, LLC provides excellent commercial HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, and general construction services to businesses across the Southeastern United States. To learn more about ConServ, visit www.conservonline.com.