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HVAC Controls

HVAC Controls | Make the most of your energy consumption and optimize every opportunity to improve HVAC Mechanical Services Efficiency.

There are many simple and cost effective methods to improve your energy efficiency in the controls of your HVAC Mechanical services Systems.

Many applications have zero direct cost associated with them and can be implemented as part of a preventative maintenance program.

The brand, technology or protocol of your “Building Management System” (BMS or BAS) is irrelevant. This page is about control diversity that most systems, be they digital or analogue can be asked to perform and deliver tangible results.
Most HVAC Technicians can assist to implement these.

Forte has both BMS and HVAC employees in the team. This is making delivery to our preventative maintenance program clientele a holistic and thorough experience.

Two Speed System.

Have you ever driven your car with both feet, that is one foot on the brake and one foot on the throttle. This two speed (stop and go) driving technic is costly in both energy consumption as well as wear and tear on the mechanical components of the car.

In Commercial or Residential buildings, running both heating and cooling in competition with each other is a common issue we see in new contracts.

This competitive environment in the HVAC Controls will bring about similar losses in both energy and mechanical plant wear and tear for the building.

You would never drive your car with “both feet”, so why allow it to happen to your investment.

How can we reduce heat/cool competition and still maintain comfortable indoor environmental conditions?

What processes are available to discern and optimize the cooling and heating without adversely one affecting the other?


How Do We Fix a “Two Speed” System?

There are several choices and strategies which can be implemented and fine-tuned over time for the maximum benefit of the Landlord AND the Tenants in the HVAC Controls.

It is NOT Reliant upon which type, brand, or protocol your Building Automation System (BAS) is.

The strategy depend upon the mechanical facilities, fixed assets, peripherals & equipment available to the HVAC or BMS technician for control to gain the best outcome possible. Seeking the most efficient combination of energy conservation and minimalization of the mechanical plant wear and tear.

Equipment and Fixed Assets, For Example; –

✔ Economy Dampers
✔ Supply Air Fan Speed (Differential Pressure)
✔ Varible Speed drives (0 -1 0 volt inputs)
✔ Optimal stop and start (making use of existing energy in the building)
✔ chiller set point control (minimizing chiller energy consumption)
✔ Compressor staging (delay start to ensure optimal load on compressor)
✔ Return air fan speed (Ensuring air moves & not presursing)
✔ Bypass valve control on Heating Chilled and Condensate Water
✔ Heating hot water valves (Proportional band)
✔ VAV Damper control ( VAV is Varible Air Volume Box)
✔ and many more

HVAC Cooling Tower Controls

The cooling towers in a commercial or residential or mixed facility are often neglected as a HVAC controls opportunity to improve energy conservation.

The operation of the towers are a “must-have”, but, not always in wintertime and not alway later at night when the demand of the condenser water system is at its lowest.

There are easy, cost-effective ways to improve energy conservation and minimize wear and tear on the cooling towers mechanical HVAC plant.

A few examples include: –
✔ Variable Speed Drives (VSD) on the pump motors and the fan motors (reducing stop-start and gradually building up speed with water temperature)
✔ Signals from the field compressors indicating they have been called to run, implementing a delay start to the Cooling tower system until it is absolutely required.
✔ Measuring the condenser water temperature at multiple points, ascertaining where the greatest load is and when and controlling appropriately
✔ Enure the condenser water loop is properly water balanced making sure the water is evenly balanced to optimize the energy evacuation in the system.

HVAC Controls Stop/Starting

Repeat stop/starting or pulsing of equipment not only adversely affect the energy conservation of the building but also puts a heavy load on the wear and tear of the mechanical equipment.

Why and when does this happen?

If the BMS or HVAC Controls code is not “grounded” the application or system can “float” thereby not knowing when off is actually off. when this happens the HVAC controls do not know where they are and a pulsing effect will liley occur.

How can we fix this?
We need to “ground” the application so it no longer floats. Easier said than done.

What equipment can this issue effect:
– Fan motors
– Water pumps
– Lighting
– Variable Speed Drives (although less so)
– Lighting
– Auto Doors (this can be quite dangerous, especially on garage doors)

HVAC Controls

Preventative Maintenance, of your HVAC Mechanical Services AND your controls should be included in a holistic and thorough maintenance regime.

A complete maintenance program, which includes regular site visits, full function tests, and shutdowns in the Fire mode activation (Annual Fire Safety Statement – AFSS) will benefit your Landlord and the tenant.

The preventative maintenance regime will help you budget and make an informed decision about upgrades and/or “run to fail” strategies.

Include Fire System annual fire safety statement, Controls, and emergency lighting for a cost-effective integrated maintenance program.

Our Team includes: –
✅ Electricians – General
✅ Electricians – Mechanical (HVAC)
✅ HVAC Mechanics
✅ Building Automation Technicians (BMS – Tridium
✅ Fire Technicians (FPAA Accredited)
✅ Emergency & Exit Lighting
✅ Handy man

Fill out the form below for more information and arrange an obligation-free site vist and quote to meet your site’s unique requirements.

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