explore the BusinessNet
New Mini BMS System from Ability
Story
Ability Projects Ltd. has launched an innovative ‘Mini BMS Package’ that allows individually owned and franchised operations such as shops, bars and restaurants within large multi-retail complexes to fully control their own air conditioning independently of the main shopping centre system.
The self-contained package comprises a full colour 7in touch screen display unit, which is in fact both the user interface and the ‘Mini Head End’. Networking aside, nothing else is required other than the fan coils themselves incorporating their own terminal control device. The display/control unit can be wall or panel mounted and therefore occupies little room, which can often be at a premium in such installations.
After purchase, the display screen/controller is usually tailored to present the customer’s corporate theme. Sub screens show the fan coils themselves, the setting options and ‘real time’ operational conditions. These features, common to most BMS systems can be complemented by occupancy monitoring and time scheduling. All features are simple in operation allowing the outlet manager to control and adjust the timing of, and the conditions within, their own outlet. This is important since stores often have variable opening hours depending on the season, sales, stock taking etc, and also in situations where room usage is variable such as in stock rooms or staff rooms.
The new system comprises the touch screen ‘Head End and fan coils connected by ‘CAT 5’ cabling and an Ethernet switch, which can generally be purchased at most high street electrical stores. Configuration on a native BACnet IP network ensures the system is simple to install whilst the network itself is robust and very fast in operation.
The first such stand-alone package has already been supplied by Ability in a retail clothing outlet in a Stratford multi-store complex in which chilled water is supplied from the store’s central plant to around 15 Ability Matrix II 4-pipe fan coil units located throughout the shop and its ‘back of house’ areas. The use of Matrix II fan coils removed any need for conventional balancing for both water and air flow speeding, considerably simplifying the installation. Other projects in the pipeline include ‘Airside ‘outlets at Heathrow and Gatwick.
