Building Management System
Content
BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
A building management system is a standalone system that can manage and control the
mechanical and electrical equipment of a building.
Web enabled lighting control system
With concerns for energy conservation, new smart home systems are being introduced. It is a
known fact that 50% of energy consumption is due to the lighting system within the home or
office environment. For the College of Science, Technology & Applied Arts of Trinidad and
Tobago (COSTAATT), the idea is to introduce a lighting control system. There are a variety of
systems that can be used. However, the web enabled lighting control system was chosen because
it uses the Web standard IP protocols and an integral Web server. Therefore the system can be
easily integrated into the building’s IT system without becoming time consuming.
The system that was chosen was the Pow-R-Command 2000 (PRC2000). Its main features
include:
Use of standard web browser eliminates the task of learning how to use a new piece of
software.
One-Shot Scheduling allows quick modifications.
Memory loss protection increases uptime.
Immediate notification of system failures reduces downtime.
Intelligent lighting control system equipment mounts in a standard panel board enclosure,
minimizing wall space.
Courtesy blink feature and time scheduling turn lights off when not needed, extending the
life of lamps and ballasts as well as reducing maintenance replacement time, costs, and energy.
Using this system, the time for switching on/off the lighting system can be set. The figure below
shows the Pow-R-Command 2000 network layout.
Figure 1: Showing the Pow-R-Command Network
Since the system can also be programmed to allow who will have permission to access and
control the system, it would be advisable to have a building manager(s) who will have full
control and access to the system. He/she would be in charge of setting the time frame for
switching on/off the lighting system.
For COSTAATT, the lighting system can be set to switch off at 10:00pm and turn back on at
6:30am. However, since this is a school setting a standardized time frame may not be adequate.
The PRC2000 has an integrated controller which can allow the system to be programmed to
follow day of week repeating schedule to maximize energy conservation. This can also be used
for holiday scheduling.
What is also great about this system is that it will automatically adjust lights to available natural
sunlight. For instance in the library where there are large windows, the room will be provided
with natural sunlight. Therefore, a high lighting intensity would not be required. However, with a
standard lighting system, although it is possible to adjust the lighting intensity with dimmable
switches, this would have to be done manually which would be time consuming.
However, there is a Pow-R-Command digital switch (Figure 2) that can connect to the PRC
Controller’s digital network.
Figure 2: Showing Pow-R-Command Digital Switch
It can be used to:
Turn on and off loads on the panel board
Accept local input from a photocell and/or occupant sensor
Control dimmable ballast locally
With this integration, there can be an increase in energy conservation for COSTAATT.
POW R COMMAND 2000 Web enabled lighting control system includes:
Integrated controller = 18,800 + VAT
LCD programming display and keypad = $1200
Pow-R-Command expansion panels = $11,500 (for each lighting panel – replace it with
the expansion panels)
Pow-R-Command Low Voltage Digital Switch =$120
A building management system is a standalone system that can manage and control the
mechanical and electrical equipment of a building.
Web enabled lighting control system
With concerns for energy conservation, new smart home systems are being introduced. It is a
known fact that 50% of energy consumption is due to the lighting system within the home or
office environment. For the College of Science, Technology & Applied Arts of Trinidad and
Tobago (COSTAATT), the idea is to introduce a lighting control system. There are a variety of
systems that can be used. However, the web enabled lighting control system was chosen because
it uses the Web standard IP protocols and an integral Web server. Therefore the system can be
easily integrated into the building’s IT system without becoming time consuming.
The system that was chosen was the Pow-R-Command 2000 (PRC2000). Its main features
include:
Use of standard web browser eliminates the task of learning how to use a new piece of
software.
One-Shot Scheduling allows quick modifications.
Memory loss protection increases uptime.
Immediate notification of system failures reduces downtime.
Intelligent lighting control system equipment mounts in a standard panel board enclosure,
minimizing wall space.
Courtesy blink feature and time scheduling turn lights off when not needed, extending the
life of lamps and ballasts as well as reducing maintenance replacement time, costs, and energy.
Using this system, the time for switching on/off the lighting system can be set. The figure below
shows the Pow-R-Command 2000 network layout.
Figure 1: Showing the Pow-R-Command Network
Since the system can also be programmed to allow who will have permission to access and
control the system, it would be advisable to have a building manager(s) who will have full
control and access to the system. He/she would be in charge of setting the time frame for
switching on/off the lighting system.
For COSTAATT, the lighting system can be set to switch off at 10:00pm and turn back on at
6:30am. However, since this is a school setting a standardized time frame may not be adequate.
The PRC2000 has an integrated controller which can allow the system to be programmed to
follow day of week repeating schedule to maximize energy conservation. This can also be used
for holiday scheduling.
What is also great about this system is that it will automatically adjust lights to available natural
sunlight. For instance in the library where there are large windows, the room will be provided
with natural sunlight. Therefore, a high lighting intensity would not be required. However, with a
standard lighting system, although it is possible to adjust the lighting intensity with dimmable
switches, this would have to be done manually which would be time consuming.
However, there is a Pow-R-Command digital switch (Figure 2) that can connect to the PRC
Controller’s digital network.
Figure 2: Showing Pow-R-Command Digital Switch
It can be used to:
Turn on and off loads on the panel board
Accept local input from a photocell and/or occupant sensor
Control dimmable ballast locally
With this integration, there can be an increase in energy conservation for COSTAATT.
POW R COMMAND 2000 Web enabled lighting control system includes:
Integrated controller = 18,800 + VAT
LCD programming display and keypad = $1200
Pow-R-Command expansion panels = $11,500 (for each lighting panel – replace it with
the expansion panels)
Pow-R-Command Low Voltage Digital Switch =$120
