Month: August 2020

“The value in inter-connectivity between once stand-alone equipment cannot be understated, and the industry is heading in the right direction in this regard with HVAC IoT devices, towards the concept of smart buildings.” ~ Muhammad Abdullah Hashmi

 

Earlier this month we wrote about ‘Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning Systems in the Context of COVID-19’, this topic has become increasingly relevant as design and build teams scramble to review and make changes to existing project plans. You can catch up on the article in full here: https://mckeon.ie/mckeon-group-heating-ventilation-air-conditioning-systems-in-the-context-of-covid-19/

 

While researching this trend internationally, we came across an article by Muhammad Abdullah Hashmi on ‘IoT Solutions for HVAC’. This is quite a future-looking piece and definitely worth reading in full:  https://www.iotforall.com/hvac-iot-solutions/

 

Most industry operators will be aware of HVAC enhancements over the past number of years that have been made possible through IoT, or the Internet of Things – which is simply a term used to describe the internet connectivity of a network of sensors and devices. IoT has become the generational equivalent of electricity insofar as it has become ubiquitous and consumers use it without understanding it or even be aware of the use in some cases.  

 

There are many benefits for both consumers and manufacturers, including increased control and reduced consumption. In the above article, the author gives an example that most consumers will be familiar with, controlling central heating or air conditioning remotely from a mobile device.   

 

For a commercial building operator, this convenience and flexibility is a secondary benefit. The data and insights from that data can be used to reduce consumption, which reduces costs and the overall carbon footprint of the building or development. 

 

Innovations in HVAC technology have grown in line with other forms of proptech and contech, which are simply the latest buzzwords to categorise tech innovations for the built environment. 

 

In his article above, Muhammad Abdullah Hashmi identifies three key ways that IoT is transforming HVAC systems: 

 

(1)  Real-Time Data Management & Diagnostics

(2)  Energy Savings

(3)  Cross Functionality 

 

As indicated above, the collation and management of data in real time has been a game-changer for HVAC systems, giving manufacturers and building operators access to operational information that was not previously available, between connected equipment that was once stand-alone. 

 

The author points out that: 

 

“Controllers being used for commercial applications of HVAC are becoming increasingly powerful by the day. More complex algorithms, analytical capabilities, and data communication protocols are increasing the commercial HVAC market, and with it, bring the need for a more robust IoT network to facilitate this data sharing. Apart from the obvious effects of energy savings, comfort, and convenience for the consumer, OEM’s stand to benefit from the greater insights and improved building designs, equipment manufacturing, and demand forecasting.” 

 

When contemplating the future of HVAC, the author credits IoT as being a major driver of innovations that deliver energy savings, increased comfort, demand forecasting, predictive maintenance and so much more. As IoT for HVAC systems evolves from novelty to necessity, he predicts that data analytics and machine learning will be the next transformative step for IoT in HVAC systems. 

 

About McKeon Group:

Established in 1950, this year marks the 70th anniversary of McKeon Group, which remains a family business. ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

Since the industry re-opened non-essential construction sites and resumed projects back in mid-May, there has certainly been a period of adjusting to the new pandemic-responsive safety measures on site. The McKeon Group site teams were aided by the in-house development of the Good2Go compliance app, which is now available to the wider industry for use. You can find out more here: https://mckeon.ie/about-us/good2go-app/ 

 

Over the past two months, the electrical division has commenced three relatively large projects, each of which offer an exciting challenge for our team of engineers, contracts managers and electricians. Full consideration has been given to ensure full life cycle selection of all luminaires and electrical accessories for each project.  

 

These projects are as follows: 

 

~ Full strip out and Cat. B fit out of Office and teaching space alongside our Mechanical Team in DCU

~ Retrofitting of over 2,500 LED Luminaires to DCU Science Building thus further reducing their energy use

~ Fire alarm and Emergency Lighting upgrade to Primary School in Dublin 7

 

We look forward to delivering each of these projects to the same high standards that our existing clients have come to expect from McKeon Group. 

 

Project Update: DCU Lonsdale Science Building

 

The DCU Lonsdale lighting is an energy upgrade, which is particularly relevant for all buildings right now as we prepare for a return to schools, colleges and workplaces. Our work here involves retrofitting over 2,500 LED Luminaires within the DCU Science Building in order to reduce the overall energy use.  Of course, there are many other benefits, some of which can be seen in the ‘before’ and ‘after’ images below. 

This work is being carried out under the SEAI Better Energy Grant scheme. Working closely alongside the client and design team, material procurement was given the due consideration it requires ensuring high quality equipment  meeting within budget has been selected going beyond the industry standard to ensure consideration for full life cycle. 

 

This project is one of many that have been conducted across DCU Campuses furthering their energy reduction initiative. McKeon Group is delighted to have been chosen once again by DCU to complete these works to the high standard that we offer time and time again.

 

About McKeon Group:

Established in 1950, this year marks the 70th anniversary of McKeon Group, which remains a family business. ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

Earlier this summer the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) published its guidance document on the ventilation of indoor spaces: ‘Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning Systems in the Context of COVID-19’ https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Ventilation-in-the-context-of-COVID-19.pdf

 

This guidance is designed to assist public health authorities in EU/EEA countries and in the UK to navigate their ongoing pandemic responses. It is unsurprising that an evidence-based study into the transmission of the virus within closed spaces was prioritised by the ECDC and it was inevitable that this would focus on the role of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems.

 

As most people will be aware, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are used to provide and regulate consistently comfortable environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity. It ensures that the air circulating inside the space is clean and of a good quality. At its simplest, ventilation systems provide clean air by exchanging and filtering indoor and outdoor air. Contemporary air-conditioning systems are generally part of integrated HVAC systems, unlike the more traditional or dated stand-alone air-conditioning units in older domestic settings that people might be familiar with.

 

Poor indoor ventilation has long been linked with increased transmission of a range of infections, including respiratory infections. Already, there have been numerous COVID-19 transmission events linked to enclosed spaces (including pre-symptomatic cases). Notwithstanding this, the role of ventilation in preventing COVID-19 transmission is not well-defined. While the guidance document lists incidents of indoor and outdoor transmission, outdoor transmissions are significantly fewer, and the authors acknowledge that the length of time people are in close physical contact played the most important role in spreading COVID-19.

The guidance document cites several studies that have addressed the role of ventilation in COVID-19 outbreaks, “three outbreaks involved an index case that was reported to be pre-symptomatic, and ventilation in an enclosed space, aided by air conditioning”. Also, “the authors of a pre-print manuscript describing two other outbreaks from China in January 2020 attribute air conditioning systems using a re-circulating mode as a probable aid to transmission”.

 

According to the guidance document, High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters have demonstrated good performance with particles of the SARS- Cov-2 virus size (approximately 70−120 nm). Significantly, there is currently no evidence to date of “human infection with SARS-CoV-2 caused by infectious aerosols distributed through the ventilation system ducts of HVACs”. The document concludes that:

 

~ Well-maintained HVAC systems, including air-conditioning units, securely filter large droplets containing SARS-CoV-2. 

~ It is possible for COVID-19 aerosols (small droplets and droplet nuclei) to spread through HVAC systems within a building and stand-alone air-conditioning units if air is recirculated.

~ Air flow generated by air-conditioning units may facilitate the spread of droplets excreted by infected people longer distances within indoor spaces.

~ HVAC systems may have a complementary role in decreasing transmission in indoor spaces by increasing the rate of air change, decreasing recirculation of air and increasing the use of outdoor air.

 

For anyone with an interest in learning more about this, it is definitely worth reading the ECDC guidance document in full. 

 

Download the PDF document ‘Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning Systems in the Context of COVID-19’  in full here: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Ventilation-in-the-context-of-COVID-19.pdf

 

About McKeon Group:

Established in 1950, this year marks the 70th anniversary of McKeon Group, which remains a family business. ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie