Siemens wireless room sensors a breath of fresh air for award judges
Taking air quality monitoring to new levels, Siemens Building Products secured victory in the BCIA’s highly competitive Technical Innovation of the Year – Products category for its wireless, battery-operated sensors.
With wireless technology becoming a popular option in building management systems, offering a myriad of advantages over conventional wired technologies, identifying and developing innovative new systems is imperative. This is even more pertinent given energy efficiency and occupant wellbeing are major aspects of building design, especially with the UK’s target of net zero by 2050 rapidly approaching.
The wireless, battery-operated sensors designed by Siemens Building Products provide important monitoring of indoor air quality (IAR), such as temperature, humidity, and CO2. With buildings being repurposed and reconfigured, the capability to easily and quickly install or relocate the sensors to meet new requirements without damaging walls and ceilings through rewiring is absolutely crucial.
Having recently requested the supply of the wireless IAQ monitoring system for a client, Chris Welch, the Operations Director at Syscom BMS Ltd, highlighted the easy and fast deployment of the system. He said: “Our customer had the requirement to implement an IAQ monitoring system that was fast and easy to deploy with continuous data reporting capabilities, automated alarms, and no line of sight required.
“We were able to install the Siemens wireless system without disrupting the normal office operation and in normal working hours at a fraction of the cost of a wired system. We were also able to configure and install 20 room sensors in a single day without the need of other tradespeople, such as electricians and decorators, and without any noise or disruption to the office space.
“We estimate that using the wireless sensor has saved the client more than £11,500 and a week’s disruption to their offices and operation.”
Siemens Building Products developed these innovative air quality sensors to communicate wirelessly through Thread – an open source, mesh networking, and IP-based protocol – meaning they operate seamlessly, either with Siemens’ own BMS, or with those of other manufacturers.
Consuming little power and utilising spread-spectrum techniques, the wireless air quality sensors provide immunity to interference, while adopting self-healing properties to avoid a single point of failure. As a result, IAQ control will be fully automated, allowing the sensor to trigger increased ventilation when a predetermined CO2 level is detected, even if a router fails.
There are few if any similar products on the market, making Siemens Building Products’ innovative wireless air quality sensors incredibly unique. Utilising Thread, these devices seamlessly integrate with larger IP networks and don’t require proprietary gateways or translators. As a result, infrastructure investment and complexity are reduced, potential points of failure are removed, and maintenance burdens are reduced.
Additionally, Thread will also securely connect devices to the Cloud, making it easier to control IoT products and systems from devices like mobile phones and tablets.
Quick and easy to install at low cost, compared to wired and other technology devices, air quality sensors don’t require wiring, containment or BMS hardware point limits. This means changes to office usage or layout can be accommodated quickly and efficiently and can be carried out by a single trade.
BCIA President Stacey Lucas highlighted the technical innovation displayed by the air quality sensors. She said: “With air quality a major consideration for building designers and contractors, utilising innovative technology such as these new air quality sensors is paramount. The new systems designed and manufactured by Siemens Building Products offer proven IAQ control and monitoring that’s set to make a real difference in the years ahead.
“There were some stunning products in this category and the decision was a very difficult one for all the judges. However, Siemens’ Building Products’ new air quality sensors really stood out.”