Extreme temperatures can be detrimental to both the occupants and systems in your buildings. Here are some common symptoms that show an inefficient BEMS is contributing to the problem, and what you can do about it.
Although there is no legislation in the UK for a maximum permitted working temperature (think of steel mills), the GOV.UK website1 states that employers must stick to health and safety at work law, including:
The consequences of an uncomfortably high temperature can include a reduction in productivity, financial penalties and even cause damage to plant and other equipment.
There are several ways that your BEMS can help.
If your control strategy is correct and plant is in automatic control, a tell-tale sign that your BEMS is operating inefficiently can be failing or unreliable equipment. Some failing equipment is less obvious. If you have obsolete BEMS controllers installed they could be reaching the end of their lives and running spurious software.
Sunny periods mean two things are normally in abundance – light and heat. Both are major contributors to the running costs of a building. If your gas and electricity usage have not decreased during sunny spells, there could be an issue with the control strategy. This can be dependent on whether your building uses mechanical cooling.
Excess heat sometimes leads to building users opening doors and windows. As a result, plant could be enabled where not required if your BEMS software is unable to account for this.
The need to keep doors and windows closed may result in air which is stale as well as hot. This perception of the air feeling “stale” may be the result of high levels of CO2 which, as well as being unpleasant, have been found to impact people’s cognitive performance2.
If you would like help to minimise the impact of heat waves, contact your local branch.