Building Environment Control (BEC) has provided an integrated building controls solution at the UK head office of major catalogue-based components distributor, RS Components (RS).

Based in Corby, Northamptonshire, the site consists of a 783,776 sq ft warehouse facility, large office block and a high-tech laboratory. These facilities accommodate nearly 2,000 staff, providing a 24/7 operation and distributing over 450,000 components.

BEC designed and installed a fully integrated BMS solution using BACnet technology developed and manufactured by Delta Controls Inc, which merged seamlessly with the various BACnet enabled mechanical plant and electrical equipment. This incorporated air handlers, boilers, chillers, VAVs, fan coil units, lighting controls, a cogeneration plant and climate controls within RS’ in-house calibration laboratory.

To maintain set conditions within the laboratory environment, BEC rigorously controls the temperature and humidity settings through the BMS. Failure to adhere to these conditions could result in RS losing its UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accreditation and prevent the company from providing certified calibration services.

To overcome this, BEC ensures that the laboratory receives fully automated daily reports with graphs showing 15 minute data intervals that record the temperature and humidity within the testing area. Data is produced using Delta Controls’ Historian Package, which permanently stores information from the BMS for retrieval and UKAS auditing purposes.

Further to the BMS installation, RS is now able to monitor and control the building’s performance from one easy-to-operate central graphics PC, to save time and help maximise energy efficiencies.

BEC is also providing comprehensive 24 hour maintenance and remote monitoring of the BMS, via an uninterrupted ADSL line to ensure that the RS site continues to operate efficiently 365 days a year.

“The team at BEC delivered a first class upgrade to the building management system that is fully integrated across what is a very large site,” says Lewis Folkes, plant and services manager at RS Components. “The transition to the new system was seamless, causing no disruption to the site’s internal customers and enabled RS Components to maintain its high standards of service. It also ensures that energy use and costs can be easily and accurately monitored.”