Mechanical Board Bottleneck

Last week we discussed the relevance of Hand/Off/Auto switches on mechanical boards. This week we are talking through why the mechanical board is such a bottleneck in the installation and commissioning of a Building Management System.
1st Video: Hand/Off/Auto Switches and Run/Fault Lamps - Do We Still Need Them? • Hand/Off/Auto Switches...
2nd Video: Mechanical Board Bottleneck
• Mechanical Board Bottl...
3rd Video: BMS Distributed Controls
• BMS Distributed Controls
4th Video: Early BMS Commissioning
• Early BMS Commissioning
5th Video: Distributed Power for Mechanical and BMS
• Distributed Power for ...
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[@alanjones3875]

My solution for the panel install, is to have small control panels for individual AHUs. Similar for groups of pumps. These can be built and test all ELV whilst the mech team are working the heavy plant. LV power can come later. A lot though does depend on geography of the plant in the plant room. Small plant rooms perhaps have a common control panel but once there more than 3AHUs I advocate individual panels. These small panels are far easier to fit, they can be tested quickly and individual plant items can be up and running without complications of live working when all controllers are in the same panel.

[@bryceanderson17]

Yep, that is exactly the path we are on here. For many people this is nothing new, like yourself. But, distributed controls hasn't started yet in Australia. It's good that you comment and provide some proof of the concept as some people here are resisting change.

[@alanjones3875]

The. Battersea power station development has adopted this strategy with over 600 control panels constructed in this manner.

[@frozenlkea6188]

Some of the issue lies in that the BMS contractor usually is a sub-contractor to the Mechanical contractor, which means they are not privy to the information. Where the mechanical contractor decided to make changes to the switchboard, the BMS contractor would be expected to pick up the slack. Where the BMS contractor is directly managed through the head contractor such as a Builder, the locations of VSDs, Switchboards etc would then need to be locked down, so some rough in can probably occur concurrently through use of electrical cable trays. Not saying its easily done, but some works done prior to is better than none.

[@bryceanderson17]

Agreed, thanks Leo. Here in Australia the BMS is 95% of the time a subcontractor to the mechanical contractor. To make it worse there is another contractor, the mechanical electrician who provides and installs the mechanical boards and VSD's. Lots of demarcation issues and extra coordination.

[@alanjones3875]

I am quickly moving to the conclusion that all power boards and power wiring can be provided by the Elecrical contractor and all ELV control panels by the BMS guys. The BMS team are now wrapped up with energy manegement, high level integration, web browses, apps, analytics and the like as well as HVAC controls. The biggest hurdle here in the UK is to get the electrical contractor to size power cables and protective devices and not have to be spoon fed.. The BMS team are far more proactive in that field and at this time it’s a battle to shift design responsibilities to the electrical team. I’m sure many are capable but the inertia of change is slow.

[@KaesOner]

Wouldnt it make more sense to install the BMS in conjunction with the Mech Elec installation? These two should be installed together, why are they done separately? If its a matter of them being two different entities instead of under the same company umbrella, then at least the two should work together to get their stuff done at the same time instead of the BMS installer coming in at the end.

[@bryceanderson17]

Hi Kaes, yes that would make complete sense. But in Australia they are two different companies both working for the mechanical contractor. The model here is different to other countries. Everyone: BMS, mechanical and mechanical electrician are doing whatever they can to survive in a dog eat dog work. Most issues are left up to the two subcontractors to sort out between themselves as mechanical doesn't want to get involved. I.e. the mechanical contractor doesn't want to spend money or man hours closing scope gaps that they are ultimately responsible for. When I worked in the UK, the BMS contractor provided the mechanical boards and the mechanical power installation, that worked well. I assume this is the same in the US?

[@KaesOner]

@@bryceanderson17 Hi Bryce, thanks for the clarification!