31 October 2023
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Samsung has seen the first UK installation of its B.IoT artificial intelligence (AI) control platform in a multi-tenant office space in Warrington featuring the manufacturer's DVMS2 air conditioning.
The Element building, located in Birchwood, Warrington, provides 42,500 sq ft of office space across three floors. A key requirement for the remodelling of the building was that each heating and cooling system could be individually monitored, and provide the capability to determine the cost per kilowatt hour of each system.
Contracted by AXD Environmental Ltd and Flexible Business Interiors, the building also incorporates other leading Samsung technologies at a value of £230,000. Eight Digital Variable Multi S2 heat recovery Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems, 70 Ducted Fan Coil Units, 20 Energy Recovery Ventilation units with CO2 sensors throughout and DMS2.5 central control with Power Integrated Modules for energy meter integration, as well as a mezzanine floor with roof garden with a two pipe VRF system, split system and ERV – all linked via the B.IoT platform.
Full control
The Samsung team, including European experts on the B.I.oT system, spent two weeks commissioning the project and assisting with installation to ensure the system runs as smoothly as possible for future tenants. The platform has a number of features designed to promote energy efficiency, including providing efficient building operation with energy usage analysis and monitoring, data-based comfort control, target-based energy usage to certain zones where needed most and tenant based power usage distribution.
Utilising the AI features of DVMS2 means the system is optimised based on continued learning of occupant’s needs for ultimate comfort.
This individualised controls offering is said to be a key differentiator for a commercial installation. Samsung’s new B.IoT platform gives the building occupier full control of their system. Individual zoning and monitoring is a prominent feature, allowing the client maximum flexibility in terms of prospective tenants as each zone can be monitored and billed separately.
The system can also trigger an alert to the authorised user if they’re reaching or exceeding a certain energy usage level for their zone. Alarms which could be either critical or warning type, are a key part of the B.IoT energy saving algorithm, of which there are a number of factors determined by AI technology in the outdoor unit (DVMS2).
B.I.oT gives ultimate control over ventilation and cooling systems, as anyone with appropriate authorisation can log on to the management system from anywhere and turn units on or off depending on the needs of the client. What is unique about B.IoT in particular is that different authorisations can be given to different users according to their authority level or role, giving organisations a new level of control over their office space.
Additionally, the ventilation (via MVHR ERV) is controlled via CO₂ sensors within the ERV. This monitors the level of CO₂ in the air, meaning the occupied spaces always have the correct amount of fresh air, minimising energy usage during periods of low occupancy. Samsung ERVs bring fresh outside air into a room to optimise indoor air quality, while automatically adjusting their operation mode in accordance with indoor and outdoor temperatures. Not only does this help with energy saving but it also improves the air quality of the room.
Great partners
Dave Clifford, Director at AXD Environmental, said “Despite the fact that an installation of this type had never been done in the UK before, I felt confident in the quality of the individual products from the Samsung team. They made great partners in the installation process for a building of considerable size and environmental ambition. This system truly is for those buildings that aim for higher efficiency, individualised controI and installation flexibility”.
Samsung says a key benefit is that the system is able to isolate in a zoned way so that should one system error occur, the remaining systems can operate independently or shut down remotely as a whole unit if there is deemed to be a serious error. System security is said to be another another high priority. Samsung would only ever have access to the landlords system, not the tenants' network. Even this is optional and doesn’t have to be utilised.
Barry Hunt, Sales Account Manager at Samsung Climate Solutions, said: “From conception right through to completion the teams from AXD Environmental and Flexible Business Interiors were a pleasure to work with. AXD’s engineers work to really high standards and the results speak for themselves. I was genuinely excited to combine our high efficiency DVMS2 VRF systems with B.IoT – it’s Samsung’s newest and most advanced controls platform to date so to see it successfully implemented on Element has been fantastic for all involved.”
B.IoT communication between user and server (through web browser) is encrypted using https (based on TLS protocol) – the same is applied to communication between DMS & B.IoT. Remote access to site should be with the IT team, but VPN usage is strongly advised – in order to communicate in encrypted way while using remote connection.
