Consulting-Specifying Engineer January 2017 MEP Round Table: Office Buildings
Respondent: Matthew Pastore, CBC, CxA | Published in csemag.com
1. When working on monitoring and control systems in such facilities, what factors do you consider?
From working within the Washington DC Commercial Office Building market, GHT’s engineers have found that the level of openness and interoperability of monitoring and control systems is critical to our clients. It is of paramount importance that the building is easy to operate, maintain and service, as properties frequently change hands in our region. Affordability is always a critical factor as well. When evaluating any monitoring and control system, we determine first its level of openness and second its ability to interoperate with other building systems in a secure and non-proprietary open platform environment. Through clever interpretation and adoption of the ASHRAE 135 standard, manufacturers have created new structural and product distribution mechanisms which frequently restrict competition and free market access to maintenance needs, particularly for the building’s end users. Simply specifying products with BACnet protocol functionality doesn’t resolve the installation of proprietary systems. As the world continues to adopt an “Internet of Things” approach where all systems collect and exchange data, the need for engineers to specify and design truly secure, open platform control systems cannot be emphasized enough. By designing with principled and disciplined guidance, engineers will collectively be able to specify systems which promote competition and free market access for all monitoring and control systems.
2. What types of system integration and/or interoperability issues have you overcome in such projects, and how did you do so?
GHT has educated owners during the earliest stages of design to the issues surrounding the selection of proprietary systems. To overcome interoperability issues, we have specified on past projects that the front-end system, or Human Machine Interface (HMI) is an open system to allow increased operability from the various systems which all follow BACnet protocol. Through this education, our clients have developed a greater understanding of the complexities surrounding the current market situation and appreciate the flexibility to select the best and brightest companies, service providers and systems which will ultimately achieve their performance goals. This allows us to reach across company and manufacturer lines to select the best option for each building’s unique situation.
3. What unique tools are the owners of such projects including in their automation and controls systems?
In this region, the Tridium systems are preferred by an increasing amount of owners who are seeking an open system and a unique solution to this current market situation. Tridium and other related open platform controls are able to be installed, serviced and maintained by many different companies, which is a primary objective of owners seeking cost-effective solutions for their buildings. By designing and specifying systems like Tridium on the front-end, secure open controls platforms are able to be openly licensed and freely distributed, removing past obstacles for owners to remain locked in to a single service provider or manufacturer.
4. How have you worked with the building owner or facility manager implement the Internet of Things (IoT) into their facility management? Have you helped catalog every device in an office building, such as lights, fire alarms, electrical outlets, and other products? How has implementing IoT strategies improved cyber security in your experience?
GHT has worked with multiple building owners who seek to implement an Internet of Things (IoT) approach into their facility management strategies. We begin by creating a Master Controls Integration Plan (MCIP) which is tailored to serve as a site-specific set of design guidelines that includes accompanying specification language for each set of systems. The MCIP is fleshed out as the building’s design develops and systems are selected. Core DDC system elements are also defined, including interoperability, security procedures, network isolation and security hardness testing. Finally, we use the MCIP to define the physical and local requirements for the IoT layer and its security. Our owners who have implemented the MCIP approach have reported that they enjoy improved cyber security, in addition to the more obvious ease of operability and maintenance.
5. What are some of the challenges incorporating the IoT into facility design for existing facilities or new construction projects?
We are seeing challenges related to the intersection of traditional IT infrastructure with the new demand for IoT in Building Automation Control systems. Leadership is needed from the designers to merge these two distinct disciplines together in a manner which address both entities’ concerns while more clearly delineating the scopes of work for each. GHT considers this a tremendous opportunity for engineers to serve as the trusted advisor for building owners seeking greater openness and interoperability from their renovated or newly constructed facilities. By developing the expertise, understanding the current market situation and the concerns related to IT infrastructure, engineers are in a unique position to develop an entirely new market of services built around Master Controls Integration (MCI). Having identified this as a driver of future systems engineering, GHT has begun offering these services in an effort to encourage the development of open monitoring and controls systems to provide greater flexibility to our clients.
Insight Construct, LLC Awarded Confidential Client Headquarters
Emerging designer-lead construction company wins first big project
Arlington, VA (November 30, 2016) – Insight Construct, LLC (Insight), an emerging DC metro area designer-lead construction company recently won its first project working on a confidential client headquarters that serves the entire United States.
Insight provided construction management and MEP engineering design for a confidential client’s headquarters located in Virginia. Insight designed and installed the electrical, mechanical, pneumatics, and process control infrastructure required for three new print-mail production lines. The project was constructed in seven phases to facilitate no production losses in this facility which runs 24 hours a day, 6.5 days a week, and 362 days a year. Insight maintained 100% uptime and finished on the project on time. This prestigious project sets an impressive presidency for the up and coming construction company.
This 200,000 SF facility serves the entire United States and runs 362 days a year. Specific services provided by insight included, project management, quality control, safety, field supervision, subcontractor management, bid coordination, turnover and occupancy support. Insight is pleased to be awarded this high profile, confidential project.
About Insight Construct, LLC
Insight Construct is a wholly owned subsidiary of GHT Limited. As design engineers, Insight applies creative thinking to study, design, and construct MEP systems and MCI with a focus on practical results. Key to the founding of Insight Construct is the enhanced understanding of design processes and the qualifications to level bids and eliminate scope gaps. Insight offers a perspective on building life-cycles (design, build, operate, and improve). Further, they improve coordination between design and construction, and approach services in the spirit of partnership and success. Insight Construct is licensed and insured to provide construction services in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
Contact
GHT Limited
Susan Dawson, LEED AP BD+C
Marketing & Communications Manager
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GHT Announces New Subsidiary Company
Engineering firm starts a designer-lead construction company
Arlington, VA (November 5, 2016) – GHT Limited (GHT), a leading DC metro area mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering consulting firm, recently announced its newest business venture; a wholly owned subsidiary construction company called Insight Construct, LLC.
Insight Construct was established to further GHT Limited’s drive to innovate as a general contractor conceived from the perspective of a design engineer.
Insight Construct is a wholly owned subsidiary of GHT Limited. GHT Limited’s professionals continually discover innovative solutions in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and are heavily focused on master controls integration (MCI). As design engineers, GHT applies creative thinking to study, design, and construct MEP systems and MCI with a focus on practical results.
Key to the founding of Insight Construct is having an enhanced understanding of design processes and being best equipped to level bids and eliminate scope gaps. For all projects, Insight Construct offers a perspective on building lifecycles (design, build, operate, and improve). Further, they improve coordination between design and construction, and more so, given their standard to always approach services in the spirit of partnership and success.
Visit their site at www.insightconstructllc.com for more information.
About Insight Construct, LLC
Insight Construct is a wholly owned subsidiary of GHT Limited. As design engineers, Insight applies creative thinking to study, design, and construct MEP systems and MCI with a focus on practical results. Key to the founding of Insight Construct is the enhanced understanding of design processes and the qualifications to level bids and eliminate scope gaps. Insight offers a perspective on building life-cycles (design, build, operate, and improve). Further, they improve coordination between design and construction, and approach services in the spirit of partnership and success. Insight Construct is licensed and insured to provide construction services in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
Contact
GHT Limited
Susan Dawson, LEED AP BD+C
Marketing & Communications Manager
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