Staying in Touch

Make this a very early New Year's resolution: to explore remote monitoring for use with HVACR systems. Quick and easy off-site access to system performance data enables contractors to spot small problems before they become big ones, troubleshoot in advance of sending out technicians, and give customers peace of mind as well.

For a final look at this subject for 2009, ContractingBusiness.com spoke with HVACR contractors who have incorporated monitoring into their service regimen, or are interested in doing more with these systems.

Easy Access to Multiple Buildings

Among its many clients, Shaw Mechanical Services, LLC, Orlando, FL, services buildings within the Orange County School District, the 10th largest school district in the U.S.

Managing the controls for such a wide-ranging collection of buildings can be a challenge, but the district has made some improvements that make Shaw's job a lot easier.

Mark Woerhle, Shaw Mechanical Services' vice president of operations, says web-based standards have been established across the school district. Shaw's remote capabilities enable technicians to tap into school building mechanical systems to perform necessary commissioning adjustments.

“We can monitor the systems, call the customer if there's a sign of trouble, or adjust a setting. If a visit's required, we can determine which technician to send, and what he should look for when he gets there,” Woerhle says.

Shaw's Central Florida customer base includes restaurants, ice cream stores, retail sites, warehouses, and office buildings.

“Trying to pinpoint a mechanical systems issue at a school campus facility can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack if you don't have access to the controls,” Woerlhe reveals. “That's why many of those facilities now include front-end access.”

A team approach is also helpful when working with controls subcontractors. Shaw Mechanical Services works with controls installers during the installation process, to ensure Shaw technicians have quick access to control systems afterwards.

“We're highly motivated to ensure the systems operate properly,” Shaw says. “If we don't check their work, learn the systems, and do our own version of commissioning, we have more warranty calls. We obtain an IP address and VPN from the building owner, so that we can monitor the buildings.”

‘Multi-dimensional’ Contractors Push Efficiency

President/CEO David Shaw founded Shaw Mechanical Services in 2001, after 21 years with a major HVAC industry manufacturer. He says it's important that contractors realize the value of taking the burden of concern off of the customers' shoulders. “They want to focus on their businesses, not on the condition or performance of a building's comfort systems,” Shaw says.

“The less they have to deal with system downtime, the better off they are. Commercial building customers are looking for multi-dimensional contractors, those who can read the controls, know what's going on, and solve the problem.”

Shaw adds that energy efficiency provided by controls and other HVAC system components are helping building owners understand the value of lifecycle savings versus a system's first cost. “When you compare first cost to the savings provided by more extensive equipment, there's no comparison. If you pay a little bit more up front for energy efficient equipment, there's a payback,” Shaw says.

Tight Security for Most Expansive Systems

Bassett Mechanical is a full service Linc Service^® contractor providing HVAC construction, fabrication, and refrigeration services, with three locations throughout Wisconsin. It installs remote monitoring control systems for a wide variety of applications, including food processing, HVAC systems, ice rinks, and cold storage. Its primary systems are programmable logic controller (PLC)-based. These communicate to a graphical user interface, computer, or any type of specified interface

“With these systems, we can send out alarms via email, pages, SMS text, and more. Some of the systems include auto dialers that will dial us or the customer based on the condition that triggers the alarm,” explains Scott Ludwig, controls engineer.