The Internet of Things (IoT)--the network of interconnected devices that collects and exchanges data across the Internet--is quickly expanding to serve commercial and industrial facilities, says Terrence DeFranco, CEO and president of Iota Communications. “We see IoT applications proliferating in commercial and industrial facilities to drive energy efficiency, sustainability, and building operations.”
Iota Communications, with offices in Phoenix, Ariz. & New Hope, Pa., helps businesses leverage technology and connectivity to reduce costs, increase efficiency and advance sustainability. The company offers a dedicated carrier-grade network to enable low-cost, long-range connectivity in challenging environments.
IoT helps businesses stay a step ahead, says Carl Bartoli, Director of Operations at Donley Service Center. The firm does HVAC, plumbing and sewer maintenance in the Phoenix, Ariz. market. "The commercial HVAC industry has been challenging itself to become more proactive rather than reactive to equipment failures and building’s operational costs. One of the key improvements is the growing use of IoT.”
Bartoli says IoT helps prevent problems and equipment failures from happening, predict repair/replacement time lines, and improve equipment operating margins. “IoT can help create a cost-effective building operation. Early detection of problems allows building owners to actively plan for repair or replacement."
Connectivity is a key piece of the puzzle, says Iota Communications’ DeFranco. "These IoT applications, however, need a reliable and ubiquitous connectivity solution to achieve scale. Currently, cellular and other wireless connectivity solutions that are using unlicensed spectrum (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and ZigBee) cannot span the distance of large buildings and penetrate walls and concrete barriers."
DeFranco says the IoT connectivity problem can be solved by using FCC licensed, sub-1 GHZ spectrum on a low-power wide area network (LPWAN) to penetrate barriers, span the distance of these facilities, and allow a sensor battery life of at least five years.
One key connectivity trend is the emergence of private LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks using CBRS spectrum, says Allen Dixon, Senior Director of Marketing at Zinwave. The company is an indoor wireless hardware supplier that specializes in providing indoor connectivity to commercial facilities.
"These networks can be instrumental in providing seamless in-building connectivity to enable cloud-based access to HVAC controls without the need to allow access via the corporate firewall," Dixon explains.
Dixon says we can expect much more connectivity in the near future. "We’re seeing a massive surge of XaaS applications and they’re all predicated on having connectivity to and, to a growing extent, within the building." XaaS refers to delivery of anything as a service.
IoT connectivity of institutional facilities and businesses can serve dual purposes, says Coen Jeukens, vice president of global customer transformation at ServiceMax. The company offers cloud-based software that improves the productivity of complex, equipment-centric service execution. The IoT connectivity, he says, serves practical use cases such as monitoring system performance and getting ahead of maintenance needs.
It may also serve as a marketing vehicle. "For example, a new major airport being commissioned in Europe is promising various IoT-enabled facilities management systems and is promoting the project to be one of the most modern airports in the world. This may attract further investment, contractor bids and ultimately, increased interest from future customers and travelers," Jeukens explains.
Jeukens says building developers need to factor IoT connectivity into the mix for HVACR and other large commercial and institutional building systems. He says the question of available Internet or satellite connections is often overlooked. "In most contexts, we think about connecting commercial and institutional facilities located in major metropolitan areas to the IoT. However, in more rural locations out on the edge, IoT connectivity may not be as viable given network connection and speed levels."
Kevin Traut, Director of Education and Training at Rochester, N.Y.-based Isaac Heating & Air Conditioning, offers a potential solution to a different IoT connectivity conundrum—smart equipment from different brands that doesn’t recognize other gear. "Currently, most manufacturers offer smart systems on premium product lines, but many of these are proprietary and do not communicate with other brands," Traut explains.
Traut sees a potential solution that will solve connectivity issues industry-wide. "At some point I believe the HVACR community will develop a platform allowing an inter-brand connection communication standard similar to the NMEA 2000 protocols for boat electronics applications.” NMEA 2000 is a digital language. NMEA refers to the National Marine Electronics Association.
Traut offers one other IoT prediction: "Smart technology and controls will become a major part of commercial and industrial HVACR applications, both in new equipment installations, or as upgrades to, or in place of existing building management systems."
Training Techs on IoT Installations
At Honeywell Building Technologies, equipment is configured so it can go into operation quickly. "Our Honeywell CIPer family of Internet Protocol Controllers can fully interrelate with many other disparate devices, machines, and systems to transfer critical operational data over an Ethernet network,” says Mark Sampica, BMS Product Marketing Manager. He adds that the controllers are designed for ease of engineering and commissioning with minimal training for fast implementation and adoption in a variety of buildings and/or systems for contractors and technicians.
The controllers use the open Niagara 4 Framework operating system which has more than 500,000 installations globally, making it one of the most used platforms for the IoT. Honeywell offers CIPer Controller Technical Certification training to its partners.
Sampica says Honeywell’s customers want IoT technology that delivers useful functions, measurements, and notifications, such as predictive failure, predictive maintenance, enhanced asset (equipment) preventive maintenance, and system operational efficiency.
Eaton Lighting Division offers a variety of IoT training options for installers, end-users and others, says Travis McAfee, Product Marketing Manager, Connected Homes at Eaton Lighting Division. "We have trainings on all of our lighting, including all of our connected systems for both commercial and residential markets. Contractors and technicians are having to learn how to manage this change in the industry as so many of their standard products are coming online. We're here to make that transition as painless as possible." Eaton Lighting Division also has a world class training facility that includes IoT curriculum. It is the SOURCE, which is located in Peachtree City, Ga. (just south of Atlanta).
System Security is Crucial
Organizations should take several steps to ensure IoT and operational technology (OT) security, says Dave Weinstein, chief security officer at Claroty. "The first step is gaining visibility of the IoT and OT devices on your network. Next, organizations should prioritize access management to monitor, control and audit third-party and remote users. And finally, once organizations have sufficient visibility and access controls in place, continuous security monitoring is critical," Weinstein concludes.
Weinstein says achieving IoT and OT security is a journey for everyone in IT. “Organizations should not expect to solve all of their problems overnight, but the risk to the bottom line is simply too high to ignore.” Claroty offers an integrated suite of cybersecurity products that address the unique challenges of industrial control system security.
Cybersecurity in IoT is immensely important, adds Honeywell Building Technologies' Mark Sampica. He says that OT, which includes systems that monitor, control, and protect processes, equipment, and operational environments, is extremely vulnerable. He explains that OT can be an entry point into an IT system and needs comprehensive care in today’s ever-connected technology landscape. "The days of leaving OT systems unmanaged, unpatched and unmonitored are over," Sampica concludes.
Martin Hoover, president of Decatur, Ga.-based Empire Heating & Air Conditioning, is sold on the value of NATE. “I am a believer in NATE and maintain a NATE-certified team.” He says Empire’s new hires that are not NATE-certified will be NATE-certified in less than a year.
Hoover says the Empire team is equipping clients with all things IoT. “Our commercial customers have enjoyed the ability to monitor their various locations using the programmable Wi-Fi-type thermostats. We have mostly worked with Honeywell. Recently we have incorporated their water sensing alarms as well, so condensate leakage can be reported directly.” Empire typically completes the entire IoT installation and programming to assist the end-user.
Hoover has an optimistic view of IoT’s future. “I see the IoT as it relates to HVACR as a growing and evolving opportunity. Some of the newest developments allow for alarms (notifications) when system performance is out of range, space temperature has reached a threshold, water is present where it should not be, and even if certain safety controls have tripped.” He doesn't think IoT technology will replace technicians, but he believes it can certainly make Empire’s technicians more efficient and increase their level of service. “We can now respond to problems before our customers might know they have a problem. That's pretty powerful.”
Valued products and applications that connect to the Internet of Things. Below are descriptions of a couple of IoT-enabled products
Trellix is a smart spaces IoT platform that allows real estate professionals and building operators to gain quick insights into their buildings’ operations and business processes. The platform leverages the data gathered by Eaton’s WaveLinx Connected Lighting System. The connected lighting system enables sensing and communication capabilities within the lighting fixture itself through an integrated intelligent sensor. This setup allows building owners to increase operating efficiency through controls and data. With insights into facility data, such as light level, occupancy, power consumption and device status, the system helps leverage lighting so building operations personnel can make more informed decisions.
According to officials at Eaton, Trellix transforms the WaveLinx Connected Lighting System into an IoT infrastructure. The open IoT platform connects the intelligent sensors, integrated within the LED lighting fixture, to provide operational efficiency, improve occupant experience and deliver actionable insights through the aggregation of data. The valuable real-time data can be shared and used for anything from saving energy to tracking equipment and assets to enhancing security using the Trellix applications as well as other third-party applications.
The Halio smart-tinting glass system is suited for commercial installations. It is easily integrated into the building management systems and outdoor sensors to automatically tint each window in tandem or individually based on the owner’s criteria (All automatic tinting can also be overridden with manual controls at any time, or be driven by pre-set controls).
The system helps building owners optimize operations to eliminate solar heat gain in the hot summer months to reduce air-conditioning costs. Halio will automatically tint to respond to the sun—-and up to 10 times faster than any other electrochromic glass, according to the manufacturer. The system ensures buildings will maintain their views and natural light.
If building operators want to optimize solar heat gain in the cold winter months, the Halio system can be automated to maximize solar heat gain—-all seamlessly through the Halio cloud. According to Craig Henricksen, Halio has been proven to reduce a building’s energy costs by up to 20 percent through savings on HVAC and electric light operations.
Henricksen is vice president of product and marketing at Kinestral Technologies, Inc. He is responsible for building the global Kinestral and Halio brands.
Michael Keating is a contributor to The NATE Magazine. You can reach him at [email protected]