Reports from the field

Building Operating Management, Dec 1998

Building Upgrades: Case studies show real-world problem solving in action

BAS

Landmark Theatre Gets '90s Levels of Comfort, Flexibility and Efficiency The 68-year-old Orpheum Theatre is a Memphis, Tenn., landmark. When the time came to renovate its building automation system (BAS), several objectives needed to be met. The new system had to be easy to operate because controls, setpoints and operating schedules vary frequently; it had to sustain a constant level of humidity without increasing energy consumption; and it had to ensure the facility's functionality for diverse uses.

Staefa Control System's Year 2000-compliant MS1800 BAS, with RS controllers, VAV box controllers and Smart II controllers, was chosen. The controllers fully operate the theatre's HVAC and control system. The system maintains a constant level of 50 percent relative humidity. A 10-foot fan attached to the air handling unit provides the precise environment required on stage. On the fan is a transmitter that constantly monitors settings and allows the control panel to automatically shut down the fan if necessary.

To address aesthetic concerns, plain, low-profile sensors were installed in the 2,500 seat, multi-level auditorium.

The system can be maintained by theatre staff. Software and graphics were installed on the home computer of Richard Reinach, technical director. al can now solve problems from home rather than returning to the theatre at night," he says.

FREE INFO: Circle 250

ROOFING

Single Ply Installation Passes El Nino Test Steelcase North America wanted to replace 340,000 square feet of roofing on its million square foot facility in Tustin, Calif. The catch: To replace the roof without disrupting its 24-hour-a-day operations. That meant the existing built-up roofing system could not be removed, said Elizabeth Grauten, Steelcase project manager.

The specifications called for the top layer of the existing membrane to be removed and then the original mineral-surfaced roof to be recovered immediately with a lightweight single-ply system that could be mechanically attached to the roof deck quickly and easily. A Johns Manville UltraGard SR50 PVC roofing system was selected. It was mechanically attached over 1 inch of the company's E"NRG'Y 2' polyisocyanurate insulation.

El Nino storms put this plan to the test. The single-ply application allowed for more roofing area to be completed during windows of dry weather and made it quicker to create a watertight tie-off.

FREE INFO: Circle 251

COMMUNiCATIONS

Wireless LAN Provides

Speed, Flexibility and Reliability

Siemens Hearing Instruments needed an office LAN solution to accommodate change in its Piscataway, NJ., location. The company reviewed information on wireless LANs, looking for speed and service.

"We had been operating in a typical LAN environment using twisted pair connectivity via 10 Base-T hubs and needed a flexible solution that would enable us to maintain the same 10 Mbps throughput, without sacrificing security," says Richard Thorpe, director of MIS.

JVC's Wireless Office LAN kit met those requirements. What's more, the system allowed Siemens to arrange its facility network layouts in a number of ways. The kit is unaffected by radio frequency and electro-mechanical interference, so data transmission is secure.

The 360-degree ceiling-mounted unit connects directly to the existing LAN backbone and supports up to 30 workstations. Node units connect to a PC's network card or hub supporting multiple users. Users can be added and floor plans can be changed by repositioning or plugging in additional nodes.

FREE INFO: Circle 252

METAL BUILDINGS

New Look Gives

20-Year-Old Building Its Third Life What is now the First Community Bank of Sedalia, Mo., was originally a pure metal building for a farming co-op. When it became a private business, the walls were clad in brick veneer. The third facelift of the 20-year-old facility used preengineered metal building elements by Butler Manufacturing Company.

A double-slope faux roof dramatically changes the building's character. Metal panels for the Butler VSR architectural standing seam metal roof system were supplied with a factory-applied green Kynar-based finish. A clock tower was the most significant addition to the building. White EIFS was used as a finish system across the existing fascia and the tower, trim and columns.

FREE INFO: Circle 253

POWER

Power Quality System

Protects Critical Application The Brockway Standard Lithograph Plant in Homerville, Ga., had a history of manufacturing interruptions attributed to weather-induced power disturbances. The problem became acute after a plant upgrade in 1994. The microprocessor-based controls and adjustable AC drives were highly sensitive to voltage fluctuations. Deep voltage sags and momentary interruptions caused frequent motor burnouts. Also, burner fans in the dryer combustion chambers would shut down completely, resulting in a 40-45 minute shutdown of the line.

The solution was to install AC Battery's PQ2000 power quality system. When the utility disturbance monitor detects a voltage sag or momentary interruption, the unit isolates the facility or critical bus from the utility service and switches the facility to stored battery energy. The system has protected the plant from numerous press-stopping power disturbances. Production throughput has increased 18 percent and production scrap has decreased 30 percent.