Innovative solution for natural ventilation in schools control launched by SE Controls

The need to maintain precise control over carbon dioxide (CO₂), temperature and energy consumption is essential to create quality learning environments in classrooms and educational buildings and SE Controls’ new compact NVLogiQ room controller provides an innovative solution to meet these demands.

NVLogiQ constantly monitors indoor air quality, temperature and humidity and uses innovative algorithms, developed in conjunction with Loughborough University’s Building Energy Research Group, to control the automatic operation of windows, vents and heating to improve learning and comfort while saving energy. A manual over-ride option is also incorporated to provide additional versatility and direct control.

Capable of being used as a stand-alone classroom controller or networked throughout schools and educational buildings, NVLogiQ’s also incorporates integrated data logging to allow detailed analysis against pre-defined design and performance criteria on both new build and school refurbishment projects.

This ability also presents a range of opportunities for consultants, contractors and facilities mangers to not only verify a school’s natural ventilation (NV) design and performance, but also to enable accurate ongoing system evaluation to be easily undertaken.

As NVLogiQ has a compact and unobtrusive, with a footprint of just 160mm x 105mm, it can be located close to desks and work areas, allowing the precise monitoring of carbon dioxide (CO₂), temperature and humidity to maintain good indoor air quality and comfort levels.

SE Controls’ Natural Ventilation Division Manager, Nick Hudleston, explained: “There are clear guidelines of the volume of fresh air to be introduced into school classrooms, lecture theatres and other educational facilities to ensure that learning is not impeded by high CO₂ levels as well as elevated temperatures. NVLogiQ provides a simple, compact and powerful method of monitoring these parameters and automatically controlling the natural ventilation system to maintain a productive learning environment.”

He added: “For consultants, contractors and those responsible for managing educational buildings, the data logging facility can be used for detailed ongoing analysis, allowing the NV strategy to be ‘tailored’ precisely to the needs of the students and teaching staff, while optimising energy efficiency and comfort.”

CO₂ temperature and relative humidity readings are continuously displayed on NVLogiQ’s integral LCD screen while a red, amber and green ‘traffic light’ display gives a constant indication of indoor air quality. A manual over-ride capability is also built in to the room controller, allowing staff to temporarily open or close windows, louvres or other ventilation devices.

NVLogiQ’s versatile and powerful control structure has been designed to enable it to be used in a range natural ventilation strategies including cross ventilation and single sided ventilation as well as managing passive ventilation and night purging.

“From the outset, we designed NVLogiQ to provide an unrivalled mix of features, control and precision to help take indoor air quality, comfort and energy management of natural ventilation systems in education to the next level,” continued Nick Hudleston. “The innovative operating algorithms, integral data logging and the unobtrusive design, enables it to address a range of NV control and educational building management requirements in a highly versatile package.”

SE Controls specialises in the design, project management and installation of advanced smoke ventilation and natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building services engineers and facilities managers worldwide. Further information on SE Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained by visiting www.secontrols.com or by calling +44 (0) 1543 443060.

Innovative smoke and natural ventilation from SE Controls at Building Services show

Innovative smoke ventilation and natural ventilation control solutions form the primary focus of the SE Controls’ stand at this year’s CIBSE Conference and Exhibition.

A fully working model of SE Controls’ SHEVTEC® Extended Travel Distance System is integrated into the exhibition stand design to demonstrate the highly effective smoke ventilation solution, which received full Registered Detail Certification from the LABC (Local Authority Building Control) earlier this year.

The fully compliant and CE marked system gives local building control officers (BCO’s) the confidence to accept the SHEVTEC Extended Travel Distance System knowing that it has already been rigorously evaluated and tested. It also incorporates a range of additional features that enable specifiers, designers and developers to achieve a more cost effective solution without compromising safety, including the ability to reduce the size of smoke shafts to less than half of the 1.5m² required by an Approved Document B compliant natural ventilation system.

SE Controls is also launching an innovative new natural ventilation control solution, NVLogiQ, at the show, which is designed to maintain precise control over indoor air quality, temperature and energy consumption as a compact stand alone unit or as a networked system.

Using new control and performance algorithms developed in conjunction with Loughborough University’s Building Energy Research Group, NVLogiQ not only provides advanced monitoring and control of NV systems in individual rooms or zones, but also combines integrated data logging for detailed building performance and environment analysis.

NVLogiQ constantly monitors indoor air quality, temperature and humidity and via separate PSU’s (power supply units) and actuators, automatically manages the operation of windows, louvres and vents within a building’s natural ventilation (NV) system, as well as controlling the heating.

With a footprint of just 160mm x 105mm, NVLogiQ can be located almost anywhere within a building in close proximity to desks and work areas, allowing the precise monitoring of carbon dioxide (CO₂), temperature and humidity to maintain indoor air quality and comfort levels.

NVLogiQ’s integral data logging capability presents a range of opportunities for consultants, contractors and facilities mangers to not only verify a building’s NV design and performance, but to also enable accurate post occupancy evaluation to be easily undertaken.

Further information on NVLogiQ, SHEVTEC and SE Controls’ full range of smoke and natural ventilation solutions can be obtained at the exhibition in addition to visiting www.secontrols.com or by calling +44 (0) 1543 443060.