Overview
Background
The Schneider Building Energy Management Systyem (BEMS) controls and monitors the heating, cooling and ventilation systems for a large portion of the university, including critical installations, category 3 labs and major IS server rooms. It also relays critical alarms to Security from these areas and sends daily automatically generated environmental charts to Biology Research Facility (BRF) lab managers to ensure that stringent Home Office requirements are being maintained.
Struxureware is the next generation of Schneider BEMS. Whilst it is anticipated that the current Schneider hardware will be phased out (no end date as yet) although it will remain supported and operational through the new Struxureware user interface as the University has invested heavily in the existing 650 fields controllers which will be extremely costly to replace once obsolete. Struxureware will provide a seamless gateway to these controllers and also provide the current Schneider client users (currently 50 in number) with a new software package with greatly enhanced functionality.
Scope
To implement a fully operational instance of the Schneider BEMS system - Sructureware to enable the Energy controls engineers to fully evaluate the product for 1 building (1 controller) and observe the interactions with the current Schneider BEMS Sigma system.
To deliver a robust resilient environment that can support all operational activities including disaster recover (DR) failover (and back).
Objectives
- To provide the appropriate Test and Live environments to support Schneider Struxureware
- To install software
- To evaluate the system over 1 building on core IS Infrastructure on 'test'
- To ensure that the environment is robust and resilient and can support full DR
- To implement live environment
Deliverables
The following deliverables:have been defined as mandatory
- To commission and build the required server infrastructure for both Test and Live environments based on supplier recommendations
- To deliver a robust resilient environment that can support all operational activities including disaster recover (DR( failover (and back) on both Test and Live environments
- To provide updated technical documentation
- To confirm the DR procedures with IS Applications Technology Management
- Documented user acceptance tests
Transition Benefits
The following benefits will be delivered through the implementation of Struxureware programme. The IS delivery is related to the installation and setting up of Struxureware.
- Technology
- Mobile applications - access BEMS information via tablet or smart phone
- Extend access beyond BEMS professionals to building occupants
- Native support for open protocols
- Web Services to exchange data beyond industry-specific protocols
- Security benefits provided by the product
- Planning, Cost Control & Risk Management
- Minimize the risk, downtime and cost of modernizing the University BEMS by using the SmartStruxure transition tools and services.
- Save time and manpower by re-using components (e.g. controllers, sensors, wiring) and system design / configuration
- System can be modernised while preserving BEMS investments
- Keep most of the system in operation during the transition process
- Minimize risk as the site is transitioned in sections and phases
- Modernisation can be planned to suit annual budgets while retaining a fully operational system throughout
Success Criteria
- Delivery of required test and live environments
- Energy team can evaluate the product
- Complete successful disaster recovery (DR) & fallback
- Updated technical documentation