Pneumatic to DDC Control System Conversions

Air for Today, Digital for Tomorrow

Maine Controls recognizes the by-gone era of pneumatic systems that have been around for decades. As energy and labor costs increase, building owners are provided plenty of incentive to consider the replacement of these aged and inefficient pneumatic control systems. Further, the lack of availability of pneumatic system repair parts and qualified personnel are driving buildings to the installation of a new platform of “all things digital”. A partial or full controls conversion from a pneumatic system to a digital BAS (Building Automation System) will give building owners these long- term benefits:

• More useful and precise information and therefore actionable data for intelligent building management;
• Lower energy costs through greater operating efficiency;
• Lower maintenance costs through less need for calibration and service of aged air-based equipment.

Actionable Control System Digital Data

To manage something effectively, you need data. Intelligent decisions are dependent on getting adequate information about the real-world situations inside a building. Digital BAS systems are all about high quality data. The systems installed by Maine Controls automatically adjust building parameters and correct conditions that would require tedious manual labor on pneumatic systems. Digital systems also provide real-time and trended data for reports and graphs that allow for easy analysis and intelligent decision-making.

Reduced Energy Costs with DDC Systems

A DDC Control System installed by Maine Controls provides energy savings from control sequences tied to data acquisition. A buildings digital controls precisely measure and control numerous setpoints. Numerous automated energy savings techniques squeeze maximum efficiency out of energy dollars. Maine Controls installs DDC systems that have functionality and accuracy that far exceed their pneumatic system counterpart. These include the following:

Flexible and precise occupancy schedules: Digital schedules are quickly customizable from hand held devices and are easily modified to take into account such things as holidays and Daylight Saving Time;

Motion detection: Maine Controls installed motion sensors verify whether or not occupants are present. A constant changing of the setpoints based on Adaptive Occupancy Scheduling can even “learn” a schedule automatically by sensing motion.

DCV (Demand Control Ventilation): Maine Controls installs sensors to validate the ventilation needs of the space. By measuring the levels of CO2, DCV sequences and precisely controls the actual ventilation requirements based on true occupancy and adjusts the ventilation accordingly.

Optimum start and stop: Maine Controls installs BAS that calculate the time required for a building to warm-up or cool-down in all seasons regardless of outdoor weather conditions. The Maine Controls calibrated systems adjusts the building pre-occupancy system start time accordingly while optimizing occupant comfort and saving energy.