Case Study: Leicester Grammar School (LGS)
Leicestershire, UK
Delta Partner: BG Controls
Background: Leicester Grammar and Leicester Grammar Junior Schools recently relocated to a purpose-built complex in South Leicestershire, which brings the two schools together on one 75 acre site.
The £33million project is now providing state-of-the-art educational facilities for boys and girls from the age of 3 up to 18.
The modern complex consists of a 13,500sq m two-storey building, containing a reception, hall and refectory in addition to teaching accommodation. The main teaching block has a large, double-height library at the centre with 14 dedicated science laboratories, a lecture theatre, music school, a recording and drama studio as well as an assembly hall to seat 900.
The Challenge: The new facility required a reliable and energy-efficient heating and ventilation system to ensure the comfort of students and staff with lowest possible running costs.
The Building Management System (BMS) needed to be easy-to-use by onsite facilities staff and accessible to students as part of a broader learning initiative.
In addition, the installation had to be complete within budget and before the start of the new academic term.
The Solution: BG Controls provided a fully integrated BMS, from design through to customised panel building and electrical installation.
The system incorporated a number of sustainable technologies to minimise environmental impact and limit energy usage. It includes natural ventilation, which has been enabled through the integration of BACnet technology to the building’s windows and natural vent systems.
The school windows and natural vents are also connected to an under floor heating system via BACnet. Room sensors send signals to the heating controllers to ensure that the heating is not activated in areas where windows or vents are open.
The BMS also enables an energy-efficient Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit. The CHP uses a gas supply to generate electricity to the school. Unlike traditional power generators, the ‘waste’ heat that is produced by the generator engine is captured and then used to supply heating demand to the school and its Domestic Hot Water System (DHWS).
The controllers that BG fitted to the heating pumps, boilers and air handling units were provided by world leading developer of native BACnet automation systems, Delta Controls Inc of Canada.
A Delta ORCAweb server provides a web-based front end to connect the automated controllers to the Local Area Network (LAN). Facilities staff can connect to these web pages in order to view the current status of the BMS and make modifications when needed.
Students can also access these web pages via LGS’s intranet. Control of the system is restricted to authorised users but the customised graphics display information to the students about the window ventilation system. This acts as a unique learning tool to provide real time information to students about the system and how it works.
Client Benefits: BG Controls utilised its many years of building automation controls expertise and experience to complete the installation, which was delivered on budget and within the time constraints.
The Delta Controls equipment will provide considerable energy and cost savings to the school by eliminating the need to power a mechanically operated ventilation system. As a result, the environmental impact is minimal as the new building utilises natural resources through this eco-friendly solution.
Finally, by allowing students visual access to the BMS, the school is utilising a practical learning aid to encourage an understanding of building technologies amongst its young learners.