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WINDOWMASTER Busy Keeping Worcester’s Hive Cool

WindowMaster (www.windowmaster.com) is supplying its MotorLink™ control system to aid natural ventilation in the prestigious Worcester Library and History Centre (WLHC) development in Worcester – known as The Hive (www.wlhc.org.uk).

The Hive, a partnership between the University of Worcester (www.worcester.ac.uk) and Worcestershire County Council (www.worcestershire.gov.uk), is being constructed by Galliford Try (www.gallifordtry.co.uk). Set for completion in July 2012, it is the first fully integrated public and university library. The Hive also houses the county record office, archaeology service and community ‘Hub’, which provides frontline council services for local residents. In addition, it has meeting rooms, drama and exhibition spaces and café outlets.

The Hive’s design team includes architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (www.fcbstudios.com), building service engineers Max Fordham Consulting Engineers (www.maxfordham.com), M & E contractors Briggs & Forrester (www.briggsandforrester.co.uk), façade installers Norman & Underwood (www.nandu.co.uk) and building controls specialist Acorn Integrated Systems (www.acornlimited.co.uk).

As part of the county council’s carbon management plan, The Hive is designed to be carbon neutral. It will be naturally ventilated and cooled using a combination of river water, the thermal mass of the exposed internal concrete structure and a facade automation system controlled by WindowMaster’s state of the art MotorLink technology. All this has led to the design achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

Darren Lovelock, managing director of Acorn Integrated Systems, said: “The focus for the design was on energy consumption and sustainability. Natural ventilation was part of the design of The Hive’s integrated building management system (BMS). We needed a system that could integrate fully with the BMS and offer precise control. WindowMaster’s new MotorLink™ technology helped us achieve that.

“Using a BMS to control automated facades throws up a number of challenges with regard to integration into the overall management system. MotorLink™ solves many of these.

Using a field bus to connect components results in reduced cabling and reduces point to point wiring and installation costs. It can be easily integrated into the BMS to provide improved control and functionality of the automated windows and natural ventilation part of the system.

“WindowMaster was selected because of its experience in making the programming and operation of automated natural ventilation and smoke ventilation systems as easy as possible. Its engineers worked closely with us and the consultants to develop a very robust, versatile and intelligent control solution.”

Richard Arnott, WindowMaster market manager UK and IE, added: “WindowMaster worked very closely with the facade contractor and building controls contractor to provide a totally joined up approach to the controls for the natural ventilation strategy at The Hive.

“The technical features and quality provided by WindowMaster's MotorLink™ actuators and MotorControllers were essential for the performance of the natural ventilation strategy, whether controlled by a proprietary natural ventilation control system or by the proposed BMS.”

WindowMaster MotorLink™ offers precise and accurate control. Because it operates within open bus communication standards, including KNX, LON, Bacnet and Modbus, its operation does not require expensive dedicated software systems. The versatile range of functionality of the MotorLink™ system also means that BMS suppliers and facade companies can deliver robust, flexible control solutions tailored to specific project requirements. Millimetre-by-millimetre control enables an optimal indoor climate to be obtained whatever the weather or the season. Two-way communication between the MotorLinkTMwindow actuators and the MotorLink™ MotorController enables the BMS to accurately position the windows.

MotorLink™ features precise position control, three-speed actuator operation, synchronisation between multiple actuators on the same window and reduced risk of entrapment. Other features include a reversing function, which protects the weather seals around the window, fault indication and online set-up.