iceSheffield Arena

Sheffield's new, world class sports venue, iceSheffield, is benefiting from a web-accessible HVAC control system, thanks to the project's open framework architecture provided by Tridium for M&E services contractor, N G Bailey & Co.

Built at a cost of £15.7 million, iceSheffield features two Olympic size ice rinks and seating for more than 1500 people in a state-of-the-art sports facility, located next to the English Institute of Sport at Attercliffe Common. All chillers, boilers and domestic hot water services at iceSheffield together with air handling units, featuring humidification and dehumidification plant, and lighting are controlled and monitored by a Cylon Building Management System. The HVAC controls architecture for the installation is provided by Tridium's established NIAGARA FrameworkTM which successfully fulfils the client's requirement for easily achievable, user-friendly, remote web access to the whole system.

"The client, Sheffield International Venues (SIV), had specific demands concerning HVAC controls operation and monitoring for this project" explains Richard Wade, Controls Technical Manager at N G Bailey & Co. "The flexibility to access the system remotely from any PC on the SIV intranet or over the web, simply by inputting the relevant IP address, was a top priority. The Tridium solution allows us to do just that, and brings an added 'future-proofing' bonus as well – if the client wants to extend or change the control system in any way, then he isn't tied to using any one brand, but can select the best equipment for the job, without affecting the integrity of the installation."

Embedded within a single Tridium JACE control unit in the iceSheffield installation, the NIAGARA FrameworkTM allows web access to the Cylon control system by automatically serving up its graphical information as web pages. This ensures that all supervisory actions, such as monitoring, adjustment, data archiving and equipment maintenance can take place from any PC on the SIV intranet or internet, so avoiding the need for expensive BMS supervisory software and associated training costs. As well as proving easy to access and control, this fully open, web-based system architecture allows straightforward future integration of any new or replacement building services equipment, whether the equipment's controller is using MODBUS or any other controller protocol, such as, BACNET, EIB or LONWORKS®.

The iceSheffield venue officially opened in May 2003. It is part of Sheffield City Trust whose operating arm, Sheffield International Venues, has grown rapidly in the last six years to become one of the largest sport, entertainment and leisure groups in the North of England.

"The flexibility to access the system remotely from any PC on the client's intranet or over the web, simply by inputting the relevant IP address, was a top priority "

"Tridium's solution brings us an added 'future-proofing' bonus "

"There's no need for the client to spend money on expensive BMS supervisory software and the associated training costs "

The project

• A world-class sports arena for Sheffield International Venues (SIV).
• iceSheffield features two Olympic size ice rinks and seating for more than 1500 people in a state-of-the-art sports facility.
• Chillers, boilers and domestic hot water services together with air handling units, featuring humidification and dehumidification plant, plus lighting are controlled and monitored by a Cylon Building Management System.

The requirement

• To provide the client with easily achievable, user-friendly, remote web access to the whole system.

Tridium provides

• Market-leading NIAGARA FrameworkTM as the system architecture.
• NIAGARA FrameworkTM embedded within a single JACE 5 series controller.
• Web-based access to the control system over the SIV intranet.

The results

• The NIAGARA FrameworkTM allows web access to the Cylon control system by automatically serving up its graphical information as web pages, ensuring that all supervisory actions, such as monitoring, adjustment, data archiving and equipment maintenance can take place from any PC on the SIV intranet or internet.
• This capability avoids the need for expensive BMS supervisory software and associated training costs.
• Fully open, web-based system architecture allows straightforward future integration of any new or replacement building services equipment, whether the equipment's controller uses MODBUS or any other controller protocol, such as, BACNET, EIB or LONWORKS®.

Conclusion

• Thanks to Tridium's NIAGARA FrameworkTM, all building services are easily accessible through a web-based control system architecture.
• If the client wants to extend or change the control system in any way, then he is not restricted to using any one brand, but can select the best equipment for the job, without affecting the integrity of the installation.