Jan Feb 2019 Electric.ie Magazine

ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • 53 Schneider Electric Designing A Smart Heating System ർ ർ Joe Crawford, Marketing Manager at Schneider Electric. A s smart heating systems have gained popularity in recent years, consumers have become more demanding when it comes to the level of control they have over home temperature. Bespoke temperature control is now possible, meaning homeowners are opting to divide their home into distinct heating zones for increased convenience – often on a room-by- room basis. With systems becoming more sophisticated, creating and installing heating zones has become more simple, as long as you have the correct products and know-how. So what are the considerations that need to be made by installers when designing and installing heating zones? Zones for Every Home No longer just for new-build properties, multi-zoned heating systems are designed to work alongside a property’s existing system with no need to alter pipework or valves. This means that they can be easily installed into any home, regardless of age or size. With no need for re-wiring or re- plumbing, many systems can be easily retrofitted. Installer friendly features such as UK standard wallplates, mean that traditional heating controls can be easily switched for smart versions like Schneider Electrics WISER Heat Hub. Products like smart radiator thermostats can often be retrofitted onto existing radiators in seconds making specifically zoned heating achievable for every home. Zoning Locations Before installing heating zones, it’s important to establish where zones will work most effectively. One of the simplest ways to define where best to designate a heating zone is to consider the function of the area needing to be heated. Different areas of the home are better suited to certain temperatures, for example it’s recommended that bedrooms are kept at a cooler 18 0 C compared to the recommended 21 0 C for living areas. Installing an individual radiator thermostat into each of these rooms means not only that specific temperatures can be set but each room can follow its own individual heating schedule. For maximum heating efficiency, it is recommended that a radiator thermostat is included on every radiator. Buildable systems allow users to expand their system over time, adding additional radiator thermostats as required, which presents installers with further installation opportunities Enhanced Safety, Remotely Coupled with the ease of installation, multi-zoned systems can also enhance home safety by allowing for more accurate temperature adjustment. For example, research shows that keeping a consistent temperature of 18 0 c can minimise health risks for infants. Having a separate heating zone in a baby’s room will allow parents to set and monitor the temperature from anywhere in the house.