St. Katharinen Hospital Frechen

MSR retrofitting in existing buildings increases the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of plant operation

The new building on Kapellenstraße in Frechen, constructed in 1974, underwent comprehensive energy optimization of its building automation system after 40 years. These measures were implemented with the help of products and solutions from DEOS AG.

Johnson Controls switches to DEOS: Greater energy savings, enhanced IT security, and optimized operation

M. Korfmacher GmbH from Cologne, a long-standing DEOS system partner, advised and supported St. Katharinen Hospital in the technical renovation of its MSR technology. A particular challenge was to retain the existing Johnson Controls devices. For cost reasons, twelve existing controllers (DDC) with the associated input and output modules and cabling were not to be replaced. However, the 32 ventilation systems, the boiler, and the CHP unit were to be controlled via the new DEOS building automation system. To this end, six BACnet/SC automation stations of the type DEOS OPEN.WRX were additionally installed in the control cabinets. The sensor and control values continue to be recorded via the Johnson Controls modules and controllers, but the entire control system is now operated via the DEOS automation stations.

“In the end, it was our system integration expertise that brought success,” explain Sven Neukirchen and Tobias Esser, project managers at M. Korfmacher GmbH. “The BACnet/SC controller OPEN.WRX made our work easier because it offers a wide range of interfaces and compatibility. This enabled us to quickly establish communication with the existing Johnson Controls components and other third-party systems, and we are also optimally positioned for future system conversions.”

The intelligent DEOS software modules learn the system behavior during operation and automatically adjust the setpoint of the heat generator to the actual demand, for example. This ensures that only the necessary amount of energy is provided, which sustainably reduces energy costs and component wear.

Greater IT security with DEOS solutions

The BACnet/SC controller OPEN.WRX also increases IT security at St. Katharinen Hospital, which is part of critical infrastructure. The DEOS DDCs have integrated firewalls whose ports were individually and easily configured via the OnBoard Service and Security Center (SSC). Access to the system is protected by comprehensive user and rights management.

Graphical monitoring – DEOS Cloud-GLT

The existing building management system (BMS) from Johnson Controls was completely converted to the modern DEOS BACnet/SC-GLT in the cloud. This includes new system graphics for monitoring around 1,700 data points. Remote access to the systems and their data is possible at any time and from anywhere via the DEOS Secure Connect Portal using a PC, smartphone, or tablet. Status and alarm messages from the technical devices are also displayed transparently in the DEOS AlarmApp. This enables more efficient management of the service team and significantly improves response times in the event of a malfunction. Service providers can now also access the system remotely and in encrypted form.

Energy monitoring for greater transparency

The cloud-based DEOS energy monitoring system provides a clear overview of energy consumption and savings using individual dashboards. Automated energy reports are sent out regularly. Around 100 energy meters (for electricity, heat, water, gas) have been integrated to create a realistic picture of energy flows in the building. For billing purposes, the energy data is transmitted to the connected billing system via an API interface.