Intelligent Power Today Magazine

News and Trends

Advanced protection against electromagnetic exposures and electric arc

HAZARDS AROUND

While working live in the energized grid, presence of voltage around the workers requires special attention. However, live-line (live working) techniques are widely applied for decades, several accidents in the past prove that the level of safety must be improved to minimize the number and seriousness of injuries in the future.
In the high voltage grid, bare-hand method is a common technique for safe live work. In the surroundings of any energized equipment,...

Buyer's Guide

News & Trends

2024 CE Code Training - Better Understanding of the Rules

CE Code training is intended to do a lot more than instruct about what changes have taken place since the last time Canada issued a national electrical code. We are producing a series of courses across Canada by one of Canada’s leading experts on the 2024 Edition of Canada’s Electrical...

Counterfeiting Kills

Each year, the counterfeiting of well-known brands and products continues to rise, creating an even more threatening problem. Such well-known counterfeited brands, including consumer safety and critical electrical products, are estimated to be five to seven percent of world trade. The International...

Introducing Intelligent Power Today

Welcome to Intelligent Power Today Magazine, our publication that explores and explains the who, what, where, when, why and how of intelligent electrical devices, a collection of complex mechanical devices and sophisticated control systems used in industrial, commercial, and institutional...

Building Automation Training

Life Safety & Security Systems: Balancing Sensitivity for Optimal Safety

Life Safety & Security Systems: Balancing Sensitivity for Optimal Safety

Automated life safety systems, seamlessly integrated within a building automation system (BAS), promise vast improvements in emergency detection and response. However, achieving optimal safety depends on striking the right balance of sensitivity within these systems. An overly sensitive system risks flooding operators with a barrage of false alarms, potentially leading to complacency and a dangerous "cry wolf" scenario where genuine incidents go unnoticed. On the other hand, an under-tuned system may fail to detect genuine threats in a timely manner, jeopardizing occupant safety and hindering effective emergency response. This article dives into strategies for finding the ideal level of sensitivity and best practices for maximizing the effectiveness of automated life safety systems within a BAS.

The Cost of False Alarms

Frequent false alarms generated by automated life safety systems have several detrimental effects. A persistent stream of false positives can desensitize...

Communications

The Backbone of Building Intelligence: Network Infrastructure and Design for BAS

Building Automation Systems (BAS) rely on a robust and well-designed network infrastructure to ensure seamless communication and reliable data exchange between various building systems and devices. This article delves into the intricacies of network infrastructure for BAS, exploring different...

Energy

Optimizing Energy Consumption with Demand Response

Building Automation Systems (BAS) play a crucial role in optimizing energy consumption within buildings. However, BAS can extend their reach beyond individual buildings and contribute to the stability and efficiency of the entire power grid. This is achieved through Demand Response (DR) programs,...

HVAC

Wireless Sensor Networks and the Impact on HVAC Monitoring

Traditional building automation systems have often relied on a relatively sparse network of wired sensors to monitor temperature, humidity, and perhaps a few other basic parameters. Wireless sensor networks are disrupting this model, enabling the deployment of far denser arrays of sensors,...