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Allen County Public Library - EST to BACnet

In 1997 the library initiated a space needs assessment for the entire county-wide library system. Decades of steady growth in the demand for library services, coupled with the effects of new technologies, had placed obvious strains on aging buildings. The main library and many branches were becoming seriously overcrowded, as Internet workstations, word processors, and printers competed for limited space with books, magazines, and audiovisual media.

During 1999 the library administration developed preliminary proposals to construct several new branches that would replace existing, severely overcrowded branches; to expand and renovate several other under-sized branches; to renovate or update the remaining branches; to significantly expand and renovate the main library; and to provide adequate parking at all library locations.

The project scope included:

• Renovate existing 240,000 square feet
• Add 180,000 square feet to main facility
• Design, construction and renovation of 14 remote branch library buildings.

Trane was awarded the systems automation and integration contract for building systems throughout the Allen County Public Library's countywide campus. Part of the scope of work for Trane was to have the Edwards Systems Technology EST3 Fire Alarm Panels interface to the Trane central Operator Work Station (monitor & control equipment). ESCO Communications was responsible for the interface from EST3 to the Trane OWS. Since the Trane OWS is connected over the Ethernet WAN via the BACnet/IP protocol, the EST3 Fire Alarm Panels had to be successfully interface over BACnet/IP via the FieldServer. This enables the personnel at the Library from a single OWS to view the full status of their Building Automation System including the status of their Fire Alarm Panels at 16 different sites in the county.

Details of the EST3 system to Trane are as follows,

• Fifteen (15) FieldServer gateways
• 1600 points on networked system
• Sixteen (16) Building locations
• 31 EST3 panels configured
• Card Access, Security, TV - Site vision,  Synergy by EST
• Building Automation Controls by Trane using BACnet/IP communications from EST
• Installed by ESCO Communications from Michigan
• ESCO Communications are trained in the FieldServer factory to configure and implement the FieldServers
• EST Area Manager, Chris McCarthy, also received FieldServer factory training

Rod Corson, Project Manager for ESCO Communications said, " Fieldserver's dedication to its products, and its customer's is a beacon of excellence and should be admired by others in the industry. From its excellent training programs, superior products, to the incredible technical support department, I have no fear in implementing the Fieldsever product in any of my integration projects. Fieldserver has been there every step of the way without hesitation . After the implementation of 16 bridge interface units, we are able to see many new opportunities with our customers"