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Control of temperature and air quality is a vital consideration in laboratories and the new B.C. Cancer Research Centre is a case in point.
Among facilities housed in the centre are labs for genomic research, containment (biological safety) labs, a vivarium (place for keeping animals in conditions similar to their natural environment) and teaching halls.
ESC Automation, formally Enegrated Systems, was contracted to supply and install the building automation controls for general heating and ventilation as well as fume hood and bio safety cabinet control. The value of its contract was $1.6 million.
ESC's work was recognized by the Vancouver Regional Construction Association, which awarded the Surrey-based firm a Silver Chairman's Award in the Trade Contractor category of its 2005 Awards of Excellence program.
The Cancer Research Centre's computer-controlled building automation system consists of 498 direct digital control (DDC) panels. Given the large number of panels, ESC's first concern was to build a DDC network that could communicate effectively.
"When you have a DDC panel layout this large,...