This is Cloud 8 – the brainchild of Tom Perry and arguably the most impressive modern architectural house currently under construction in the UK. Nestled behind a tree-lined road in the Chilterns, it's an unlikely spot to find such a modern home, with the neighbouring buildings tending to be of traditional red brick, but then there is nothing typical about this house.
Fans of Channel Four's Grand Designs series will remember the irrepressible Perry and his long-emerging home. Much of the unprecedented two programmes on Cloud 8 focused on its structure, which in itself has been designed to assist in the energy strategy, with Durox blockwork and polyester lined steel doors providing a high level of insulation. "We've achieved a very high SAP rating," enthuses Perry. "Despite the fact it's about 66% glass we've achieved a rating of 104.3, which is pretty racy."
Even more racy is the electrical and electronic systems that are just starting to be installed by Albert E Walker Electrical. The gismos in this house should impress even those most in tune to the possibilities of intelligent home systems. Perry, it seems, has left out nothing: "I've gone desperately over the top and utterly insane," he admits. Every gadget and possible device has been included – from underfloor heating to anemometer-controlled shading and window operations. These will all be controlled using a building management and intelligence system.
Intelligence in the home
Central to the building management system (bms) is ABB's i-bus European Installation Bus (EIB) system. The principle of i-bus is that electrical loads are not switched directly into the circuit as in conventional installations, instead commands are sent from sensors or a control panel on a twin-core data cable. These signals are received by actuators which execute the commands, such as switching off a light at a certain time.
This enables Perry to control every connected item in the house via a remote control panel or even a mobile telephone call. The secret is in the programming. Each part is connected into an overall bms system by simply plugging a laptop into the system and detailing the effects required, such as lighting scene-setting.
Perry first came across the system at an exhibition in Germany, before Cloud 8 was under construction. "One of the reasons why I've got ABB products here, as opposed to anything else, is I'm trying to keep detritus off the walls," explains Perry. "What I want is clean lines." Gareth Rowlands, distribution manager for ABB low voltage control products, elaborates: "The intelligent bit is at the back of the light switch recessed into the wall; the cover switch fits over the top."
The "intelligent bit" contained in the wall includes the thermostats, dimmers and on/off switching. Some have display panels for ease of information. Perry, with his infectious enthusiasm, describes them as "beautifully sexy things".
"The beauty of this EIB system is that it's done on two wires," explains ABB marketing manager Nigel Babb. "Whereas anything else we talk about is numbers of wires or numbers of looped wires, this is a pure two-wire system." The reduction in cabling brings savings in installation time and energy use.
There are three distribution boards in Cloud 8, but no central computer for the bms as each sensor and actuator has a chip onboard – collectively known as distributed intelligence. Once it has been programmed the system will link and control a variety of functions including the alarm system and access control – ABB Watchdog passive infrared systems around the house will detect anyone on the premises and automatically display their picture on the tv screen.
Cloud 8's heat, light and power distribution are all linked into and controlled by the system. This was important as Perry wanted to avoid the use of air conditioning and passively ventilate the house. With 174 m2 of glass in the facade, there was a danger of overheating so Perry had m&e consultant Rybka analyse the plans and advise on what was needed for a successful ventilation strategy. The result was high level automatic windows and steel blinds inside and out. These communicate with a weather station on the roof containing an anemometer and rain gauge, plus light meters so the blinds angle according to the light and heat in the rooms.
Further use is made of the weather station to change the colour of led lighting in an internal pond and artificial river flowing either side of the house. "Warmer weather, cooler colours; cooler weather, warmer colours," Perry explains.
Underfloor heating has been installed throughout and is managed in 18 zones.
The flexibility of the system has proved invaluable. As the building has evolved, Perry's wife's hearing has deteriorated but he has been able to design in items that can help her, such as lights flashing when the phone rings. Perry explains: "The ease with which you can extend a system here is just so simple. All you have got to do is to find the bus wire and if you have got the capacity on the end of that bus wire, to put on some more components."
Perry has a Category 5 voice and data system throughout the house linked into the bms. This provides a pabx web access controller; the ability to download and store music from the Internet; plus a touch sensitive pictogram of the house that enables the adjustment of any setting from any networked computer.
Distribution from the main panels is via risers in each of the two main parts of the house. Cabling is fed through the risers into the ceiling voids and dropped down inside the walls to where needed.
Looking to the future
One of the reasons for Perry going to such lengths with the intelligent system is his career ambitions. One of the rooms in the house has been set up as a high-tech office and he intends to use this to promote and sell his product on a highly demonstrable test site – Cloud 8. He sees it as a product for commercial premises as well as the high-end of the housing market.
His venture is set to begin in full after the completion of the house. It is unclear exactly when the opportunity will occur, with Perry only venturing "In the future", but it will certainly be worth a visit by all contractors who want to stay ahead of the game with intelligent systems.
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
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