Question 1

Why is one side of my office always too hot while the other side is freezing?

Accepted Answer

This is usually caused by poor zoning in the BMS, stuck or failed damper actuators, miscalibrated temperature sensors, or solar gain. Alpha Controls carries out thermal surveys and BMS audits to identify the root cause, then reconfigures zones and adjusts control strategies.

Question 2

Why are my energy bills so high even though we have a BMS?

Accepted Answer

Many BMS systems are commissioned once and never tuned again, running default schedules that waste energy. Alpha Controls provides energy audits and BMS optimisation services that typically reduce HVAC energy consumption by 20-35%.

Question 3

Our commercial property has a low EPC rating â can BMS controls help us improve it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Upgrading BMS and HVAC controls is a recognised measure for improving EPC ratings. Since April 2023 it has been illegal to let commercial property below Band E, with Band C required by 2027 and Band B by 2030. Alpha Controls helps meet MEES compliance deadlines through BMS upgrades.

Question 4

Our Trend 963 supervisor has reached end of life â what are our options?

Accepted Answer

As of January 2025, Trend has withdrawn all support for the 963 Supervisor. The recommended upgrade path is to Trend IQVISION, built on Niagara 4 with HTML5 browser access. Alpha Controls carries out 963 to IQVISION migrations, preserving existing IQ controllers where possible.

Question 5

How long does a BMS installation take?

Accepted Answer

A small office fit-out with 20-30 fan coil units might take 2-4 weeks. A multi-floor commercial building with AHUs, chillers, boilers, and metering could take 8-16 weeks. Alpha Controls provides detailed programmes and works around tenant occupation.

Question 6

What happens if our BMS goes down completely?

Accepted Answer

A complete BMS failure means loss of automated HVAC control, wasting energy or causing shutdowns. Alpha Controls provides emergency same-day callout services across London and the South East, plus resilience improvements including controller redundancy and cloud monitoring.

Question 7

Can you take over maintenance of a BMS installed by another company?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Alpha Controls regularly takes over maintenance of Trend, Honeywell, and Distech systems installed by other contractors, providing full support including software changes, hardware replacements, and system extensions.

Question 8

Our building has a proprietary BMS that only one company can service â can we escape this lock-in?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Alpha Controls specialises in migrating proprietary systems to open-protocol platforms using BACnet, Modbus, or LON, giving you freedom to choose your maintenance provider and integrate equipment from any manufacturer.

Question 9

How much energy could we save by upgrading our BMS controls?

Accepted Answer

Buildings with legacy BMS or no controls typically waste 20-40% of HVAC energy. Modern DDC controllers with weather compensation and adaptive setpoints can achieve payback periods of 2-5 years depending on building size and current energy spend.

Question 10

Can a BMS help us meet our carbon reduction targets?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A well-configured BMS reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions by eliminating wasteful operation and optimising plant efficiency. Alpha Controls helps clients quantify savings and provides reporting data for carbon disclosure programmes.

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