Commercial Building Thermostats

[noercarr]

We have 5 buildings that each consist of 4 trailers. Each trailer has an HVAC unit and thermostat, so 4 thermostats per building. Each is programmed to set to a certain temp at certain points of the day. The layout is offices around the perimeter with a cubicle bullpen in the center, doors are left open so basically a giant room.

Problem is the thermostats need to be manually switched to either heat, cool or off together and our staff seems to find this task too difficult. Someone in the corner office gets cold, they turn off "their" thermostat. In shoulder seasons I've seen a thermostat or 2 on heat and 2 others on cool in the same building.

For obvious reasons, this is becoming problematic. I'm looking for an affordable option (20 thermostats) to take the... human error... option out of this. Lockboxes are not an option, as someone would need to come manually unlock each daily, sometimes twice a day, to switch from heat/cool/off.

Ideally, I'd like something I could program once to keep the office within a certain range and would not allow staff to change on a whim. I've heard of units that will allow users to change it up to 5 degrees, but will reset at certain times also. That'd be nice but not necessary.

Any suggestions or perhaps a specific thermostat model that does not allow users to modify it, only a Facility manager?

 

[Done That]

Look at Emerson Sensi, and the "Multiple Thermostat Manager", it's a low cost way to have single point control over a large group of wifi connected thermostats and keep them in lockstep operation.

I believe the stats can be locked out so individuals can't override your wishes.

Not sure if it's exactly what you need, but probably worth a quick look at the website.

 

[HotRodBoater]

Why not use lockboxes over the automatic style t-stats that automatically switch between heat/cool to maintain the desired set point?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[noercarr]

Look at Emerson Sensi, and the "Multiple Thermostat Manager", it's a low cost way to have single point control over a large group of wifi connected thermostats and keep them in lockstep operation.

I believe the stats can be locked out so individuals can't override your wishes.

Not sure if it's exactly what you need, but probably worth a quick look at the website.

Just spoke with their CS and this is probably the ticket. Thank you.

They can be locked out, which is perfect. You do need to pay $1 per thermostat per month (so another $20 a month) to make global changes (instead of logging into each one individually), well worth it though I think.

 

[noercarr]

Why not use lockboxes over the automatic style t-stats that automatically switch between heat/cool to maintain the desired set point?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Kinda of double the labor there, having to change the thermostat and then add a lockbox to each. So not ideal or maybe even that much cheaper than the Sensi?

Plus being able to make global changes via an app is a really nice feature as well.

 

[Done That]

Cool...disclaimer, I work there but in a completely different area. But it seems to be a nice solution for applications that don't merit a full blown commercial building automation solution.

 

[eddieK]

Honeywell T6 thermostats, auto changeover, can be fully programmed, can be fully locked out or partially locked out and are not expensive.

 

[noercarr]

Honeywell T6 thermostats, auto changeover, can be fully programmed, can be fully locked out or partially locked out and are not expensive.

Thank you, this is also a great option... even cheaper.

 

[bonneyman]

Honeywell T6 thermostats, auto changeover, can be fully programmed, can be fully locked out or partially locked out and are not expensive.

Do the new Honeywell commercial stats still have the "3 hour override" function? That is a nice feature.

If someone comes in during normally unoccupied hours (i.e. the stat is programmed so the units are off), with one button they can get 3 hours of whatever the programmed on temp setting is and - when they leave - you don't have to worry about the system running with no one there all day. After the 3 hours elapses the unit goes off automatically.