A member of the BSRIA steering group for BG50 - Water Treatment for Closed Heating & Cooling - the inspiration behind Guardian's BG50i intelligent water monitoring and treatment package - and BG29 - Pre-commission Cleaning of Pipework, McGillivray recommended the support of Guardian's MD, Steven Booth, when the latest version of BG50 was being revisited and updated. BG50 2021 recommends the remote monitoring approach championed by Guardian as a key tool in the fight against corrosion.

'Steven and I share a common belief in ‘what's right' when it comes to the correct approach to water treatment in closed HVAC systems,' said McGillivray. 'He was an obvious choice when looking for expert input in BG50. Guardian is at the top of its game when it comes to water system management, and I am delighted to be supporting them. Early-adopters of real-time monitoring, using industry adapted technical solutions, they have led the charge in what is now becoming a more common-place practice.

'Information from platforms such as real time monitoring is changing the face of water treatment, allowing for a dynamic approach based on data, which means problems can be reacted to quickly and effectively. Long-term, continuous monitoring leads to a far superior understanding of system condition when compared with sampling and laboratory analysis and assists the FM team with their maintenance plans.

'For facilities managers (FMs) and maintenance teams, real-time monitoring can be used as a measure of their work, proving effectiveness, and supporting recommendations. It also contributes positively to ‘soft-landings', ensuring the equipment responsible for occupancy comfort is working at its optimum; the front-facing end-user experience that FMs are so often judged on.'

McGillivray started his career in the Royal Navy Marine Engineering environment, and on leaving service he worked his way through the building services industry; from HVAC Commissioning Engineer to Commissioning Management and now an independent Consultant. He has supported many high-profile customers across the BSE and FM space. Through his company, Hydrocomm, McGillivray provides water treatment and consultancy services specialising in validation and corrosion control of closed systems.

'Real-time monitoring mimics the approach I witnessed in the early part of my career, constantly reviewing gauges and sensors to maintain the operational capability of a submarine. The same principles can now be applied to closed-system HVAC, using technology rather than people to keep a continuous eye on operations.

'Overall, a data driven methodology solves many of the issues I commonly encounter. Knee-jerk reactions, misdiagnosis of samples, misunderstanding of system operations and misdirected maintenance regimes are all commonplace where real-time monitoring is not employed, greatly increasing the risk of equipment failure. It is crucial that building owners understand the value of considered capital expenditure as a money saving exercise further down the line; HVAC systems are essential, costly assets. Tools such as real time monitoring will only serve to prolong their life and reduce operational expense as well as directing the maintenance strategy of the building - more than covering any initial outlay.'

A specialist in commissioning, McGillivray will be focussing on where the BG50i approach can support this activity. He said: 'At the seasonal commissioning stage and while assisting the soft landings approach, real time monitoring can provide crucial information about hydraulic integrity, delivering clues that indicate whether commercial equipment is likely to fail and disrupt the building operations and occupant comfort. Without this technology, there is often no warning that there's a problem until someone physically checks the plant.

'Overall, 24/7 remote monitoring offers support at every step of a water systems life; from pre-commissioning cleaning through to enhancing occupant comfort, an essential tool for critical service providers responsible for large, expensive and crucial capital plant.'