The Krost concern is known not only for its residential complexes, country clubs, and office policies. No less famous is its global concept, formulated briefly and clearly: «Maximum comfort for thinking and active people.»
We asked Stepan Shcherbakov, Deputy Chief Power Engineer of the KROST concern, to tell us about the place that automation plays in the concern’s concept, without which thinking people cannot imagine modern comfortable housing.
AZ: What is KROST’s practice in equipping residential and commercial real estate with engineering systems, and in particular, automation systems?
Stepan Shcherbakov: «KROST» is a construction concern and builds residential buildings, multifunctional complexes and entire neighborhoods. And we are selective in equipping our buildings with automation.
That is, the level of automation varies from the mandatory necessary «set» in residential complexes of ordinary purpose to the use of all known solutions for the automation of class «A» buildings. The main task is to ensure the highest level of service and rapid response to changing conditions, which is of course impossible without the implementation of «intelligent automation systems».
AZ: Does Krost have partners among installation companies or do you implement projects on your own?
Stepan Shcherbakov: We have not yet been able to fully implement automation projects using our own resources. There are several reasons for this: the lack of the required number of automation specialists. The company's core business is construction and production of building materials. Today, there are many building automation solutions from various equipment manufacturers and, as a result, many offers from installation companies. Among the established relationships with installers, I would like to mention Siemens. Moreover, we work with both the Russian representative office and our German colleagues. Siemens carries out design work, supervises installation and commissioning work for the ELSE-CLUB fitness center. We continue to cooperate with EcoProg, the general designer of engineering systems and installer at another of our facilities, the Multifunctional Center, V.V. Pozner School of Television Mastery on Malaya Dmitrovka. Another reliable partner of ours is «Avtomatika-Service».
AZ: Is it possible to identify the companies whose products KROST usually uses at its facilities?
Stepan Shcherbakov: The use of this or that equipment is determined by the projects. The choice of the installer determines the choice of equipment. But still, we give preference to Siemens, SAIA-Burgess, ABB Industry Ltd (EIB), Citect. The choice of the main technological equipment also determines the use of equipment from Sauter, Konnex, Menerga. Equipment developed by EcoProg and GIRA (EIB) was also used.
AZ: What trends in the development of engineering equipment and automation systems would you note today in the Russian construction market?
Stepan Shcherbakov: We analyzed the current trends in the market of «automated» services and came to the conclusion that there are no unified solutions for similar tasks yet. The market offers a wide range of various equipment, software and much more. And it seems to me that the consumer is not yet mature enough to make a meaningful choice. The client, to be honest, cannot yet clearly formulate what exactly he would like from all this automation. In addition, there is no unified methodology for creating building engineering systems.
Unproven efficiency (in conditions of low energy prices) of solutions applied in the field of automation — is holding back investments of potential customers. Technical capabilities of «intelligent systems» are not clear and not interesting to the customer. If the operation of building systems in the «background» mode did not cause trouble to the customer, if it informed in time about the need for preventive maintenance, if the climatic condition of a separate room did not require year-round supervision, if…
In short, for now the subjunctive mood prevails in automation.
The implementation of automated systems today takes place only in technologically complex facilities, such as enterprises, retail offices and multifunctional complexes. And the level of automation of housing, even elite class, in my opinion, is difficult to classify as «intelligent buildings».
AZ: Does Krost have plans to develop engineering systems and building automation systems?
Stepan Shcherbakov: The development of the modern building construction market naturally orients us towards the use of modern automation solutions. Interest in buildings equipped with a full range of «intelligent services» is growing, which requires an adequate response. The management of the concern will under no circumstances refuse to equip newly commissioned facilities with «intelligent building» technologies. While engaging installers to implement automation projects, we, however, strive to form our own engineering personnel, who will then work on our projects. Today, we face a very specific task — to unite production units located in different areas of the capital with a single dispatching system «Industrial Complex», for which we must solve the problem of comprehensive monitoring of facilities using modern dispatching tools.
«KROST» has begun construction of a second concrete plant, which, like the first, «Beton-222», will be equipped with an automated control system and the entire concrete production process will be controlled from the central dispatching room. By the way, the construction of fitness clubs, which will be equipped with various “intelligent” automation systems, is also next in line. |
