Can Vaisala Sensors Communicate with Two Systems? Buildings and Indoor Air Quality Industrial Measurements Life Science This week Paul Daniel answers a post-seminar question about monitoring using redundant sensors and multiple systems, both Continuous Monitoring and Building Management systems. Integrating the viewLinc Continuous Monitoring System with other systems810.84 KB
More Questions and Answers on Redundant Sensors We received this question by email: Hello, I attended one of your seminars on Continuous Monitoring Systems and we use many Vaisala Temp/RH devices. These devices are currently connected to our Continuous Monitoring System - viewLinc. However, we also have a Building Management System that has less robust sensors. The question I have is twofold: Can the Vaisala devices communicate with both our systems - CMS and BMS? What is the industry practice concerning BMS and CMS sensors? Can both systems use the same sensor or do you need to have redundant sensors for the two different systems? I ask because, although our Quality Management goals are high, redundant sensors double the cost in installation, calibration, and purchase and we need to manage costs... Your input is greatly appreciated! Thanks for your answers! Can the Vaisala devices communicate with both our systems - CMS and BMS? First off, thank you for attending our seminar! Certain Vaisala devices can communicate with multiple systems simultaneously. However, if you want to communicate with a Vaisala continuous monitoring system and a non-Vaisala system, such as a Building Management System (BMS), then you need Vaisala's OPC UA or the viewLinc API. One of our application engineers can give you details on how OPC UA or viewLinc's API would work in your application. Contact us. See also this application note on using viewLinc with 3rd party systems. What is the industry practice concerning BMS and CMS sensors? Can both systems use the same sensor or do you need to have redundant sensors for the two different systems? Regarding industry practice, there is no standard for using two redundant sensors, or for using one sensor to communicate data with two separate systems. However in our experience, we have seen both approaches work, so you can do it safely from a GMP perspective. We recommend that you apply GMP level controls as your would for your monitoring system, rather than defaulting to BMS level controls (that are not generally GMP-compliant). Note that we are not talking about electronic controls, but rather of quality procedures to "control" the system to GMP standards.
Can the Vaisala devices communicate with both our systems - CMS and BMS? First off, thank you for attending our seminar! Certain Vaisala devices can communicate with multiple systems simultaneously. However, if you want to communicate with a Vaisala continuous monitoring system and a non-Vaisala system, such as a Building Management System (BMS), then you need Vaisala's OPC UA or the viewLinc API. One of our application engineers can give you details on how OPC UA or viewLinc's API would work in your application. Contact us. See also this application note on using viewLinc with 3rd party systems.
What is the industry practice concerning BMS and CMS sensors? Can both systems use the same sensor or do you need to have redundant sensors for the two different systems? Regarding industry practice, there is no standard for using two redundant sensors, or for using one sensor to communicate data with two separate systems. However in our experience, we have seen both approaches work, so you can do it safely from a GMP perspective. We recommend that you apply GMP level controls as your would for your monitoring system, rather than defaulting to BMS level controls (that are not generally GMP-compliant). Note that we are not talking about electronic controls, but rather of quality procedures to "control" the system to GMP standards.
Contributors Paul Daniel, Vaisala Senior GxP Regulatory Compliance Expert Paul Daniel has worked in the GMP-regulated industries for over 25 years helping manufacturers apply good manufacturing practices in a wide range of qualification projects. His specialties include mapping, monitoring, and computerized systems. At Vaisala, Paul oversees and guides the validation program for the Vaisala viewLinc environmental monitoring system. He serves as a customer advocate to ensure the viewLinc environmental monitoring system matches the demanding requirements of life science and regulated applications. Paul is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley, with a bachelor’s degree in biology. Connect on LinkedIn Janice Bennett-Livingston Marketing Manager Email [email protected] In addition to editing the Vaisala Life Science blog, Janice Bennett-Livingston is the Global Life Science Marketing Manager for Vaisala's Industrial Measurements business area. Pre-Vaisala writing credits include a monthly column called "Research Watch" for Canada's award-winning magazine alive, as well as articles in Canadian Living and other periodicals. Other past work: copywriting for DDB Canada, technical writing at Business Objects, and communications specialist for the British Columbia Child & Family Research Institute.
Paul Daniel, Vaisala Senior GxP Regulatory Compliance Expert Paul Daniel has worked in the GMP-regulated industries for over 25 years helping manufacturers apply good manufacturing practices in a wide range of qualification projects. His specialties include mapping, monitoring, and computerized systems. At Vaisala, Paul oversees and guides the validation program for the Vaisala viewLinc environmental monitoring system. He serves as a customer advocate to ensure the viewLinc environmental monitoring system matches the demanding requirements of life science and regulated applications. Paul is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley, with a bachelor’s degree in biology. Connect on LinkedIn
Janice Bennett-Livingston Marketing Manager Email [email protected] In addition to editing the Vaisala Life Science blog, Janice Bennett-Livingston is the Global Life Science Marketing Manager for Vaisala's Industrial Measurements business area. Pre-Vaisala writing credits include a monthly column called "Research Watch" for Canada's award-winning magazine alive, as well as articles in Canadian Living and other periodicals. Other past work: copywriting for DDB Canada, technical writing at Business Objects, and communications specialist for the British Columbia Child & Family Research Institute.
