GLSS Design Services
- Structured Design Requirements: Identifying facility, safety, code and ordinance requirements for system functionality.
- Operational Requirements: Determining the client’s needs for operational interfaces, including login and passwords, reports, and alarm notifications.
- System Failure Analysis: Conducting a formal study to assess the system’s operation under typical failure scenarios, including fail safe component failure, power loss, and communication failure. This includes defining and engineering redundancy and battery backup hold over operations requirements.
- Design Execution: Preparing a comprehensive design package for internal and external reviews via Permit submittal and approvals from the local Legal Enforcement Agency (LEA).
The design package includes:
- Cover Page: Facility location map, name, area of work, general notes, symbols, and legends.
- Facility Layout: Showing the work area, including sensors, controllers, and alarm notification devices.
- System Functional Matrix: Indicating sensor IDs, alarm levels, and output activations.
- Block Diagram: Illustrating the flow of system-connected devices.
- Wiring Diagram: Showing connection points and wire schedules.
- Specification Sheets: Detailing the hardware to be installed.
- Load Calculations: Highlighting system capabilities and limitations.
Our design drawings are developed and reviewed by our engineer with 30 years of experience and a Professional Engineer (PE) license in Control Systems, ensuring your system meets both code and client requirements.
HMI, GUI and SCADA Development
We specialize in HMI (human-machine interface), GUI (graphic user interface), and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition). With over 30 years of experience, we understand how to create interfaces that help clients respond effectively during alarms. Our approach includes using a combination of tools such as:
- Trend charts
- Top-view drill down sensor location layouts
- Alarm and Normal condition status color coding
- Alarm and Event logs
We also provide remote viewing and control of the system via the internet, allowing us to send text messages and/or emails to describe the activated alarm.
Additionally, our platform allows us to integrate architectural backgrounds of the facility into the HMI, improving the clarity of the device’s exact location when an alarm is triggered. This feature helps response personnel quickly understand the situation and respond from a safe location. Accessing and navigating the interface is intuitive, ensuring ease of use during critical events.
Permitting
MDC Systems holds business licenses in all cities we do business in, and we cover the entire State of California. With extensive knowledge of the permit process, we ensure faster approvals by providing the following permitting services:
- Completion and submission of the Permit Application.
- Delivery of multiple design drawing packages prepared and wet-stamped by our in-house Professional Engineer, to local jurisdictions for review and approval.
- Submission of specification sheets for equipment shown in the system drawings.
- Addressing plan check comments to achieve permit approval.
- Third-party testing and certification for permit sign-off.
System Logic, Sequence of Operations, and PLC Programming Services
MDC Systems provides programming services for controllers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Our process includes the following steps:
- Developing the I/O functional matrix to define system alarm levels, sequence of operations based on facility operational requirements, safety requirements, and code requirements.
- Programming controllers, PLCs, and other systems to meet the I/O requirements and alarm levels outlined in the matrix.
- Developing and integrating HMI interfaces based on the current architectural layout, displaying information on an intuitive computer interface that can be accessed safely and remotely.
- Quality testing during commissioning and annual testing to ensure the system works as designed.
- Tracking matrix revisions and programming changes, which are owned by the client upon the completion of the contractual agreement. This means you own the system, software, and passwords, allowing you to work with any contractor of your choice.
- Providing Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Manuals for all installed devices, supporting your maintenance record-keeping.
- Offering training to emergency response personnel on how to use the HMI/GUI to ensure a timely and effective response to events.
System Integration Services
MDC Systems offers services to integrate various control system platforms and components. This allows us to provide the most cost-efficient and design-appropriate solutions while ensuring seamless system integration. Our integration services include:
- Gas Sensor Component Selection: Analyzing “Best Known Methods” for available technologies and presenting applicable solutions to meet client needs.
- Gas Controller Selection: Evaluating and recommending the most cost-effective solution while ensuring reliability, expansion and ability to interface with other control and alarm systems.
- Programmable Controller Interfaces: We have experience in programming and configuring PLCs from manufacturers such as Allen Bradley, GE Fanuc, Siemens, and Direct Logic.
- FMS / BMS Interfaces: Integrating GLSS into various building/facility management systems (FMS/BMS), including Siemens, Honeywell, Fire-Lite, Silent Knight, Cerberus Pyrotronics, ALC, Delta, Wonderware, Ignition, and Simplicity.
- MDC Systems integrates GLSS with fire alarm and building/facility management systems (BMS/FMS). Contact us today for a consultation.