Storage Facilities Now Have Digital Climate Control
With Controls Technologies, Contractors Can Cater To Finicky Collectors.
Some 40 years ago, the business of self-storage was small
business, without much of a future. Improvised buildings were used
to store the belongings of people on the move. Back then, customer
service was pretty much nonexistent. A tenant rented space, paid
the rent, and locked the unit. Managers collected the rent and
recorded the sale in a notebook of sorts.
Today, the clientele for storage space has grown to include wine
aficionados, antique collectors, and commercial business owners
with diverse storage needs. Some of the commercial businesses that
benefit from self-storage include manufacturers that need to store
equipment or perishable supplies, medical companies with massive
amounts of records, media companies with years of archived video
and data tapes, and law offices that need to retain documentation for
years.
The business of renting storage space has become highly
competitive, and most storage space facility owners have made
customer service a top priority. They strive to deliver high-quality,
secure storage solutions to their customers. For example, many
facilities are equipped with intrusion alarms, access control systems, closed-circuit monitoring,
fire protection, and 24 -hour security guards.
As storage facility owners cater to new and growing markets, they are adding computer-based
control technologies to their ensemble of services and benefits.
With a BAS in place,
owners can check their
building's environmental
conditions via a wireless
device.
(Courtesy of
Andover Controls Corp.)
GOING HIGH TECH
Digital controls enable a facility storage owner to store
sensitive products under absolute climate-controlled
conditions. Digital controls, with their microprocessor-
based technologies, offer several benefits to the owner,
to the client leasing the space, and to the HVAC
contractor. One such benefit is the ability to utilize the
Internet to instantaneously access current values, as
well as historical trends of space conditions.
By taking advantage of digital control technologies, a
storage space owner can successfully differentiate
his/her business from competing facilities, to attract
more commercial tenants who have sensitive storage
needs. An owner can capture a prospective client ’s
attention by incorporating space layouts with dynamic
displays of the space conditions into a promotional Web
page. An owner can create more interest by adding a link to historical data trend reports. Finally,
an owner who demonstrates that these reports can be automatically e- mailed to the client will
persuade more visitors to sign on the dotted line.
In addition, an owner’s risk and liability are lowered. Data trends provide proof that space
conditions are being properly maintained. Automatic alarm notifications allow for immediate
response to problems, maximizing equipment uptime and life expectancy. The owner can also
promote a cleaner, more upscale facility.
This screen shot shows trend data
of space temperatures, available via
a Web browser.
(Courtesy of
Andover Controls Corp.)
