FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What kind of facilities do you work with?
Primarily commercial HVAC systems: office buildings, university campuses, hospitals, data centers. We also monitor industrial rotating equipment (pumps, compressors, fans) and power electronics (IGBT modules, inverters). If your facility has sensors producing data, we can probably work with it.
What BAS/controls platforms do you support?
BACnet/IP and BACnet MSTP (Johnson Controls Metasys, Tridium Niagara, Honeywell, Automated Logic, Siemens — anything that speaks BACnet). OPC UA for industrial systems. Modbus TCP/RTU for simpler equipment. If your BAS speaks a standard protocol, we can connect.
Do you need access to our network?
Yes — our edge device sits on your OT network to poll sensors directly. It's a small, dedicated device that only reads data (no control writes). It can operate fully air-gapped (no internet connection). We work with your IT/OT security team on network segmentation and access policies.
How is this different from SkySpark / Clockworks / CopperTree?
Those are platforms — you buy a license, tag your points, configure rules, and operate the tool yourself. We're a consultancy — we do the analysis, deliver findings, and maintain the diagnostics. We build physics-based models specific to your plant, not generic rule libraries. You get engineering judgment with the data, not just dashboards.
What data do you need to get started?
Ideally: P and IDs (piping and instrumentation diagrams), a BACnet or Modbus point list export, and equipment schedules. We can work with less — even a site survey and network discovery — but good documentation makes the onboarding faster and cheaper.
How long before you find something useful?
Typically 1–2 weeks after data collection starts. Some faults (stuck valves, simultaneous heating and cooling) are visible within days. Others (coil fouling, bearing degradation) require enough data to establish baselines and detect deviations.
What happens to our data?
Your data stays yours. At engagement end, we deliver all raw data and analysis results to you. We delete your data from our systems within 30 days of engagement end, unless you're on a continuous monitoring retainer. We don't sell, share, or use your data for anything other than your engagement.
Can you write to our control systems?
No. Our edge devices are read-only by design. We diagnose and recommend — we don't actuate. Control system modifications are done by your controls contractor based on our findings.
What if you don't find anything wrong?
It happens. Healthy buildings exist. You still get the plant model, the baseline data, and the validation that your systems are performing as designed — which has value for capital planning and insurance purposes. We don't manufacture problems to justify the engagement.
Do you work internationally?
Yes. Our tools work anywhere there are standard industrial protocols. Travel for international sites is at cost, agreed in advance. Remote monitoring works regardless of location after initial on-site setup.
I have a tight budget but a real problem. Can we still talk?
Yes. We offer discounted pilot engagements ($3,000–5,000) in exchange for permission to publish an anonymized case study. You get real diagnostics at a fraction of normal cost, we get a published case study. Book a discovery call and we'll scope it together.
How do I pay?
You receive a Stripe invoice link after we agree on scope. Pay by card or bank transfer (SEPA, ACH) — whatever your procurement process prefers. Wire transfer is available on request. Pilots are 50% upfront, 50% on delivery. No payment before we talk.