DALLAS - To help build its new state-of-the-art postal automation headquarters in the United States, Siemens Dematic relied on the expertise of four sister companies. Located on the northwest side of Arlington Ballpark, the 233,000-square-foot headquarters includes a three-story office building and adjoining R&D facility. Siemens expects the new facility to help it expand its position as a technology provider to the U.S. Postal Service.

Four Siemens U.S. operating companies provided technology to the project: Siemens Building Technologies Inc., Siemens Energy & Automation Inc., Siemens Information and Communication Networks Inc., and Osram Sylvania, a Siemens company.

The facility's energy management system is based on Siemens Building Technologies' APOGEE® building automation system, which also controls and monitors all of the HVAC equipment, as well as the lighting, fire alarm and detection system, and security systems. Siemens also manufactured many of the HVAC components used in the facility, such as the valves, actuators, thermostats, and sensors.

The postal automation headquarters is the first facility in the United States to feature Siemens Building Technologies' new SiPassâ„¢ security system. The new system includes more than 50 card readers, as well as badge-activated optical turnstiles, to provide for secure entry. A badging workstation processes all employees, allowing them access to various job-appropriate departments within the corporate campus. In addition, closed-circuit cameras monitor the facility's IT (information technology) areas, and the entire facility is remotely monitored by Siemens' Central Monitoring Stations in Dallas and Washington.

Siemens Building Technologies' XLS FireFinder® is at the heart of the facility's fire alarm and fire detection system. A Siemens FM200 Extinguishing System also was installed.

Siemens Information and Communication Networks provided a voice-over IP (Internet Protocol) phone system to the facility. Siemens Energy & Automation supplied the building's electrical distribution and control equipment, including transformers, motor controls, switchgear, and circuit breaker panels. Osram Sylvania contributed lighting and lighting control systems.

Publication date: 03/29/2004