Convia FAQs

Please select from this list of Frequently Asked Questions

What is Convia?
Convia, Inc. is a subsidiary of Herman Miller, Inc. and operates under the leadership of its own management team.

Innovated through the lens of environmentalism, a Convia-enabled design integrates power delivery and today’s technology with the ability to adapt to future change. Convia is a modular, programmable electrical and data infrastructure that delivers “plug-and-play” power to virtually anywhere within a space, without requiring the hardwiring of devices or switches. New or renovated spaces become programmable environments, responsive to the ever-changing needs of the organization and the ways in which people work.

Convia also allows for the integration of technology sub-systems in a space and integrates control of lighting, plug-loads, HVAC, audio/visual and security.

How long was this product in development?
The underlying research for Convia began in late 2001 under the direction of the Herman Miller Creative Office (HMCO). HMCO is charged with expanding Herman Miller’s commercial opportunity through research and design initiatives that extend beyond the company’s traditional furniture markets.

Is Convia the first system of its kind?
Convia is the first programmable infrastructure of its kind. Electrical systems have not notably changed in more than 60 years, but the ways in which people work have. Convia represents a next generation electrical and technology platform to accommodate the advancements made in the past six decades and in anticipation of further changes to come. With Convia, associating devices and electrical reconfigurations are performed in moments, providing dramatic cost savings and convenience.

What is “plug-and-play” power?
In the computer world, “plug-and-play” is a term meaning that hardware components can be plugged into a computer and configure themselves, thus eliminating the need for extensive installation or reconfiguration procedures. With “plug-and-play” power, objects or
devices such as light fixtures can be “plugged” into a smart connector and then instantly and wirelessly associated with another object, such as a switch, without changing hardwire configurations.

What are Convia programmable infrastructures?
Convia is a system that is built into a building’s basic structure (in a ceiling, access floor or movable wall system) that provides local control to tenants, and enables them to make electrical changes without opening walls and moving wires. Using a hand-held, two-button remote control Wand, users can also link these devices and controls with the push of a button, in mere moments. By simply pointing the Wand at two or more objects, the user can change their electrical association, allowing the system to be programmed to best fit a users’ changing space and needs.

With the Global Gateway, Convia bring the creation of smarter and more efficient buildings one step further. The Global Gateway allows all of a building’s subsystems to talk and react to one another. Users have the ability to control and program their Convia infrastructure, along with all of their other building subsystems, in one easy-to-use interface. Additionally, the Global Gateway tracks and records electrical usage by zone in a space along with technology usage.

How does Convia work?
Convia’s platform is comprised of two components: a modular power platform and a communication/control platform. The modular power platform contains electrical connectors, bringing power to any off-the-shelf electrical or electronic device, while simultaneously
creating a communications network between connected devices. Using the remote control Wand, devices can be plugged into the connectors to be “programmed” and grouped with each other via the communication and control network, regardless of what electrical circuit they are connected to.

Since users can install, upgrade or relocate any electrical device, switch or sensor using the platform and the capabilities of the “Wand,” the need for expensive, time-consuming and material-wasting electrical modifications and labor are eliminated.

Further, the Global Gateway allows users to control or program the infrastructure remotely and receive reports on the changes they’ve implemented. This information ensures ongoing optimization within your building and helps you plan for smarter spaces in the future.

How does the hand-held Wand work and what controls does it offer?
Users can simply “point and click” the two-button Wand at the switches or devices they want to move or create associations between. The Wand is hardwired and authorized by an electrical contractor to ensure that each Wand controls only specific zones. Therefore, facility managers have the option to make the system as available or as secure as they like, choosing what works best for them and their tenants. The Wand can be controlled solely by the facility manager, office manager, a specific department, or any combination of the three.

How long does it take to “virtually rewire” a space?
With the Convia platform in place, virtual rewiring takes mere moments.

What kinds of projects can be created with Convia?
Convia is ready for use in any commercial real estate project – both new facilities and renovations. The system can be used by, and offers benefits for, engineers, developers, architects, contractors, facility managers and tenants in commercial office, retail, hospitality and education buildings.

How can customers tell if this system is right for them?
Convia is ideal for customers that anticipate ongoing reconfiguration or renovation of space. For example, the system is perfect for a retail environment such as a clothing store where managers need to constantly adjust lighting around their displays. Convia is also ideal for a commercial building where space is leased to tenants. With this system, building owners can quickly and easily meet successive tenants’ needs to customize space without the expense of traditional electrical configurations. And in more traditional office applications Convia supports reconfiguration of interiors workstations through immediate, simple changes in lighting, devices, and switches, as well as easier adoption of energy saving sensors and controls.

Convia also makes sense for companies implementing energy management strategies. It allows for on-going commissioning to take place given the easy with which sensors can be added or moved at anytime during the lifecycle of the building and re-programmed to control any zone of light or power required. The zone level electrical usage information Convia provides allows companies to track the ROI of their energy initiatives.

Are there special technical requirements for products to be connected to the system? Do customers need to purchase any type of adaptor?
No. All standard electrical devices can be connected to Convia.

Is Convia UL-listed?
Yes. The UL (Underwriters Laboratory) is a leading, independent organization that tests electrical equipment for potential safety hazards. When a product, such as Convia, is UL-listed, it indicates that the device meets the organization’s requirements for safety,
such as fire or shock hazard.

Are products available for both open and closed ceilings?
Convia is available in two configurations: an open ceiling grid system and a modular system appropriate for closed ceiling spaces with air-handling.

The grid system is best suited for open ceilings. It is ideal for people who are looking for the ultimate in flexibility. In addition to the strengths of the programmable power and data infrastructure, it also enables place making with wall and ceiling components. Users can easily hang componentry from the grid to define and change their physical space as their needs change.

The air-handling system is compatible with HVAC systems and designed for closed or drop ceilings. A plenum is the space between the suspended ceiling and the main structure above.

The two Convia system configurations are fully compatible and can be used together to
accommodate different space layouts.

What are the differences between the open and closed ceiling Convia products? What are the benefits of each?
When developing these systems, Convia identified the two most common architectural environments. The benefits of each system depend on a client’s unique needs. The grid system is best suited for open ceilings. It is ideal for people who are looking for the ultimate in flexibility, with “plug and play” capability at 10 inch intervals throughout the grid. It also enables personalized place making. Compatible raised flooring with pre-installed Convia componentry is available from Tate, a major player in the raised floor systems market and an official raised floor partner.

The “closed ceiling” power system is more economical, yet slightly less flexible than the grid system. However, for those customers who have or prefer a closed ceiling, this option delivers superior performance and value compared to traditional control solutions. It is flexible in that the cables and power boxes (known as “smart connectors”) can be moved. When installing the system it can be configured to meet and anticipate each customer’s existing and future needs.

What is the cost of installing Convia?
Convia has an upfront installation cost that is far less than traditional control solutions while offering far more functionality.

Convia offers significant cost savings over time:

• Allows users to make upgrades themselves, eliminating the need for expensive electrical modifications and labor

• Enables users to easily install and associate occupancy, daylight, time and temperature sensors to save money on power, HVAC and lighting systems

• Helps qualify the building for federal energy tax credits

• Contributes LEED points

• May also help a building qualify for local municipality energy credits where applicable

• Enables far faster depreciation of the infrastructure investment and results in quicker ROI for owners since it is treated as personal property in tax accounting,

How much energy does the system save?
Convia allows users to more efficiently install occupancy, daylight, time and temperature sensors to save money on power, HVAC and lighting systems. Convia will help building owners and tenants reduce their operating costs over time through easier, more efficient and less costly adoption of energy saving controls and devices. One study conducted by the Weidt Group found that Convia helped reduce energy consumption by as much as 30 percent vs. the ASHRAE 90.1 2004 standard, and that it costs 32 percent less to implement a bundled energy strategy with Convia than with traditional electric. (NOTE: Traditional lighting represents 40 to 60 percent of typical energy consumption in a building).

Are Energy Tax Credits offered to building owners who install Convia?
Convia helps qualify a building for federal energy tax credits of up to $1.80 per sq. ft. of a building, of which $0.60 is associated with reduced lighting consumption. Convia may also help a building qualify for local municipality energy credits where applicable..

Does this contribute to LEED?
Convia may contribute up to 8 LEED points. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recommends that project leaders refer to their Rating System checklist for all possible points and contributions.

Will Convia impact the economics for commercial real estate firms associated with interior office construction?
Compared to traditional infrastructure, Convia is dramatically less expensive over the lifetime of the system. All or a portion of the resulting savings can be passed on to the tenant, or retained by the building owner/operator. The time savings is also a clear benefit to the owner, enabling faster turnaround time for marketing the property or tenant occupancy. The economic impact for commercial property developers and owners is extremely positive.

Who installs Convia, and what support is available?
Convia is ordinarily specified by MEP firms and installed by electrical contractors who receive specialized training at no cost from Convia. Our engineers work with the MEP or tenant to develop the Convia plan and then work with the electrical contractors to train them on installation. Additionally, a Convia engineer is present during the actual installation and handles the initial commissioning of the system once installation is complete.

Who do I contact for more information?
To connect with a sales representative for more information, just click here. »

Convia FAQs

Please select from this list of Frequently Asked Questions

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