A Simple Hot Water Mixing Solution for a Minnesota High School

Brainerd, MN, is the largest city in central Minnesota, and Brainerd H.S. serves four communities in the area. A major remodeling and new construction program offered an opportunity to upgrade the water mixing system for the high school campus to a digital system. The engineering firm specifying the job wanted a system that was simple, reliable, and ready to use “out of the box.”

Obernel Engineering turned to the IntelliStation to meet the school’s hot water needs. With the IntelliStation, water in the school’s large storage tanks can be maintained at 140 degrees F to help mitigate issues with Legionella. The water temperature can then be lowered with the IntelliStation-controlled mixing valves to serve the hot water needs in the school cafeteria, lavatories, and other campus locations.

Another key benefit that the engineering team liked: the IntelliStation came all piped and did not require factory pre-programming, a laptop, or special software for commissioning or adjusting. The control panel’s 3.5-inch full-color LED touchscreen interface allows authorized staff to easily select the desired hot water temperature and control and monitor the water distribution system.

The system was easily installed in summer 2020 and provides hot water at just the right temperatures throughout the high school. As noted by the Obernel engineer who helped specify the job, the system also allows remote monitoring. Authorized staff can monitor and adjust the IntelliStation without needing to be physically present. The IntelliStation has proven to be simple, reliable, and convenient to use.