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In this blog post, we look at how Andy Dines, Digital Product Developer, has helped to shape the way we use selection and scheduling software.
Nearly 40 years ago, Waterloo, like many companies, began embracing computer server technology, including systems such as the VAX mainframe, to support and manage its business operations.
Even before the widespread adoption of PCs and Windows, the potential of computing power on the technical side was clear, and I developed the company’s first selection and scheduling software.
From the outset, these tools reduced the time and effort required to produce technical selections and supporting documentation. That core benefit hasn’t changed, only the scale and sophistication.
What is a Selection Tool?
Today, selection tools range from Excel-based formulas that size a diffuser in seconds, to quick selection spreadsheets designed for spot checking and guideline selections, with those new to the industry in mind also, providing clear, concise instructions on how to select the products.
https://www.swegon.com/uk/support/software/waterloo-quick-selection-tool/
Mid-level selection tools, integrated into intelligent technical schedules, can validate entire projects, flagging issues such as excessive noise or pressure across hundreds of items instantly. Ideal for all stages of the project design, allowing the same schedules to be used through the project’s lifespan, from specification, to tendering, to delivery.
At the highest level, platforms such as Swegon Room Unit Design (RUD) provide comprehensive, web-based design environments. These systems go beyond product selection, offering full room-level analysis, system interaction, and even visualisation of air movement within a space.
https://www.swegon.com/uk/support/software/room-unit-design/
Why Do Selection Tools Matter?
Selection tools deliver three key advantages: speed, reliability, and repeatability.
Speed
Manual selection is slow. Even a straightforward product can take several minutes to verify against datasheets. Selection tools reduce this to seconds.
Scale that across a project with hundreds of terminals, and the time savings become substantial. What once took days can now be completed in hours.
Reliability
Once validated, a selection tool removes much of the risk associated with manual calculation and interpretation. It eliminates errors caused by oversight, time pressure, or inconsistent application of data.
Provided the input criteria are correct, the output will be dependable.
Repeatability
Consistency is critical in engineering. Selection tools ensure that the same inputs always produce the same outputs, regardless of who is carrying out the work.
This not only improves internal quality but also builds confidence with clients, as designs remain consistent across projects and teams.
Evolving Expectations
As projects have become more complex, so too have the expectations placed on engineers and manufacturers. It is no longer enough to simply select a product that meets airflow requirements. Considerations such as acoustic comfort, energy efficiency, coordination with other building systems, and increasingly, sustainability targets, all play a role in the selection process.
Selection tools have evolved to reflect this shift. Modern tools are capable of balancing multiple performance criteria simultaneously, allowing designers to make informed decisions that account for the full operating context rather than isolated data points. This is particularly important in today’s building environments, where system interactions can have a significant impact on overall performance.
Another key development is the ability to standardise best practice. By embedding proven design rules and performance limits within a tool, organisations can ensure that every project benefits from accumulated knowledge and experience. This reduces reliance on individual interpretation and helps maintain a consistent level of quality across teams and projects.
In this sense, selection tools are not just about efficiency, but about capturing expertise and making it accessible. They allow both experienced engineers and those newer to the industry to work with greater confidence, knowing that the underlying logic has been developed, tested, and refined over time.
The Bigger Picture
Selection tools are no longer just time-saving aids. They are essential engineering resources that improve accuracy, standardise design approaches, and allow engineers to focus on solving problems rather than manually processing data.
In an industry where performance, compliance, and efficiency are constantly under scrutiny, relying solely on manual methods is becoming increasingly difficult to justify.
