Barber Colman

Barber-Colman is a manufacturer of pneumatic HVAC controls, including room thermostats, damper actuators, valve actuators, and electric-pneumatic relays, with a product history dating to 1894. Founded in Loves Park, Illinois, Barber-Colman built its reputation supplying pneumatic control components to commercial buildings across North America. The Barber-Colman brand, now maintained under Schneider Electric, covers the full range of field-level pneumatic controls needed to operate and service legacy building HVAC systems in hospitals, schools, office towers, and industrial facilities. Barber-Colman pneumatic thermostats are available in proportional and day/night changeover configurations. For building automation technicians and mechanical contractors maintaining pneumatic systems originally installed in commercial buildings from the 1970s through the 1990s, Barber-Colman replacement parts remain a primary sourcing category.

Product Lines

Pneumatic Room Thermostats (2211 / 2216 Series)

Barber-Colman 2211 Series pneumatic room thermostats are designed for proportional heating and cooling control in two-pipe commercial HVAC systems. The 2211 Series covers a 55 to 85 degree F setpoint range in direct-acting and reverse-acting configurations. The 2216 Series adds dual air-main capability, enabling day/night setpoint changeover in systems where occupied and unoccupied setpoints must shift automatically. Contractors working on seasonal changeover applications in schools, hotels, or offices will find the 2216 more applicable than the single-main 2211.

Pneumatic Damper Actuators (M574 / N800 Series)

Barber-Colman M574 Series pneumatic damper actuators provide modulating control for air-handling system dampers in VAV and constant-volume commercial HVAC applications. The M574 features a 4-inch stroke and an 8 to 13 psi spring range, making it a standard choice for zone dampers and VAV box actuator replacements. The N800 Series addresses heavier-duty damper applications requiring higher torque output. Both series accept proportional, floating, and two-position pneumatic signals.

Globe Control Valves (VB-7000 Series)

The Barber-Colman VB-7000 Series are two-way, normally closed globe valves engineered for hydronic heating and cooling coil control in commercial HVAC systems. Flow coefficients reach up to Cv 40. VB-7000 valves use equal-percentage flow characteristics for stable proportional control across a wide load range. The VB-7000 Series accepts Barber-Colman M574 and N800 pneumatic actuators for a factory-matched valve-actuator assembly.

Electric-Pneumatic Relays (2354 / 2368 Series)

Barber-Colman 2354 and 2368 Series relays are three-way, two-position electric-pneumatic relays rated for 11 VAC operation. Building automation technicians use these relays to switch pneumatic control circuits in response to electrical signals from DDC supervisory systems, enabling hybrid pneumatic/DDC integration without replacing existing field pneumatic devices.

Valve Repair Kits and Pneumatic Fittings

Barber-Colman offers diaphragm repair kits matched to the VB-7000 valve family, allowing in-field rebuilds of valve actuators without full replacement. The fittings line includes barbed plugs, restrictors, compression adapters, and male adapters compatible with standard 5/32-inch and 1/4-inch pneumatic tubing used in commercial building control circuits.

Why Contractors Specify Barber-Colman

Building automation technicians and service contractors specify Barber-Colman controls because the brand's pneumatic components are engineered as a matched system. A Barber-Colman thermostat, damper actuator, valve, and relay share compatible pressure ranges and mounting conventions, reducing commissioning time on replacement and renovation projects. The controls product line covers the core elements of a complete pneumatic control loop: thermostats, actuators, globe valves, relays, transducers, and repair kits. For contractors working on commercial buildings originally equipped with pneumatic systems, Barber-Colman is a consistent reference when sourcing drop-in replacement components. The VB-7000 globe valves are factory-matched to the M574 and N800 actuator families, so the contractor can source a complete control valve assembly from one manufacturer's catalog. Barber-Colman controls have been documented in building systems across hospitals, schools, and office buildings throughout North America.

How to Choose a Barber-Colman Product

The most important decision variable when specifying Barber-Colman pneumatic controls is identifying the existing system configuration: two-pipe or four-pipe, single-main or dual-main, direct-acting or reverse-acting. Starting with the thermostat series determines which signal range the actuator and valve must accept.

For thermostat selection, the 2211 Series covers fixed-setpoint proportional control on a single air main. The 2216 Series adds dual-main capability and is the right choice when seasonal or occupancy changeover is required. Both series operate on a standard 15 to 20 psi supply air pressure typical in commercial pneumatic systems.

For damper actuator selection, match the M574 or N800 Series to the damper size and torque requirement. The M574 4-inch stroke addresses most VAV box and single-zone damper replacements. Larger or stiffer dampers require the N800 Series higher torque output.

For valve selection, match the VB-7000 Series Cv rating to the coil's design flow rate. Use the coil manufacturer's published pressure-drop data to determine the correct Cv. The two-way, normally closed configuration is standard for heating and cooling coil control in fan-coil and air-handling unit applications.

For DDC integration projects, Barber-Colman pressure-to-current transducers convert existing pneumatic output signals to standard 4 to 20 mA inputs compatible with most DDC systems. Barber-Colman engineering documentation and cross-reference guides available through Schneider Electric provide current compatibility specifications for model-specific selections.

FAQs

Where are Barber-Colman controls manufactured?
Barber-Colman controls originated in Loves Park, Illinois, where the company was founded in 1894. The Barber-Colman brand is now maintained under Schneider Electric, and current manufacturing for the legacy controls line is managed within Schneider Electric's North American production network.

What warranty does Barber-Colman offer on pneumatic controls?
Warranty terms for the Barber-Colman controls line are managed by Schneider Electric.

What is the difference between the Barber-Colman 2211 Series and 2216 Series thermostats?
The difference between the 2211 Series and the 2216 Series is the air-main configuration. The 2211 Series operates on a single air main and covers fixed-setpoint proportional control in a two-pipe system. The 2216 Series accepts dual air mains and adds day/night setpoint changeover for applications requiring occupied and unoccupied setpoint shifts.

What size Barber-Colman actuator is right for a VAV box damper?
The Barber-Colman M574 Series, with a 4-inch stroke and 8 to 13 psi spring range, is designed for VAV box and single-zone damper applications. Larger multi-blade dampers or higher torque requirements move into the N800 Series range.

Are Barber-Colman VB-7000 Series valves compatible with other manufacturers' actuators?
VB-7000 Series globe valves are factory-matched to Barber-Colman M574 and N800 pneumatic actuators. Compatibility with other manufacturers' actuators depends on stroke length, thrust rating, and mounting configuration. For DDC retrofit projects, Barber-Colman pressure-to-current transducers can bridge existing pneumatic field devices to a DDC supervisory system without requiring valve replacement.

What flow capacity does the Barber-Colman VB-7000 Series cover?
The VB-7000 Series covers flow coefficients up to Cv 40, addressing the range of hydronic coil flow requirements in commercial heating and cooling applications. The equal-percentage flow characteristic supports stable proportional control across a wide load range in variable-flow hydronic systems.