- Author
- Bushby, S. T.
- Title
- BACnet(TM): A Standard Communication Infrastructure for Intelligent Buildings.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Journal
- Automation in Construction, Vol. 6, 529-540, 1997
- Keywords
- intelligent buildings | building automation | control network | building technology | communication protocol | direct digital control | energy management | control systems
- Identifiers
- Building Automation and Control networks (BACnet)
- Abstract
- Intelligent buildings require integration of a variety of computer-based automation and control system products that are usually made by different manufacturers. The exchange of information among these devices is critical to the successful operation of the building systems. Proprietary approaches to providing this communication have created great challenges for system integrators and hampered the development of intelligent building technology. Even though digital automation and control technology has been widely available for more than a decade and islands of automation are common, intelligent buildings with integrated building services are still more of a promise than a reality. BACnet is a standard communication protocol for building automation and control networks developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE, Standard 135-1995; BACnet - A DataCommunication Protocol for Building Automation and Control Networks. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 1995). BACnet provides the communication infrastructure needed to integrate products made by different vendors and to integrate building services that are now independent. This paper describes the main features of the BACnet protocol and early experience implementing it.