How are consulting engineers going to be affected by the introduction of the BACnet protocol?
There is a strong need for professionals who can thoughtfully recommend products that can integrate seamlessly into BACnet systems. Engineers need to further educate themselves regarding BACnet, BACnet products and networks. It is important to follow BACnet prerequisite when specifying a BACnet system. It’s not enough to say “system should be BACnet compliant.” As the developer of the BACnet protocol, ASHRAE is the definitive source for BACnet educational materials. As facility environmental controls are further integrated with access/security, transport systems, fire and others, engineers will be called upon for their knowledge of BACnet. Because the same protocol qualifications must be met by each manufacturer, pricing for BACnet devices will be competitive. This bodes well for any engineer desiring to bring together a complete system, with as many features as possible, for the lowest price. BACnet systems are by design flexible and expandable. Fewer proprietary systems will be seen
