What is BACnet?
BACnet is an industry standard communication protocol for Building Automation and Control Networks system designed by American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). BACnet infrastructure is modeled after Open Systems Interconnections OSI 7-layers described in Chapter 4. The difference is that BACnet infrastructure uses only layers 1, 2, 3, and 7 of OSI layers. Table 5-2 graphically illustrates this infrastructure. See Chapter 5 for details.
BACnet is a Data Communications Protocol for Building Automation and Control Networks. BACnet International is an organization that encourages the successful use of BACnet in building automation and control systems. Developed under the auspices of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), BACnet is an American national standard, a European standard, a national standard in more than 30 countries, and an ISO global standard. BACnet International reached an agreement to establish a test lab for BACnet products at SoftDEL Systems.
BACnet stands for Building Automation Control network. A data communication protocol developed by ASHRAE, BACnet is known as “ANSI/ASHRAE standard 135-2001” and now also as the international standard “ISO 16484-5.” Its purpose is to standardize communications between building automation devices from different manufacturers, allowing data to be shared and equipment to work together easily. • Why was the BACnet protocol developed? ASHRAE realized that automation systems for buildings needed a protocol standard. Because of the proprietary nature of this industry, existing systems for the most part do not permit interconnection between different manufacturers’ equipment. In 1987, ASHRAE undertook the challenge to develop and put forth a standard set of rules (BACnet) governing communication between various devices used in building control systems. Now that BACnet is the accepted standard by ANSI and ASHRAE, and is currently being considered for adoption internationally, the foundation has
