Introduction on BACnet protocol

The BACnet stands for “Building Automation and Control Networks”.It is a communication protocol which is used for the services used by building automation devices to communicate with each other and also with building control systems. The BACnet protocol specifies that how the data will move from one BACnet device to another, just like the other protocols, it specifies both network details and the services

No special chip or any electronic device is needed in order to implement the BACnet protocol. In previous days building automation used the proprietary networks, and there was the problem that instruments from different manufacturers are not able to communicate with each other due to miscommunication.

So it was the problem for the owners that they have to forcefully rely on the same manufacturer.

Today’s building automation is quite modern, it provides the number of services like heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC), lighting, life safety systems, fire system and security.

There are many advantages of BACnet to connect all the building facilities by any control networks. Closed network systems create major problem to integrate the building services with flexibility and expandability.

This problem is resolved by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) by developing BACnet protocol, this is the only communication protocol which specifically designed to fulfill the requirements of building automation and control networks.

BACnet consist a bunch of standard objects that represent important information about the device and its operations that can be exchanged between others devices.  

BACnet was developed by ASHRAE which is American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, and now it is accepted by both ANSI and ISO standards, and it is still governed by ASHRAE, and still, the committee of ASHRAE is working on it for enhancement purpose.

BACnet protocol gives the freedom to the building owner to choose any BACnet enable device from any vendor, it means the owner does not need to tie with any particular manufacturer, as BACnet gives the interoperability and interchangeability facilities.

 Any BACnet device consists the standard objects that define the device very clearly like the device id, it's working, and many more. Each object has different properties, and each object has unique properties like present value, analog value, analog input etc. 

BACnet devices provide the services to other devices on the same or different network, which can vary and it is based on the complexity of the devices.  BACNET devices are differentiated on the basis of profiles which is based on the services that are provided by devices.  Device profiles can vary one simple Smart Sensor to vast building Controller. Due to following points, BACnet became more popular in building automation.