BACnet Protocol

BACnet is a primary protocol used in today’s open protocol building automation systems. A BACnet gateway is important to link legacy and proprietary devices to the BACnet network. BACnet gateways by FieldServer have been designed for many building devices including fire alarm control panels, HVAC equipment, life safety, energy management and other systems.

BACnet is "a data communication protocol for building automation and control networks." A data communication protocol, BACnet-135-2010, is a set of rules developed by the BACnet committee at ASHRAE governing the exchange of data over a computer network. BACnet-135 spells out what is required to conform to the protocol.

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ProtoCessor BACnet gateways are available for the four different options for BACnet, each of which fills a particular niche in terms of the price/performance tradeoff.

• BACnet Ethernet - the fastest at 10 Mbps with 100 Mbps also recently available. ("Mbps" stands for "millions of bits per second.") Ethernet is also likely to be the most expensive in terms of cost per device. BACnet Ethernet is for dedicated BACnet lines.
• BACnet TCP (BACnet/IP) – also 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps, and it can run on a non-dedicated Ethernet line.
• BACnet MS/TP (master-slave/token-passing) - network designed to run at speeds of 1 Mbps or less over twisted pair wiring (RS-485). All of these networks are examples of "local area networks" or LANs.
• BACnet PTP - also defines a dial-up or "point-to-point" protocol for use over phone lines or hardwired RS-232 connections.

A key point is that BACnet messages can, in principle, be transported by any network technology, if and when it becomes cost-effective to do so and FieldServer Technologies has the drivers available for all forms of BACnet.

BTL Marked - The ProtoCessor FFP 485 BACnet gateway, ProtoCessor/ProtoCarrier FPC-CD2 BACnet gateway and the ProtoNode RER BACnet gateway are all BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL) Certified. ProtoCessor and FieldServer were the first gateways to pass BTL tests. Due to FieldServer Technologies' efforts with the BACnet Testing Laboratory, OEM's incorporating ProtoCessor products into their device, can now achieve BTL Certification for their product with reduced BTL Testing.

BACnet.org – The official website of ASHRAE SSPC 135 providing the latest information on BACnet

BACnet International - An organization that encourages the successful use of BACnet in building automation and control systems through interoperability.

Site of the organization that developed BACnet, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.