BACnet Bags Big Backers

Proponents of the BACnet open communications standard received some good news recently, as two major international HVAC and controls manufacturers announced they are committing to the protocol as their primary vehicle of interoperability.

ABB’s Low-Voltage Drives division announced BACnet is now available as a loadable option in the company’s all-new drive for HVAC, ACH550 DriveIT Low Voltage AC Drive series.

“It’s a watershed—a technology milestone: the final piece in the serial communications puzzle is built right into this new drive—the first VFD to offer BACnet without hardware additions,” says Jeff Miller, HVAC sales manager for ABB Inc., Automation Technologies, LV Drives, New Berlin, Wis.

Siemens Building Technologies, at their recent International Press Forum, also announced they will be implementing BACnet in all their systems. While already common in SBT’s U.S. products, Helmut Macht, SBT’s chief technology officer, says the protocol will also be used as part of their European line. “This will give us an open product that will allow customers to bring in third-party equipment.

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