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BACnet Insight

BACnet Testing Laboratories: Maintaining the

Integrity of the BACnet Standard

BACnet-Prüflaboratorien: Wahrung der

Integrität des BACnet-Standards

The BTL Mark provides users with confidence that
a product has passed the industry standard BACnet
conformance tests conducted by a recognized,
independent testing organization.
Das BTL-Zeichen gibt den Benutzern die Gewissheit,
dass ein Produkt die branchenüblichen BACnet-
Konformitätstests bestanden hat, die von einer
anerkannten, unabhängigen Prüfstelle durchgeführt
wurden.
© BACnet Testing Laboratories
© BACnet International

According to a recent market study by Fortune Business Insights, the building automation systems market is recognizing the need to expand BACnet product testing.
forecasted to grow to $150.73 billion USD worldwide by 2032. In conjunction with industry expansion, BACnet market The BMA formed BACnet Testing Laboratories in June
adoption will continue to grow. 2000 and created the BTL Mark that is still used today.
Laut einer aktuellen Marktstudie von Fortune Business Insights wird der Markt für Gebäudeautomationssysteme bis In 2006, BACnet Interest Group North America and the
zum Jahr 2032 voraussichtlich auf 150,73 Milliarden US-Dollar weltweit anwachsen. In Verbindung mit der Branchen- BMA merged to form BACnet International.
expansion wird auch die BACnet-Marktakzeptanz weiter zunehmen.
Overview of BACnet Testing Laboratories
The latest BACnet Market Adoption Report drawn methods. The consortium eventually grew to include 22
from BSRIA’s Market Penetration of Communications companies. Today, BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL) continues to
Protocols concludes that BACnet remains the most support compliance testing and interoperability testing
widely specified protocol at a global level with 77% of “Steve’s presence and the availability of the NIST lab activities. BTL oversees the operation of the global
projects specifying BACnet, up from 64% in 2018. was key. We needed a place where people could come product certification program and administers the
together that was seen as neutral with the hardware and BTL Working Group (BTL-WG). BTL’s activities include
With the increased use of BACnet in HVAC, lighting, software needed to conduct the tests. NIST was the ideal developing and maintaining the BACnet product test
elevators, access controls, security and life safety, place for that,” stated the late Mike Newman, also known requirements and testing policies as well as maintaining
energy management, and operations data products, it as the “Father of BACnet.” a public listing of BTL-certified products.
is imperative that the protocol is correctly implemented,
particularly in a multi-vendor environment. In 1998, BACnet Interest Group North America was
formed. The following year, the BACnet Manufacturers © Steven Bushby
A Brief History of BACnet Testing and Certification Association (BMA) was established by manufacturers

Steven Bushby, Leader for the Mechanical and Controls
Group Engineering Laboratory (NIST) and one of the first © BACnet Testing Laboratories
BACnet pioneers, began voicing this concern regarding
correct BACnet implementation in 1991. Years before
BACnet became an ASHRAE Standard in 1995, there was
already an apparent need to test the implementation of
early BACnet products. In 1993, Bushby established the
NIST BACnet Interoperability Testing Consortium which
fostered a symbiotic environment allowing manufacturers Early days of BACnet product testing through the NIST
BACnet Interoperability Testing Consortium.
to build BACnet implementations and products and for Total BTL listungs by year. Anfänge der BACnet-Produkttests durch das NIST
Bushby’s team at NIST to develop testing software and Gesamt-BLT-Listings nach Jahr. BACnet Interoperability Testing Consortium.

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