ASHRAE Journal - November 2010 - 4

ASHRAE® JouRNAL
1791 Tullie Circle NE Atlanta, GA 30329-2305 Phone: 404-636-8400 Fax: 404-321-5478 ASHRAE Online: www.ashrae.org

COMMENTARY
BACnet Never Sleeps
®

Publisher W. Stephen Comstock EDITORIAL
Editor Fred Turner fturner@ashrae.org Managing Editor Sarah Foster sfoster@ashrae.org Associate Editor Rebecca Matyasovski rmatyasovski@ashrae.org Associate Editor Christopher Weems cweems@ashrae.org Associate Editor Charlotte Tubbs ctubbs@ashrae.org Copy Editor Jeri Eader jeader@ashrae.org

PUBLISHING SERVICES
Production Jayne Jackson Tracy Becker

The BACnet story is well known. In the early 1980s, Mike Newman, Fellow ASHRAE, saw the need for a non-proprietary or open protocol for building automation. His work led to the formation of a small group within ASHRAE that developed the BACnet standard, first published in 1995. The standard is now part of almost every new building worldwide, hundreds of manufacturers are making BACnet products that are certified in one of two BACnet testing labs, user groups have been formed in at least 10 countries, and BACnet is used on every continent, including Antarctica. More impressive is the growth in scope from HVAC to every computerized function related to building systems. It’s also fast becoming a key technology in the Smart Grid. “We wanted to take over the world but we had to start with HVAC,” Fred Turner says Newman today. “Seriously, we always had the idea that we would be able to support and work with other standards.” THIS EDITION includes the ninth annual BACnet Today supplement. It was started to create visibility for the standard and showcase its capabilities, value and versatility. The tradition continues this year with articles on how to use the protocol, how BACnet integrates with other protocols, how BACnet broadcasts messages, and a lot more. All help the users better understand the standard and its development. An example is an article on how the BACnet Testing Laboratories ensure interoperability, and create feedback that is constantly improving BACnet products and technology. “There is an effect achieved through verification that cannot be achieved by any other means,” says author Duffy O’Craven, manager of BACnet Testing Laboratories. WE ALSO have a full lineup of technical columns and articles. Most important is the article, “Why Enthalpy Economizers Don’t Work,” by Steve Taylor, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, and C. Hwakong Cheng, Member ASHRAE. This article argues that radical changes should be made to standard engineering practices and to ASHRAE Standards 90.1 and 189.1. In addition, Joe Lstiburek, Ph.D., P.Eng., Fellow ASHRAE, is back. He’ll help you see spray polyurethane foam in a whole new light. We also have columns on the net zero energy project, dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS) vs. heat recovery ventilation (HRV) for indoor air quality, and the value of building energy labels. WE HOPE you enjoy the edition, and we hope you check out BACnet Today. ASHRAE Standard 135 continues to grow with the increasing advances in technology. Recent examples are additions for wireless networks, XML data formats, physical access control and state-of-the-art network security. “Technology never stops and neither will advancements in BACnet,” says Dave Robin, Member ASHRAE, chair of the BACnet standing standards project committee. “BACnet is the standard that never sleeps.”

Publishing Services Manager David Soltis

ADVERTISING

Advertising Sales Manager Greg Martin gmartin@ashrae.org Advertising Production Coordinator Vanessa Johnson vjohnson@ashrae.org

CIRCULATION

Circulation Specialist David Soltis dsoltis@ashrae.org

ASHRAE OFFICERS
President Lynn G. Bellenger, P .E. President-Elect Ronald E. Jarnagin Treasurer Thomas E. Watson, P .E. Vice Presidents William P Bahnfleth, Ph.D., P . .E. Sheila J. Hayter, P .E. Ross D. Montgomery, P .E. T. David Underwood, P .Eng. Secretary & Executive Vice President Jeff H. Littleton

POLICY GROUP

2010 – 11 Chair Publications Committee John A. Clark, P .E. Washington Office washdc@ashrae.org
Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

ASHRAE Journal - November 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - November 2010