450 Golden Gate Project: BACnet'sTM First Large-Scale Test.
450 Golden Gate Project: BACnet'sTM First Large-Scale
Test.
(9234 K)
Applebaum, M. A.; Bushby, S. T.
ASHRAE Journal, Vol. 40, No. 7, 23-24,26-30, July 1998.
Keywords:
BACnet; building control; energy management; control
system; communication protocol
Abstract:
The energy management system (EMS) industry has advanced
rapidly over the past 10 to 15 years. Today, EMS
technology provides building owners and designers with
incredible design and operational flexibility.
State-of-the-art EMS systems are characterized by
powerful PC workstations and intelligent field panels
that process complex control algorithms quickly and
efficiently. In spite of these advances, building
owners have been frustrated by the inability to bid
projects competitively and to integrate innovative
products from different manufacturers in ways that best
suit the unique needs of their facility. The adoption
of BACnetTM as the standard protocol for integrating
building control products has forever changed the
industry and opened the door to new innovation in
building control technology. Today, thousands of BACnet
systems are installed and can be found in at least
fourteen countries. Many of these are small-scale
projects where BACnet was used to integrate new HVAC
equipment with an existing proprietary building
automation system. Others are complete BACnet systems
that use products from only a single vendor. The 450
Golden Gate Project is unique because of its large size,
the involvement of multiple vendors and the inclusion of
more than just HVAC control. This project will
significantly impact the way the largest landlord in the
world - the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) -
will manage its buildings in the future. This article
provides an overview of the project design, the
demonstration team's experiences to date and
recommendations for engineers and building owners
considering BACnet in their future automation projects.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899