BACnet Middle East
0211 / 10 Beautiful Holiday Villa Hotel in Madina Installs BACnet System 6
Modern New Shopping Mall Al-Othaim in Riyadh 13
Focus on Building Applications – An Introduction to BACnet-Routing 17
Routing Between the Three MostImportant BACnet Layers 22
Journal
Dubai, World Trade Center, November 22 – 25, 2010
ISSN 2190-944Xwww.bacnetjournal.org
With the DESIGO™ building automation system, you can significantly reduce energy consumption while at the same time optimize comfort.
The system’s high control quality reduces energy consumption and ensures an especially pleasant room climate. Innovative energy saving functions allow you to sustainably preserve resources and therefore to lower costs. And an intelligent, easy-to-operate energy management system identifies saving potentials for all integrated building systems. For you, that means a system that really pays off and that can be used for all applications and expanded as needed – thanks to its high degree of flexibility. For more information, please visit www.siemens.com/desigo
Answers for infrastructure.
How can I improve the energy efficiency and the comfort level at the same time?
Pictures used show the new court house in Gent, designed in 2007 by the architects Stéphane Beel and Lieven Achtergael from Beel-Achtergael architecten F.V and by Technum.
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/10 3
ContentsEditorialNotes
BACnet Middle East Journal
The BACnet Middle East Journal is the Middle East magazine for building automation based on BACnet technology. Experts, practitioners and professionals show the way in applying and developing the BACnet standard – from building automation trends to devices and application projects; from qualification and training to testing and certification; from who’s who in the BACnet community to useful information on events and publications. Special attention is given to members and activities of the BACnet Interest Group Middle East (BIGME).
DistributionThis Journal can be ordered free of charge by partners, members, media representatives and friends of the BACnet Interest Group Middle East (BIGME). Order the BACnet Middle East Journal by EMail from [email protected]
Online distribution The BACnet Middle East Journal is initially posted as a Portable Document Format (PDF)File to www.bacnetjournal.org
EditorBACnet Interest Group Middle East (BIGME)c/oVijay KumarAutomatedLogic CorporationPhone: +971506553415Fax: +97148816618Email: [email protected]
Editorial Office MarDirect Marketing Direct GbRBruno Kloubert (Editor in chief),Phone: +492 3142 78 67 31Email: [email protected]
AdvertisingMarDirect Marketing Direct GbRBritta von HeldenPhone: +492 3156 77 72 69Fax: +492 3142 78 67 32Email: [email protected]
Picture creditsBIGME, MarDirect and specified com panies
Copyright© BIGME – Further editorial use of articles in the BACnet Middle East Journal is encouraged (!) with reference to the source. Please send a specimen copy to the editor, or if published online, send the URL per mail to [email protected]
BACnet® is a registered trademark of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE)
The BACnet Middle East Journal and all of the following BACnet Journals can be downloaded from www.bacnetjournal.org:
� BACnet China Journal � BACnet Europe Journal � BACnet France Journal � BACnet Italy Journal � BACnet International Journal
Cover picture
Promenade at Dubai Marina. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
5 BACnet – Doing its Part in the Drive for Sustainable Environments
Solutions
6 BACnet systems installed in Saudi Arabia Holiday Villa Hotel
8 Hanover Airport with BACnet®-Certified Automation System
11 Achmea Centraal Beheer: Revitalization and Redevelopment with Future Oriented Technology
13 Shopping Mall Al-Othaim, Riyadh
14 BACnet Unlocks Full Interoperability, Total Scalability and Real Vendor Independence
BACnet Insight
17 Focus on Building Applications – An Introduction to BACnet-Routing
Products
19 Keep in Touch with the New Thermokon Thanos
20 Alert: To Inform and Alert the Right People, at the Right Time, in the Right Place with the Right Information
21 Universal Gateway for BMS Standard Protocols
22 Universal BACnet-Router
BACnet Interest Group
23 Calender of BACnet Events
BACnet Middle East
0211/10 Beautiful Holiday Villa Hotel in Madina installs BACnet system 6
Modern New Shopping Mall Al-Othaim in Riyadh 13
Focus on Building Applications – An Introduction to BACnet-Routing 17
Routing Between the Three MostImportant BACnet Layers 22
Journal
Dubai, World Trade Center,November 22 – 25, 2010
ISSN 2190-944X
Free Subscription Request
There are 3 ways to receive a free subscription to the BACnet Middle East Journal.
1. Order by simple E-mail to [email protected]
2. Cut out or copy this form, complete it and mail it to:MarDirectDroste-Hülshof -Str. 144141 Dortmund Germany
3. Complete the form and fax it to FAX No +49 231 42 78 67 32
Name:
Company/Organization:
Address:
Postal Code:
City/State/Country:
E-mail:
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/10 5
Dear Reader,
This second edition of BACnet Middle East Journal comes to you at a time when the construction industry is shifting gears across the region. As we all know not all countries were equally affected by the recent recession. Nations fortunate enough to come through unscathed are witnessing strong new construction activity, whereas those that were impacted are having to come up with new strategies to stay in the race for economic superiority.
Whether new construction or retro fit, one cannot get away from the reality of multivendor environments as building owners and contractors continuously strive for economical and bestofbreed solutions in this era of austerity. This approach is naturally resulting in a multitude of product brands that are using a variety of communication protocols within any given project.
BACnet as a systems integration technology is being successfully deployed in both scenarios. In new construction, BACnet products are being installed right at the field or zone level on HVAC and Electrical equipment. In retrofit buildings, a variety of BACnet gateways are allowing legacy products to become part of a new overarching automation system that uses BACnet at the building’s IP layer.
BACnet is also doing its part in the drive for sustainable environments by nations across the region. By facilitating the integration of various utilities into a larger energy management system, BACnet is becoming a technology of choice to deliver sustainable ideals across the buildings industry.
To a large extent all this was possible due to product manufacturers that want to offer a choice to their customers by getting away from monopolistic or proprietary technologies. This is no mean feat – it calls for immense resolve to deliver ultimate customer satisfaction to be able to adopt open standards such as BACnet. We salute these valiant leaders of our industry.
Happy reading of the Second BACnet Middle East Journal!
BACnet – Doing its Part in the Drive for Sustainable Environments
Vijay KumarVice-presidentBACnet Interest Group – Middle East (BIG-ME)[email protected]
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/106
The hotel is equipped with Building Management Systems (BMS) via BACnet. The systems included are room management systems for controlling systems inside a typical room and general BMS for the complete building solutions like chillers, air handling units and fans. In addition it is also equipped with control solutions for lobby areas and restaurants.
Complete solution packageDELTA Controls with a solution of BACnet protocol was chosen in this project. The system implemented is the first of its kind in the Madina Region. The system was divided into three sections as in the following.
Room management systemEach room has an individual 7 inch touch screen for easy access for the hotel guests. The
BACnet Systems Installed in Saudi Arabia Holiday Villa Hotel
Holiday Villa Hotel is a 350 room five star hotel situated in the central area of the Holy Prophets Mosque in Madina Al-Munawwara opened in August 2010. The hotel is situated at easy access points from the Mosque for the thousands of pilgrims coming to the holy city. The hotel was built on an area of 1540 m² and consists of 14 floors in addition to a mezzanine; ground and 3 basements floors including 350 rooms in addition to 82 trading shops.
touch screen is programmed with graphics which makes it a user friendly application for the users. The customer can control the following system in a single room
� Lighting systems � Fan coil unit � Blind system � “Don’t disturb” and
“Make up room” messages
� Remote open for the main door
In addition, the end users can also control these systems through the designated push buttons, switching through the controllers. The controllers used are DELTA Application Controller via BACnet. The interface between the controller and touch screen is through the Ethernet, and each controller is connected through the typical MS / TP network. This has the advantage of
Room management systems for controlling systems inside a typical room, and general BMS for the complete building ensure easy operating, comfort and energy saving.
Solutions
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/10
Solutions
7
being able to control these systems from the main control room and also in the main reception of the hotel, so that when a guest checks in, the room can be made ready from the reception before the guest enters the room. Also the alarms for the “Don’t disturb” system will go directly to the reception and the room service department for easy maintenance service. To save energy, many of the facilities connected to the hotel electrical system such as lighting, air conditioning etc. are operated by key card activated switches.
Control solutions for common areasThe system also provides a solution for the operating and monitoring of lighting and fan coil units on the common area floors. The hotel consists of 14 floors, restaurant floor, lobby and four basements. The air conditioning systems for all the floors are controlled using DELTA DAC series controllers running via the BACnet network. This ensures easy operating, controlling and monitoring
for the maintenance team in the hotel.
General building management systemOur system also covers the monitoring for the general BMS in the project. This includes status, temperature, and flow of chilled water system, air flow for air handling units and exhaust fans. In addition the system also includes temperature, flow monitoring for all the mechanical pumps in the projects, and status operation for elevators and flow monitoring for water and diesel tanks.
The total number of points used in the project is as follows.
For room management system: 4900 pointsFor common areas: 530 pointsFor general BMS: 224 pointsAll the controllers used for the project are DELTA DAC series controllers, running via MS / TP network and connected to DELTA SYSTEM MANAGERS (DSM) and then finally DELTA ORCAview operator workstation for the viewing
for the end customers. This is running via typical BACnet topology.
The end users are able to access all these points from one location and able to monitor and control the options. They are able to print a report on a weekly basis for all the events in the system.
The Holiday Villa Hotel in Madina is truly standing apart from other hotels in Madina for its innovative and advanced features, which is the first of its kind in this region. Thanks to DELTA Controls and
BACnet’s advanced options, the hotel is a truly a treat for the thousands of pilgrims visiting the place every year.
Ibrahim Al-ArifiGeneral ManagerRaissy Control Systems. [email protected]
Holiday Villa Hotel in Madina in Saudi Arabia installed BACnet systems.
A colour touch screen display provides a simple graphical interface which allows the guest to easily adjust comfort, lighting and other room settings directly from their bedside.
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/10
Solutions
8
The company Flughafen HannoverLangenhagen GmbH took the decision to install a BMS fit for future needs to manage and control all facilities like i.e. HEVAC, cooling, sanitation,
electrical, combined heat and power, boiler house, aircraft deicing and ground filter systems. At the same time they started the planning for the new Airport Plaza shopping center. It was
Hanover Airport with BACnet-Certified Automation System
Rising energy prices and a change in environmental awareness call for the ecological, energy saving operation of buildings and property. For this, an essential precondition is intelligent building management with fully integrated building automation across all plant groups. In practice, however, the solutions encountered are vendor-specific islands with different communications protocols that can only be tied up to a central management system with great difficulty. These «old woes» of the sector are increasingly unaffordable and unmanageable. Today, the demand is for integrated concepts that, with one click, can give operators an overview of all plant in a building or property. An example is BACnet, the vendor-neutral protocol standard for unified communication across different plant groups. There is a particular challenge if BACnet-compatible devices only gradually come into use and if old, proprietary systems have to be tied into a central BMS within a defined period. The following article describes how such a challenge was successfully overcome in building automation and management technology at Hanover Airport.
the right moment to specify the entire project around an open BMS. Therefore, the decision to go for an open and recognized communication standard like BACnet was obvious.
In search of BACnet- compatible controllersThe aim was to build the new Airport Plaza shopping centre with BACnetcompatible automation stations and simultaneously integrate preexisting plant groups within the new BACnet. The first step was to find a suitable controller. This involved a tender call and multistage qualification process to determine the adequate suppliers for the management and process levels. To check that the BACnetcompatible controllers actually delivered in practice what they promised in theory, four suppliers were invited to an onsite test setup. All stations were programmed with a roomair system
with heating function. Compulsory functions included: starting after return of mains power, operating time adjustment via a time program, switchover function via management level, temperature control, fire alarms, pump and fan control with Vbelt watchdog and filter monitoring, frost startup and air/water frost protection.
The automation stations Saia®PCD3 from SaiaBurgess fulfilled all specifications to customers’ entire satisfaction and were selected for the project. In addition, users liked the system’s easy, intuitive operability and were won over by its very comprehensive BACnet implementation, which far exceeds the standard and is unique in the market. The entire Saia®PCD automation system family is BTL certified and compliant to BACnet Building Controllers (BBC) according to
In the new Airport Plaza shopping centre at Hannover-Langenhagen Airport, all building management plant groups are controlled by BACnet®-compatible automation stations of the Saia®PCD3 type.
Terrasse at Hanover Airport.
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/10
Solutions
9
ANSI / ASHRAE 1352004 for open, crossplant building automation, plus 23 data objects in line with the ANSI / ASHRAE 1352004 standard for data exchange, BACnet programs and BACnet services. Saia®PCDs include support for numerous interfaces, an integral web server and the ability to add extra IT memory modules. Last but not least, the family’s modular structure makes for flexibility in adapting to individual solutions. Thanks to the automation library DDCSuite Version 2.0, all the necessary BACnet objects for an application are generated automatically.
Finding a suitable management systemEven with the use of BACnet in the airport’s new building, a central management system is necessary to monitor and control both new and existing installations. Implementation of the management level was awarded to INGA after it too had proved itself against four competitors. This involved integrating the test setups into the management system
and then demonstrating numerous compulsory func tions: e.g. device and network management, data sharing between substations, eventoriented alarm forwarding, scheduling, at least six priority levels for messages, trend plotting in fiveminute increments, plus implementation of a defined, 30character address key. INGA won approval with its economical proposal both for integration and any subsequent work arising. Additional advantages were the modern control concept based on web technology, the use of standard tools for operation and maintenance, and the excellently matched INGAIBS management soft ware.
The present meets the futureAt the start of this upgrade to the new communications standard there were barely 70 automation stations from a variety of manufacturers in the entire premises. One way of integrating these stations into BACnet was to retrofit appropriate interfaces. However, that would involve much work and considerable
costs. A crucial advantage of the vendorneutral INGAIBS management software and Saia®PCD automation system used at Hanover Airport is the capacity for simultaneous connection of different automation devices and bus systems from various manufacturers on a uniform user interface. Thanks to an integral interface, it is possible to integrate BACnet objects, new PCD3 controllers, and conventional automation stations directly.
The management system now connects 73 automation stations and a total of 866 installations, 136 different system images have been implemented and seven operator positions created. The complete system now manages over 17,000 data points. This means that the management software also offers a good solution for systems that are being upgraded to BACnet step by step.The example described here shows that this will also work in practice. For some time now, new BACnetcompatible Saia®PCD3 controllers to
gether with preexisting automation sta tions from various manufacturers have been reliably monitored by a central process ma nagement system. At Hanover Airport, a futureproof solution is in use that can easily be expanded and adapted to every new requirement.
Oliver Greuneoliver.greune@ saia-burgess.comProduct ManagerSaia-Burgess Controls AG
Schmatic of air conditioning and ventilation system
Bringing intelligent buildings to life. Watch the video at www.deltacontrols.com/entelisystem
™
enteliSYSTEM Energy | Environment | Intelligence | Integration
™
What if... a building could think?
Visit us at the BIG5 Exhibition in Dubai Nov 22-25, Booth #2B75 – Canadian Pavilion Hall 2
Solutions
The present office has 4 towers, each with 5 floors. The towers are linked to each other by a crossshaped atrium and offer enough space for more than 2,500 employees. In the middle of the 1990s the then called
Centraal Beheer moved into the almost 27,000m² building.
At that time the building had constructional and mechanical novelties installed in order to optimize
Achmea Centraal Beheer: Revitalization and Redevelopment with Future Oriented Technology
At the end of the Veluwe nature reserve in the middle of the Netherlands lies the town of Apeldoorn. Famous for Paleis Het Loo, one of the Dutch royal family’s residences, but also known for accommodating one of the largest branches of the Dutch insurance giant, Achmea.
the use of energy needed for heating and cooling. In 2008 the need arose to replace the oldfashioned lighting control system. In 2009 after some research and studies it was decided to procure an integral
system for controlling the lighting and the air conditioning. Important issues were the need to arrange spaces freely and achieve effective flexibility for internal movement, and the opportunity to integrate
The Centraal Beheer office towers include the Achmea, one of the largest branches of the Dutch insurance giants.
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11 / 10 11
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/1012
the buildingrelated facilities and links to other buildings.
Opportunities for linking other buildings and the integration of buildingrelated provisions were important issues for Achmea because of the intended expansion of the headquarters into a campuscomplex of 6 buildings.
After a selection procedure, Achmea chose the openness of BACnet for both the revitalisation of the present building and the construction of the new Campus. To achieve the highest performance and to realise the most forwardlooking communications, Ethernet (IP) was chosen as the information carrier for the building automation, with BACnet Building Controller (BBC) as deviceprofile.
Present officesThe new BACnet / IP station for local automation ‘ecos’
from the EYmodulo 5 family from SAUTER has been used for the postregulation. The freely programmable functionality for linking up the HFlighting, controlling the sun blinds and regulating the climate is standardly available on the station. The combination, along with the fact that the regulator is BTLcertified in accordance with the highest BACnet device profile BBC, make the ecos the perfect solution for giving form to Achmea’s requirements.
The phased rebuilding of the floors was a logistic process planned in great detail beforehand. The local station regulates and controls the electrical and mechanical installations on two constructional plans at the same time. This means that the number of places where a secondary automation station is fitted is halved, but that each plan can be regulated separately; a useful incidental that
improves the flexible arrangement of space. The completely pluggable version of the mounting plate means a short installation time, resulting in the inconvenience to the building users being kept to a minimum.
Several data centres are housed in the building. Eventually the function of the data centres will elapse owing to the new building. The decision to keep the data centres in the building for longer fell even before the revitalisation of the postregulation was commenced. The automation of the primary installations must also be replaced to comply with the newest demands. The choice of BACnet / IP, which had already been made for the local automation, gave the data centres the advantage of relatively easy realisation of redundancy of the primary automation and communications. The data centres and other primary installations were rebuilt within a few weekends via a strict protocol, in which FAT and SAT were part of the automation.
New CampusThe work on the present offices is being wound up at the moment. In the meantime work has started on building 5 adjacent buildings which will form the Achmea Campus in a few years time; an office conglomerate of more than 85,000 m2. BACnet / IP will also be the
communicationplatform for the technical automation for these buildings. And the following applies, just as for the BACnetprotocol itself: ‘to be continued..’
Numbers for the revitalised offices
Primary automation: > 10 control cabinets
Secondary automation: > 400 automation stations
Number of HFtubes: > 5,000
Controls for cooling and heating valves: > 1,600
Wietse HutManager branch office Meppel [email protected]
The towers are linked to each other by a cross-shaped atrium and offer enough space for more than 2,500 employees.
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/10 13
AlOthaim is the most important retail chain in Saudi Arabia. AlOthaim operates large, magnificent shopping malls with supermarkets, brand outlets for textiles, groceries and attractive entertainment offerings.
Successful for more than 50 years, AlOthaim plans further expansion. One of
their newest malls is the AlOthaim shopping mall to the north of Riyadh, capital of the kingdom and home to 4.6 million people.
High performance building management Having a modern, high performance building management system was very important for the operators. Owners and renters need
Shopping Mall Al-Othaim, Riyadh
Building Automation Kieback&Peter monitors and controls the climate in a large shopping mall in Riyadh. The building management with BACnet provides high transparency, efficiency and ease of use. A good shopping environment with BACnet.
ed the opportunity to centrally monitor and control the property. Access to the building management system’s data also needed to be possible via a minicomputer such as an UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) and other systems. The building automation solution was implemented by the Kieback&Peter re presentative in the Middle East together with Al
Mashrik Technology & Controls, and Kieback&Peter’s partner in Saudi Arabia.
Comfortable climate with technolon® The climate in the mall is monitored and regulated through the technolon®
system from Kieback&Peter. More than 270 FanCoils always provide for agreeable and comfortable conditions
One of the newest shopping malls with Kieback&Peter monitors.
Solutions
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/10
Solutions
14
despite the extreme outdoor temperatures of more than 55 °C.
The building automation is monitored and operated via the NeutrinoGLT building management system from Kieback&Peter. More than 4000 data points are connected to it.
The NeutrinoGLT communicates with BACnet over the existing Ethernet network.
The plant diagrams were configured entirely to the requirements of the customer.
Thomas KabelitzKieback&Peter ExportMiddle East RepresentationKieback&Peter Middle East & Africa [email protected]
Modern, high performance building management system in the Al-Othaim shopping mall.
BACnet Unlocks Full Interoperability, Total Scalability and Real Vendor Independence
It sounds like a defiant question with an obvious answer, but ironically this is what is still happening in many buildings around the world. Thank goodness, the world is changing and facility managers are masters of this evolution demanding more and more integrated systems.
BACnet can be considered as an Integration platform and Interoperability is its main feature. Integrating a proprietary subsystem, a
As a Facility Manager you run a continuous process of service provision to every single worker in your building and your performance will be measured by his satisfaction at the lowest possible service cost. If you only could, would you like to operate from the same enterprise dashboard or would you prefer to spend your time in learning and running many different systems with different concepts and different languages?
“gateway” device translates the existing proprietary protocol in BACnet. Proprietary functionalities are preserved taking advantage of BACnet interoperability.
BMS by the Boston consulting group headquartersThe refitting of a ten floor building in the city center of Milan is our case study. It’s the Italian headquarter of BCG (The Boston Consulting Group) a global management consulting firm and the
world’s leading advisor on business strategy.
The BCG project is one of the most complete BMS in its class because it integrates many different subsystems. All subsystems can talk to each other by means of the BACnet protocol on different media: serial line MS / TP, IP and Ethernet.
Systems adapt to the userFor HVAC, we setup three comfort levels: “Standby”, the office is not supposed to
be occupied for a long time, “PreComfort”, the office is supposed to be occupied but no one is in and “Comfort”, when the office is occupied.The three operating modes are related to three different energy consumption levels. The system decides what the favourite level is, being anyway able to take the office to the comfort level in a reasonable amount of time. A motion detection sensor, in every office, says to the HVAC system when the room is actually occupied.
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/10
Solutions
15
Salvatore CataldiHead of R&D by ESAC srlMember of the WG-T [email protected]
When clicking on the label in red, you go onto a specific page from where you can fine tune the office comfort level. The green frame is present on every page implementing a user-friendly navigation interface.
BMS general layout.
The same information is used by the lighting system.
Lights are automatically switched on once motion the detection sensor sends the lighting controller its COV notification and the scheduler says, it is “afternoon” or later. During the morning people can switch lights on
by a pushbutton at the office entrance. At the same time the controller will keep tracking the request and will switch lights off after 15 minutes of nomotion in the room.
This was not enough. The same information is used by the security system patrolling every office during
the “standby” mode. If anybody steps into the office once it is in “Standby” mode, the system generates an event that can be used, if needed, as an alarm.
Many systems on a single integration platformHVAC is a Mitsubishi VRF system, integrated by a gateway to BACnet IP. Lighting system and room control are based on freely programmable controllers by Delta Controls directly connected to the BACnet network. Power meters are integrated by mean of a modbus / BACnet gateway. CCTV is web based with IP cameras. Every gateway was developed by ESAC. The BOWS, ORCAweb from Delta Controls, offers a web interface for office comfort level fine tuning. At the same time trend logs are stored in a relational database and are sent automatically to the facility manager via email. From his dashboard, the facility manager can set up building behaviour parameters.
Every subsystem is integrated in a bigger solution, free from vendor specific restrictions and using a standard and open protocol granting interoperability.
Modern buildings needmodern technology!
■ Saia® PCD product families are universally BACnet® certifield
■ Highest BACnet® functionality on the market for demanding tasks
■ The Saia® PCD AutomationServer* combines open BACnet® communication with Web-/IT technology
■ With bus-compatible Saia® energy meters to the S-Energy concept
Saia-Burgess Controls Ltd. Bahnhofstrasse 18 | CH-3280 Murten | Switzerland T +41 26 672 71 11 | F +41 26 672 74 99 www. saia-pcd.com | [email protected]
* The Saia® PCD AutomationServer ist found in every Saia® PCD Automation Station, which speak all major Web/IT protocols (HTTP, FTP, DHCP, DNS, SNTP, SNMP, as well as SMTP for e-mail service).
Saia® PCD2 family
Saia® PCD3 family
Saia® energy meter family
22–25 November 2010Dubai World Trade CentreSwiss Pavilion /Zabeel V108
Join us of these functions:
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/10 17
BACnet insight
Focus on Building Applications – An Introduction to BACnet-Routing
1 Frank Schubert, MBS GmbH, is member of the ASHRAE SSPC-135, the Advisory Board and Working Group Technique of the BIG-EU as well as training-leader of the BACnet Interest Group Europe, [email protected].
Frank Schubert1
The media in BACnetBACnet supports a total of 7 different media. Routers are devices to connect the media and provide the transport from and to the connected layers. This article explains the BACnet routing and the project requirements for a correct setup.
BACnet in the ISO / OSI modelAs shown in figure 1 BACnet is designed according to the ISO / OSI model for communication. Each layer provides a special functionality and maintains interfaces to higher and lower layers. This assures independence from certain layer requirements and allows interconnecting different media. Just as information, BACnet does not support the layers 46; those are not required for BACnet communication. In Addendum 1352008q Zigbee is additionally specified as a wireless medium to be used with BACnet.
The advantage to use multiple media in a project is to achieve the best possible speed (e.g. Ethernet connections, which are limited to 100m between two active components using CATcable but with a bandwidth up to Gigabit / s) or cheapest possible wiring (e.g. using LonTalk or MS / TP on cheap wires and high distances, but with a lower bandwidth below 100 kbit / s), or using public phonelines to setupdialup connections or using Zigbee for wireless connections.
The network layer 3 is used to connect the different media. BACnet routers are devices connecting the different media and are intended to transport the messages from and to the connected layers. Router devices
may or may not have a BACnet application associated but it is a good recommendation to use routers supporting an application. This allows to determine BACnet routers using BACnet application services like “WhoIs” or to read the routers’ device object.
BACnet network numbersTo distinguish the different networks, each BACnet network shall be assigned a unique BACnet network number within the entire BACnet internetwork. The network number is known to the router devices for each of the connected media. The network number range is specified in the range from 1 to 65534, while 65535 specifies a broadcast destination. A value of zero is sometimes used to specify a connection to the local network if a device doesn’t know
the number of the network it is connected to.
Note: BACnet allows only one single route through the entire network. If the same network number is assigned to different networks and is not unique anymore, routers cannot determine the correct route to the devices which leads to erroneous or missing communication.
Routers vs. Half-RoutersBACnet routers are devices that interconnect two or more BACnet networks to form a BACnet internetwork. PTP (PointtoPoint using EIA232) connections are always established between two halfrouters that together form a single router (temporary connection). A network number is not assigned to halfrouter connections, the halfrouters always route to connected physical or virtual networks.
The network layer messagesRouter devices maintain their
routing tables by exchanging messages on the network layer. BACnet specifies a total of 10 different messages as explained below:
X’00’: WhoIsRouterToNetwork: This message requests the router to a specific network or may be sent as a general query to request all routers in the network.
X’01’ : I AmRouterToNetwork: This message is sent at startup to introduce to the network or as a response to a WhoIsRouterToNetwork message.
X’02’: ICouldBeRouterToNetwork: This message is sent by a halfrouter which knows the requested network and is able to establish a connection (e.g. dial over a public phone line to another halfrouter).
X’03’: RejectMessageToNetwork: This response is sent by a router in case the message can
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/1018
BACnet insight
not be relayed to the destination network.
X’04’ : RouterBusyToNetwork: This message is sent if the router is temporarily unable to process routing messages to the specified network.
X’05’: RouterAvailableToNetwork: This message is sent if the router is able to process messages to the specified network again.
X’06’: InitializeRoutingTable: This message is used to send a new routing table to a router or to query the content of the routing table from a router.
X’07’: InitializeRoutingTableAck: This message is used as a response to an InitializeRoutingTable message.
X’08’: EstablishConnectionToNetwork: This message is used to command a halfrouter to establish a connection to the requested network, e.g. over public phone lines.
X’09’: DisconnectConnectionToNetwork: This message is used to command a halfrouter to disconnect a connection to the network, e.g. by hanging up the modemline.
Connecting different applicationsWhen connecting BACnet devices using different media a few restrictions need to be considered networkwide.
APDU lengthThe maximum length of APDUs (Application Protocol Data Units = application messages) of the different media is specified in the BACnet standard.
Router devices in BACnet are not specified to segment and reassemble messages. This means the maximum size needs to be specified projectwide for all devices communicating over BACnet routers. So if a MS / TP
connection is involved the maximum APDU size needs to be restricted to 501 octets for all BACnet devices.
MAC-Address sizesWhile in ISO 88022 Type 1 and BACnet / IP 6 octets are used, MS / TP uses 1 octet only, LonTalk may use 2 octets or 7 octets depending on the mode. For the future BACnet devices shall be capable of supporting up to 18 octets (for the next generation of the Internet
Protocol IPv6 which uses 16 octets for the address plus 2 octets for the port).
Example networkFigure 2 shows an example network using four different media: IP, LonTalk, MS / TP and a PTPconnection to a foreign BACnet / IP network. Router R1 and R2 appear in two networks (R1 is in BACnet / IP network #45 and LonTalk network #998 while R2 is in BACnet / IP network #45 and MS / TP network #65125).
Each network has a unique network number assigned.
B-PATTo provide a network overview to facility managers or project engineers the BACnet Interest Group Europe developed an Excel spreadsheet file format called BPAT (BACnet Project Address Table). Using this file allows an overview about all media and devices installed within an entire BACnet network. Additionally some macro functions check for duplicate addresses, instances numbers, network numbers, etc.The BPAT file and description can be downloaded from www.bigeu.org without cost.
ConclusionThe flexibility of BACnet supporting multiple media allows costefficient usage of different media. As always a good speci fication and documentation of the network in a project is required. BPAT or a similar project database can help keeping the overview.
Table 6-1. Maximum NPDU Lengths When Routing Through Different BACnet Data Link Layers
Data Link Technology Maximum NPDU Length
ISO 8802-3 (“Ethernet”) 1497 octets
ARCNET 501 octets
MS / TP 501 octets
Point-To-Point 501 octets
LonTalk 228 octets
BACnet / IP 1497 octets
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/10
Products
19
Keep in touch with the new Thermokon Thanos
Thanks to the new Thermokon Thanos another top quality product will be available in the portfolio of room operating units by the end of 2010. Thanos is completing the range of the current series WRF04, WRF06, WRF07 and WRF08 especially convincing with its exceptional design. Under an overall glass front, a highresolution 3.5”TFT display is placed, so that an optical display of the executed functions is shown with every input made. Typical applications for room automation can be customized. The control of HVAC elements such as temperature set point adjustment, blind and light controls or fan stages can be easily realized by a simple touch. Combined with a common operating structure, the touch technology already
enables an intuitive operation of the devices with its first use. Thanos has an integrated t e mp e ra t u r e / hu m id i t y sensor. The value is displayed directly.
The new operating unit Thanos is available in the basic colors black and white. With up to 12 buttons, a larger version called “Thanos L” is additionally available. The lower operating area is designed as a typical rocking function. This type is also available in landscape version, model “Thanos LQ”. Type “S” stands for a smaller design unit. The rocking function is realized with a second menu level.
A brushed stainless steel clip is designed as touch sensitive presence button which realizes a typical switch function in the room.
Thermokon Sensortechnik [email protected]
Thermokon Sensortechnik GmbH is currently presenting its new multifunctional room operating unit Thanos. With this, the German company is pursuing a new path towards intuitive and high design-oriented room control combined with high quality and engineering Made in Germany.
Individual specifications are also an important object for the Thermokon Thanos. Therefore, several button fields can have a customized legend. Via a software application the devices can be easily configured with regards to operating functions, button symbols and display options.
The use of the standardized BACnet MS / TP protocol enables the connection to corresponding distant ends such as automation stations or BACnet operating working stations.
As an interface standard the digital data transmission RS485 is used.
The device operates with the BACnet Application Specific Controller (BASC) device
profile and places a number of BACnet objects at your disposal. The addressing of Thanos for identification in the network is made via an integrated DIP switch.
Optionally, the Thermokon Thanos BACnet can be extended with an EnOcean based transceiver module. Thereby, a gateway function of BACnet to an energyoptimized EnOcean based wireless system is realized. Furthermore, a direct and wireless communication to EnOcean based acutuators can be made. Possibilities and applications are unlimited.
The new multifunctional room operating unit Thanos once again emphasizes the high demand for design & technology by Thermokon.
Also available in a landscape version – Thanos LQ.
The Thanos type “S” stands for a smaller design unit. The rocking function is realized with a second menu level.
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/1020
Alert: To Inform and Alert the Right People, at the Right Time, in the Right Place with the Right Information
Alert can be used in different domains: Manufacturing, pro cess, infrastructures and building automation, and it is able to manage redundancy installations to ensure real time information concerning the alarm state on installations. Alert also allows constant monitoring of any event and / or alarm variable and it is able to alert operators in service about any event and / or alarm on supervised installations, as well as provide detailed information about any event. It can transmit, if needed, all instructions about the procedure to follow in order to normalize the situation. These functions are important for any process installation, as they allow managing information diffusion and intervention security, thus preventing all installation stops and
reducing costs that could otherwise arise.
Alert is able to treat alarms or intervention demand coming from different sources:
� Supervisor software (SCADA), via OPC, DDE, or dedicated mediator module
� BACnet devices � Phone, mail, SMS, web
intervention requests � PLC, through a commu
nication server � Analog or Digital I / O � Serial or IP data transfer � Files � Data bases � …
Alert is able to supervise your TCP / IP network equipment directly, through the SNMP protocol.
Alert can also be interfaced with the SCADA software
Micromedia Internationalmicromedia@ micromedia-int.com
Alert, produced and maintained by MICROMEDIA INTERNATIONAL SA, with more than 6.000 installed licenses, is applied in the remoting domain of alarms and information to be diffused by different technologies (PSTN, ISDN, VoIP, e-mail, fax, beeper, PDA, etc.) to ex-ternal operators, with data coming from control PCs in the Windows environment, inde-pendently from the installed application software.
(Wonderware InTouch, Wonderware IAS (Industrial Application Server), Proficy iFix, Proficy Cimplicity, WinCC, Wizcon…).
An advanced on-call management
Alert integrates advanced oncall management features, enabling in a very easy and intuitive way the identification of the persons to be informed for each type of alarm (included the actions to undertake in case of failure).
A complete traceability of your alarms, calls and interventions
Alarm and intervention statistics: Statistics concerning alarms can be displayed for an alarm, an alarm group or the whole
alarms for a oneday, one week or one month period: number of failures during the period, total duration and average duration of failure.
Automatic external database exportation: In order to extend the statistic capabilities of the alarm log, the alarm history can be automatically exported to an external database. The update of the configuration and history tables in the external database is made in real time at each modification or alarm event. This option offers extended functionalities: alarm reports, comment management, history and followup of the call cycles.
Products
Universal Gateway for BMS Standard Protocols
doGate is a multiprotocol data collector including Scheduling, Gateways and serving information to BACnet. Nowadays quite a few standards protocols coexist: BACnet, LonWorks, KNX, MBus but also de facto standards such as Modbus, OPC ... Systems are becoming multi protocol and BACnet is the standard to oversee information. doGate embeds doMoov – an operating system to manage BMS standards – and gets the benefit of the entire enhanced functions of that OS.
An improved data acquisition server for BMS StandardsBMS networks are becoming larger and larger and the amount of information to acquire through an HMI or a SCADA system is always increasing. A good system has to optimize data acquisition and decentralize functions. doGate allows such a decentralized acquisition: it includes an innovative multi protocol data server engine (LonWorks, BACnet, KNX, Modbus, MBus, OPC). That multi thread engine dramatically reduces SCADA initialization time and significantly improves performances.
A true BACnet server mapping every BMS standard protocolField information has to be forwarded to SCADA system. BACnet is the real interoperable standard way to perform that important operation. doGate proposes an easy mapping from every field data point coming from any BMS standard protocol to a native BACnet interface. In case the monitoring system does not support BACnet, doGate also proposes a standard OPC server interface.
A universal BMS gateway between every field protocolWe broadly need to exchange information between field protocols and doGate natively includes that function. It includes a connectivity platform between the BMS Standards protocols (LonWorks, BACnet, KNX, Modbus, MBus, OPC). doGate proposes a 1 to 1 or n to n mapping. It embeds the complete catalogue types and manages standard types for you. doGate also includes a scheduling engine to manage calendars and schedulers on any data point.
Building Management Systems (BMS) are handling a growing amount of information through several standard protocols. A centralized solution is highly limited in term of speed, evolution and performance. A better solution is to decentralize field data management and serve information to supervision through BACnet. doGate is a Building Controller that acquires field information from several protocols, proposes gateway function between protocols, includes a scheduling engine and behaves as a BACnet server to connect SCADA systems. It also proposes an OPC interface.
SE-Elektronic GmbHEythstraße 1673037 GöppingenGermany
Phone: +49 7161 9584-0Fax: +49 7161 9584-45E-mail: [email protected]
See for yourself our compelling solutions in building automation:Outstanding products and control technology. Energy-effi cient, fl exible and individual. Communication capability with existing hard- and software of other manufacturers.In the long term future-proof, powerful and innovative.
Welcome to the BIG5 Show 2010 in Dubai!22.–25. November Zabeel hall L 132
Wara Group General Trading & Contracting Co.W.L.L.P.O. BOX: 21943 13080 Safat / Kuwait
Phone: +965 22450433 Fax: +965 [email protected] www.waragroup.com
GIBAS TechnologyPO Box 1111P.C. 121, Muscat
Phone: +968/24563111Fax: +968/[email protected]
Our Partners on-site
Made in Germany. Ruling the world.
BACnet Middle East Journal 2 11/10
Products
22
The UBR-01 is designed to allow various routing and infra-structure functions for BACnet here: Screenshot of UBR-01 shows a sample configuration.
The doGate building controller is a building automation server and gateways for the universal standard BMS protocols.
Universal BACnet-Router
The UBR01 is designed to allow various routing and infrastructure functions for BACnet combined in a small box ready for cabinet mounting.
The routing options include BACnet / IP, MS / TP acting as a master node
and BACnet / Ethernet. All three layers can be activated separately. The configuration and diagnostic functions are provided by an integrated webserver using your preferred browser. International language packs can be uploaded as an option. Project documentations
Frank Schubert MBS GmbH – Vertrieb / Saleswww.mbs-software.de
The UBR-01 supports routing between the three most important BACnet layers IP, Ethernet and MS / TP but additionally allows special infrastructure functions for BBMD and Slave Proxy.
can be uploaded, a total of 200MB free flash memory is available to store any kind of documents, even preferred mp3 files if you like. All factory help files are available using the webserver as well.The integrated DHCP server (=Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, active only if specifically set into this configuration) allows dynamic address provision e.g. for easy service access.
The UBR01 is a fully functional BASC BACnet device including DCC (= Device Communication Control) and RD (= Reinitialize Device) functionality. This allows observing the device using the standard BACnet communication. The device object properties like objectname, description, location, etc. can be freely defined using the webserver.
Network Bias and Termination resistors are integrated and can be easily activated by three separate DIPswitches.
Using BACnet / IP supports BBMD (BACnet Broadcast Management Device) and FD
(Foreign Device) operation modes as well.
Using MS / TP automatic slave detection and slave proxy functionality can be used to provide Dynamic Device Binding on behalf of slave nodes, which by nature cannot support this functionality.
Even w / o routing functionality the UBR01 may be used as a standalone infrastructure component to provide BBMD functionality to the local subnetwork or to provide slave proxy functionality for slave nodes in a MS / TP network.
Conclusion: The UBR is not only a powerful BACnet router. This device can be used for a variety of applications acting as a flexible infrastructure component as well.
The device is available from stock.
Serge LE MEN NEWRON SYSTEMserge.lemen@ newron-system.com
A dashboard for an easy configuration doGate strength is its simplicity to configure and its standard database interoperability. It interfaces with any LNS database for LonWorks, also manages exported ETS databases for KNX and imports every BACnet EDE file. For existing networks, doGate is able to create its database from a network scan or a CSV
file import. Dashboard also includes powerful doGate management function: test, repair, download, replace, backup / restore, remote access.
BACnet Interest Group
Calender of BACnet Events
Date Location Event Information
2011
31.01.02.02.2011 Las Vegas, USA AHR Expo Jochen Willems, MarDirect, [email protected]
15.03.19.03.2011 Frankfurt, D
ISH 2011 – the world's biggest showcase for energy efficient heating and airconditioning technology and innovative bathroom design
Jochen Willems, MarDirect, [email protected]
13.04.2011 London, UK BACnet Forum London Maguy de Mercurio, MarDirect, [email protected]
2. WeekMai 2011 Saarbrücken, D BIGEU Plugfest Britta von Helden, MarDirect, [email protected]
10.10.2011 Rome, I BIGEU General Meeting Britta von Helden, MarDirect, [email protected]
15.20.04.2012 Frankfurt; D light+building 2012 Jochen Willems, MarDirect, [email protected]
09.05.2012 Amsterdam; NL BACnet Forum Amsterdam Britta von Helden, MarDirect, [email protected]
wAdd BACnet events per mail to [email protected]
