BACnet Europe

Hans Kranz im Jahr 2000 mit dem ISO / TC205 WG3 Team im norwegischen Tromsø.
Hans Kranz 2000 with the ISO / TC205 WG3 Team in Tromsø, Norway.
truly succeed. So, I have been striving for that
with CEN and ISO. That was not always easy,
politically. Also, the yielding of AMEV from FND
to BACnet has brought about a lot since 2005.
“There are already more
BACnet capable buildings
than smart grids”
How did BACnet become so successful in
Europe? What is the significance of this
international cooperation?
It was the success of the BACnet Interest
Group Europe. By creating proper, trusted marketing
with the trade shows, events, publications,
and with the courses of the VDI, we have
made a breakthrough. Today no one can afford
to not offer BACnet. Of course, our close connection
to the BACneteers at ASHRAE, with
Mike Newman and our blessed Bill Swan, provided
an important motivational basis.
How do you assess the development of the
standards in the last 10 years?
The BACnet committee has been incredibly productive
in recent years. The number of object
types, services, media, fonts, other improvements
and enhancements is amazing. And I want
to emphasize that we are still dealing with the first
version of BACnet. But the 13 th revision (additions
and corrections) is already in the works.
What is the significance of BACnet in building
design today?
Unfortunately, the technology has not yet been
given the importance it deserves – espe-
cially for energy and economic considerations.
The majori ty of the “determining” architects
have reservations here. In addition, the
dominant pipe and sheet metal trades take
the credit of the success of building automation.
An “integration planner” who is recognized
in the same way as an architect, is still missing.
Many believe that through BACnet, building
automation would be too complicated. I say
no. Through this only the power of a properly
planned and executed building automation system
becomes transparent.
How can the standard keep up with the high
pace of technological developments?
That has already been shown with the inclusion
of network security, web services, Internet use
(IP) and wireless communication with ZigBee
into the standard. What could go faster would
be the implementation of the ISO standard to a
European and national standard. If I were still
involved, I would have established a simultaneous
voting (“parallel voting”) and pushed more
in Brüssels.
The new BACnet capabilities are incorporated
on a regular basis in your standard
work “ BACnet Building Automation”, will be
published in a completely revised 3 rd edition
this autumn. Do you, as a writer, now
approach the subject differently than you
did 20 years ago?
Not in principle. Because I know how the
ASHRAE colleagues think, I have no problems
with the technical implementation in understandable
German for planners and operators.
I am inwardly pleased about the progress
because, at that time, my vision not only had
friends.
BACnet­Interest­Group­Europe­–­Interview
What developments are pending? What
are the BACnet experts busy with for the
future?
With BACnet, the seamless integration of room
automation systems will get a new “gatewayless”
quality and engineering efficiency. The
next major task is the further integration of
building automation in the “big” IT system, in
commercial applications and in facility management.
I assume that the future CAFM tools
also process and represent the data from automation
systems. New applications will be created
for the ongoing review of energy performance.
Why do you not mention the “Smart Grid”
as a task?
Well, there is already a “Smart Grid” Working
Group for BACnet, and there are already
many more BACnet capable buildings as smart
grids. Without exposure to the house and building
technique, the network stays “stupid”
– so who needs to do more? BACnet will be
able to receive energy cost information from
the web, as well as to operate on AC signals
and to respond. I am sure; for the next generation
many beautiful, exciting and rewarding
tasks are waiting. But, please do not forget that
besides developing the amazing technology, a
political lobby is also important.
Das Fachbuch „ BACnet Gebäudeautomation
1.12. Grundlagen in Deutscher Sprache“ von
Hans Kranz ist ein Standardwerk der Gebäudeautomationsbranche
und erscheint im Herbst 2012
in einer komplett überarbeiteten Neuauflage beim
cci-Dialog-Verlag. Es berücksichtigt den aktuellen
Stand der Normung wie auch Neuentwicklungen
in der Branche.
The technical book “ BACnet building automation
1.12. basics in German” by Hans Kranz is a standard
reference work in building automation and will
been published in a completely revised 3rd edition
by cci Publishing in the autumn of 2012. It
is taking the current state of standardization as
well as new developments in the industry into
account.
BACnet Europe Journal­17­10/12 11