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- PlugFest Interoperability Workshop
- Call for AHR Education Session Submissions
- Issue 29 of the Journal of Building Automation is now published
- BACnet International Appoints a New Director of Technology
- New Voting Member of the BTL-WG Announced
- Expand your BACnet Education with Courses from TBI
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Welcome to the newest edition of the Cornerstones newsletter from BACnet International. The BACnet International community benefits from information and education shared through Cornerstones, the organization's monthly electronic publication. This publication is distributed to members of the BACnet International community, connecting corporate, integrator, site, student, and individual users to BACnet news and updates. Cornerstones is a unique publication because it speaks not only to the engineer and contractor communities, but also to facility professionals, building managers and owners, and other personnel.
This is where you come in. We need you to connect! If you have company news, product news, BACnet Case Study, or a best practice you want to share, please send them to us using the form below. And don't leave out the photos!
Read past Cornerstones and Case Studies.
| | Has your company registered for our PlugFest Interoperability Workshop yet? | | |
Join us September 29 - October 1in Durham, NH!
Corporate Member and Volunteer Discounts Available.
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BACnet manufacturers are invited to our annual PlugFest Interoperability Workshop, taking place Tuesday, September 29 – Thursday, October 1 at the University of New Hampshire’s Interoperability Laboratory. This three-day interoperability event brings together companies from around the world to test their BACnet products with devices from other vendors in a neutral, friendly environment. It’s an excellent opportunity to improve your BACnet testing methods and identify implementation errors before your product reaches the field.
What are the benefits for attendees?
- Opportunity to test your BACnet products in multiple company-to-company pairings and roundtable sessions
- Find and fix implementation errors before they are discovered in the field
- The BTL Technical Advisor and other BACnet experts will be on-site to assist and answer implementation questions
- Network with fellow engineers and developers, and take advantage of education sessions offered at the workshop
Early bird registration for BACnet International’s PlugFest is now open! Before registering, please verify that all team members have a BACnet International account. You must be signed in to your BACnet International account to register for PlugFest.
Please contact Education and Events Manager Emily Hammonds with any questions about the event. For technical questions while preparing for PlugFest, please contact the BTL Technical Advisor.
Registration Discounts
- BACnet International Corporate Member: USD $400 per attendee
- Volunteer Discount: If you or a member of your company volunteers for BACnet International (BTL Working Group, Marketing Committee, Education Committee, or Board of Directors) or the SSPC 135 Committee, you are eligible for an additional USD $50 discount per attendee.
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Please email info@bacnetinternational.org to obtain the discount code to use during checkout.
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Which companies have previously attended
a PlugFest Workshop?
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ABB
Accutrol
Armstrong Monitoring
Armstrong Fluid Technology
Antec Controls
ASI Controls
Astronics Peco
Automated Logic
Belimo
Carel
Carrier
Chipkin
Cimetrics
Conserve It
Control Techniques
Contemporary Controls
Critical Room Control
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Daikin
Delta Controls
Delta Electrics
Engineered Air
Evolution Controls
Functional Devices
Intesis
HMS
Honeywell
Johnson Controls
KONE
Legrand
Lennox International
Loytec
LumenRadio
Lutron
LynTec
Melink
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MSA Safety
Neptronic
Onicon
Passive Logic
PolarSoft
Potter
Price Industries
Q-PAC
Reliable Controls
Sauter
Schneider Electric
Setra
Siemens
Trane
Tridium
WindowMaster
Yaskawa America
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BACnet International is now accepting submissions for its
2027 AHR Expo Education Slate
| | Submission Interest Deadline Extended to Friday, July 10th | | |
The 2027 AHR Expo opened its Call for Seminars on June 4, and BACnet International hopes your company will consider presenting an educational session on behalf of the organization!
If you would like to present an educational session at AHR on behalf of BACnet International, please complete the form below by Friday, July 10th. The first four (4) fields are required. We will follow up with you after your form is submitted to confirm any additional details about your education session.
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Intended Session Title (REQUIRED): Per AHR policy, "Session titles are limited to 80 characters, including spaces. Title should be representative of what the attendee can expect to learn from the session."
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Intended Session Topic (REQUIRED): The topic needs to be relevant to the BACnet community and cannot be commercial in nature.
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Intended Session Description (REQUIRED): AHR says that the session description "is the elevator pitch for your session and is oftentimes a key deciding factor for attendance. Be succinct and include the takeaway value, inclusive of 1 - 3 main points. It's best to steer clear of marketing jargon, opting instead for expert detail that relates to the demographic who will most benefit from attending."
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Intended Primary Industry Focus (REQUIRED): Per AHR, the options are Commercial, Residential, Industrial, and Institutional.
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Intended Session Length: The recommended length is one (1) hour, including time for Q&A.
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Intended Session Style: Is this going to be a lecture with time at the end for Q&A, or are you proposing a panel discussion with multiple speakers?
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Intended Learner Level: Please let us know if this session is best suited for one or more of the following learner levels: Entry Level, Intermediate, or Advanced.
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Speaker Information: Per AHR policy, speakers have to represent "a 2027 exhibiting company OR a company or organization that does not manufacture products for the HVACR industry." All speakers will be presenting on behalf of BACnet International. We will follow up after your form is submitted for speaker details.
If you have any questions, please contact Education and Events Manager Emily Hammonds.
| | Issue 29 of our Journal of Building Automation is now available to read or download! | | |
Extra, extra! Check out the latest edition of our Journal of Building Automation – Advancing Interoperability in Smart Buildings! We would like to thank our authors for their valuable contributions to this issue and the BACnet Community.
BACnet SC in the Field: A Contractor Migration Playbook
Chris Ruth, Integration Facility Services
When Buildings and Bodies Finally Talk: From Automated to Programmable
Nicolas Waern - Digital Twin Specialist, WINNIIO AB
How Smarter Buildings Have Quietly Cut Global Carbon Emissions
Andy McMillan, BACnet International
BACnet Challenges and Opportunities in Enabling Interoperability in Smart Buildings
Pradip Thorat, NRG Controls LLC
When BACnet Data Goes Wrong: Diagnosing and Resolving Data Integrity Issues in Building Automation Systems
Donee Mohanraj, Danfoss
Why BACnet Endures: An Owner First Standard
Ken Gilbert, MBA, LEED AP, Automated Logic Corporation
BACnet International Celebrates BACnet’s 30th Anniversary at the AHR Expo
Mary Catherine Russell, BACnet International
Guide to the Device Object
Michael Osborne, BACnet International
New Minimum Protocol Revision Coming January 2027
Emily Hayes, BACnet International
Belimo Energy Valve™ Helps San Francisco Office Tower Fix Low Delta T and Reduce Energy Costs
Belimo
Phased VAV modernization without replacing the LON trunk
Carl Wäppling, LumenRadio
EIMK-T1L SPE Media Converter – Supercharge your Serial Cables
Contemporary Controls
| | BACnet International Appoints Nate Benes as Director of Technology | Nate will provide technical guidance and strategy for BACnet International and BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL). | |
BACnet International is pleased to announce Nate Benes as its new Director of Technology, supporting both BACnet International and the BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL). BACnet International is an industry association that facilitates the successful use of the BACnet protocol in building automation and control systems through interoperability testing, educational programs, and promotional activities. BTL oversees the technical aspects of BACnet International’s testing and listing activities, with the central goal of improving BACnet interoperability across building automation products.
Benes is a technical leader with over fifteen years of experience advancing smart building innovation through both strategic vision and boots-on-the-ground engineering expertise. Having designed, owned, manufactured, and consulted on building control systems, he brings a uniquely practical and future-facing perspective to the evolution of the built environment.
He leads building automation standardization efforts within ISO and serves as a voting member of ASHRAE’s BACnet committee (SSPC 135). His work across ISO, ASHRAE, and the IETF focuses on ensuring that BACnet (and building automation more broadly) remains interoperable, resilient, and ready for the next generation of connected buildings.
"I am excited and honored to join BACnet International and contribute to an organization that plays such an important role in advancing interoperability across the built environment,” states Benes. “BACnet has shaped much of my professional career, from real-world facility operations to product development and international standards work. I look forward to supporting the testing laboratories, strengthening connections across the standards and vendor communities, and helping BACnet International explore new opportunities for innovation."
As Director of Technology, Benes will provide technical input on project and process management for testing oversight activities, including recognition of test organizations, demonstration of equivalency among test results, and verification of testing efficacy. Additional responsibilities include reviewing test results, providing product implementation guidance, supporting recognized test organizations, participating in the BTL Working Group, and contributing to test development, documentation, and automation. Benes will also lead tool research and development and maintain industry partnerships within the BACnet community.
“Nate is an experienced and dynamic leader in the BACnet community, and we are excited for him to expand his impact by supporting global BACnet testing operations, advancing technology strategy, and strengthening industry partnerships in his role as Director of Technology,” says Andy McMillan, President and Managing Director of BACnet International.
| | Voting Member of BACnet Testing Laboratories Working Group Announced | Chris Howard, of Schneider Electric, starts new five-year term as voting member. | |
BACnet International is proud to announce that Chris Howard will continue as a voting member of the BACnet Testing Laboratories Working Group (BTL-WG). Howard was inducted during a BTL-WG virtual meeting on June 25, 2026, and will begin a new five-year term on July 1, 2026. The BTL-WG operates under the auspices of BACnet International.
The BTL-WG provides technical oversight and guidance for the global BTL testing and certification program for BACnet products. The primary goal of the certification program is to improve BACnet interoperability among building automation products. Voting members are selected from knowledgeable experts in the BACnet community and serve 5-year terms.
“Chris has been a dedicated and impactful member of the BTL Working Group,” said Andy McMillan, BACnet International President and Managing Director. “We’re excited to see him continue as a voting member and look forward to his ongoing contributions.
Chris Howard is a Principal Test Engineer at Schneider Electric with extensive experience in BTL certification and BACnet testing. As an active contributor to the BTL Test Package, he has helped define industry testing requirements while enabling product teams to deliver certified, interoperable solutions. His expertise includes test automation, protocol diagnostics, and developing solutions that meet customer needs while ensuring compliance with the BACnet standard.
| | Looking for FREE BACnet educational courses? | Check out The BACnet Institute - Your Central Hub for BACnet education and expertise! | |
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BACnet Basics is a comprehensive introductory course that outlines the benefits of BACnet and provides an overview of how BACnet works. This course is geared toward individuals unfamiliar with BACnet and those who need a refresher.
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BACnet Cybersecurity provides an overview of BACnet Secure Connect (BACnet/SC), focusing on its significance in enhancing the security of interoperable building automation systems. Participants will gain an understanding of how BACnet/SC differs from existing security measures, its technical aspects and its interaction with other BACnet devices. This course also addresses the cybersecurity challenges and future strategies for improving BACnet security. This course also places BACnet/SC in the context of the larger building automation cybersecurity landscape.
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BACnet Device Profiles introduces learners to the various BACnet device profiles and explains the role of each in building automation. It also describes how they can be used in effectively specifying control systems. In addition, this course shows the learner how various profiles can be combined in a single device, explaining the rules behind the combinations.
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The Facility Manager’s Guide to Building Automation Systems provides valuable insight on how to implement a BACnet-based BAS effectively and efficiently. This course discusses best practices to employ, as well as pitfalls to avoid, through the full design process – specification, procurement, construction, and commissioning. This course is beneficial for facility managers, building engineers and consulting engineers and others involved in the building automation implementation process.
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Every month, BACnet International
will highlight a resource from
The BACnet Institute (TBI) Resource Library!
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Presented at the 2026 AHR Expo, this education session explores the journey of the BACnet Standard. BACnet was published as an ASHRAE Standard in 1995. More than 30 protocol revisions later, BACnet continues to transform the building automation industry as an open, secure, interoperable, and evolving protocol. Independent conformance testing allows the standard to be trusted and increasingly adopted by the industry worldwide. This session provides firsthand accounts from BACnet pioneers and experts who continue to shape today’s building automation landscape.
This session was moderated by BACnet International President Andy McMillan. Expert panelists included Steven Bushby, Coleman Brumley, James Lee, Sakhee Chandrayan, Nate Benes, Karl Heinz Belser, Fei Han, Dave Robin, Scott Ziegenfus, Hans Symanczik, Alexandra Henczka, Emily Hayes, and David Nardone.
| | The BACnet Institute (TBI) is an online portal for BACnet-focused learning and knowledge sharing. It provides an easy path to BACnet information and learning for everyone involved with BACnet systems. The portal includes three on-demand FREE courses and over 215 resources including white papers, articles, presentations, and a community forum. TBI Resources are free, but registration for an account is required. Courses are eligible for CEUs and PDHs. | | |
For BACnet International Corporate Members, if you have any news concerning one of your BTL-listed products, case studies, or company news stories, let us know, and we will be glad to include it in Cornerstones! All submissions should be sent to Mary Catherine Heard, BACnet International's Marketing and Communications Manager, at marycatherine@bacnetinternational.org.
Please ensure that we are included in your distribution lists for product and company news releases as well.
| | Daikin Applied Breaks Ground on $30M Solutions & Technical Institute to Support Future HVAC Workforce | |
Daikin Applied, a global leader in commercial and industrial HVAC solutions, has broken ground on a $30 million Solutions & Technical Institute in Plymouth, Minnesota.
From high-efficiency cooling to data center applications, HVAC systems are becoming more advanced, and workforce capability is emerging as a critical differentiator. Recent industry reports point to a shortage of thousands of HVAC technicians by 2030, highlighting the need for expanded training and hands-on experience. Daikin Applied is investing in the people, expertise and learning environments needed to support the next generation of HVAC solutions across commercial buildings, healthcare facilities, schools, manufacturing operations, data centers and other mission-critical indoor environments.
| | Mitsubishi Electric Automation Wins Gold in Control Engineering’s 2026 Product of the Year Awards for FR-D800 VFD | Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. (Mitsubishi Electric Automation) announced that its FR-D800 Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) has been named the Gold winner in the Drives, Motion & Motor Control category in Control Engineering's 2026 Product of the Year awards program. The honor reflects the FR-D800's ability to address real-world challenges in industrial automation, including reducing setup time, lowering energy consumption, and improving system reliability. | | ABB to acquire Høglund to Expand Marine Automation Offering | | ABB announced today it has entered into an agreement to acquire marine automation specialist Høglund AS, headquartered in Tønsberg, Norway. The acquisition will complement ABB’s existing automation offering to marine customers and support further growth in markets across a wide range of vessel segments. The transaction is expected to close in Q3 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals, and will cover Høglund’s global operations including more than 80 employees in Norway, Poland, Romania, and China. Høglund is currently owned by Eitzen Group and will be integrated into ABB’s Marine & Ports division. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. | | |
Congratulations to the following
BACnet International Corporate Members who have achieved BTL Certification!
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