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- PlugFest Interoperability Workshop
- Join us for the 2027 AHR Expo
- Call for Article Submissions
- Getting Started with BACnet
- BACnet International earns ASAE 2026 Power of Associations Gold Award
- BACnet International YouTube
- Benefits of BTL Pre-Testing
- TBI Corner
- New BTL Certifications
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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.
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PlugFest Registration Closes
Wednesday, September 9!
| | Don't miss your chance to attend the 2026 PlugFest Interoperability Workshop! | | |
Join us September 29 to October 1 for the 2026 PlugFest Interoperability Workshop. With registration closing on September 9 at 11:59 PM ET, now is the time to reserve your spot and prepare for this valuable BACnet interoperability event. Planning your visit? The workshop agenda is now available, giving you a preview of the sessions and activities taking place throughout the event.
| | Why do companies keep coming back to PlugFest? | | |
✅ Test BACnet implementations with multiple vendors and product types.
✅ Identify and resolve interoperability issues before customers encounter them.
✅ Receive guidance from the BTL Technical Advisor and other BACnet experts.
✅ Network with fellow engineers, developers, and industry leaders.
✅ Take advantage of the education sessions offered at the workshop.
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Corporate Member Registration: $975.00 USD per person
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Non-Corporate Member Registration: $1,350.00 USD per person
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Volunteer Discount: If you or a member of your company is a current volunteer 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 $50 discount per attendee. Please email info@bacnetinternational.org to obtain the discount code for checkout.
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Verify that all team members have a BACnet International account before registering. You must also be signed in to your BACnet International account to complete registration.
Please contact Education & Events Manager Emily Hammonds with any questions about the event. If you have any technical questions while preparing for PlugFest, please contact BTL Technical Advisor Nate Benes.
| | BACnet International will be exhibiting at the AHR Expo January 25-27 in Chicago! Visit us in Booth #S6100! | | BACnet International Earns ASAE 2026 Power of Associations Gold Award | | |
BACnet International has been named a 2026 Gold Award recipient in ASAE's prestigious Power of Associations Awards program for its global BTL (BACnet Testing Laboratories) Certification Program. The award recognizes associations that drive industry advancement and deliver measurable benefits to society.
Developed by BACnet International in collaboration with the global BACnet community, the BTL Certification Program provides independent testing and certification to verify BACnet compliance and interoperability. Today, more than 1,600 BTL Certified products are deployed worldwide across HVAC, lighting, energy management, access control, fire safety, and other building systems.
According to a 2026 University of New Hampshire study, BACnet-enabled building automation systems have helped mitigate approximately 1.4 billion metric tons of CO2e emissions globally between 1995 and 2025. The program has also fostered a competitive multi-vendor marketplace, reducing integration risks, lowering costs, and accelerating the adoption of interoperable building automation solutions.
BACnet International will be formally recognized during ASAE's 2026 Power of Associations Awards celebration in Washington, D.C.
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Call for Article Submissions:
Journal of Building Automation
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Our Journal of Building Automation is currently accepting article submissions and BACnet case studies for the Fall 2026 issue. The Journal covers updates, developments, stories, and news on the BACnet protocol as well as the wider building automation industry as a whole. This issue will be printed and distributed at the 2027 AHR Expo in Chicago. In addition, all published articles will be uploaded to TBI’s Resource Library. Please review the deadlines and criteria below.
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Registration Deadline for Articles and Ads: Tuesday, September 8, 2026
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Submission Deadline for Articles and Ads: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
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Publication Date: Friday, October 30, 2026
If you have an article topic or case study you think would be of interest, please get in touch with us to reserve your placement! Send a short article abstract by Tuesday, September 8, to marycatherine@bacnetinternational.org.
Article submissions for the Journal must abide by our Author Guidelines and Commercialism Code of Conduct. This does not apply to journal advertisements. Advertisement guidelines can be found in the Journal Media Plan.
| | Getting Started with BACnet | Are you or someone on your team new to BACnet? Explore these valuable resources designed for new users and industry professionals alike. | If you're new to BACnet, getting started can feel overwhelming, but there are many resources available to help simplify the journey. From free online training and educational materials to implementation tools and industry guidance, newcomers have access to a wealth of information designed to build a strong foundation. Whether you're developing BACnet-enabled products, specifying systems, or learning the basics of building automation, these resources can help you better understand the standard and its practical applications. Explore the links below to begin expanding your BACnet knowledge and expertise. | FREE BACnet Education from The BACnet Institute (TBI) | The BACnet Institute (TBI) is a free online learning platform offering education and resources for building automation professionals. It features four self-paced courses: BACnet Basics, The Facility Manager’s Guide to Building Automation Systems, BACnet Cybersecurity, and BACnet Device Profiles, with CEUs and PDHs available upon completion. TBI also provides free resources in multiple languages covering BACnet fundamentals, interoperability, devices, specifying, networking, and security. | The BACnet Standard, or ANSI/ASHRAE 135, defines the BACnet Protocol. The corresponding International Organization for Standardization (ISO) designation is ISO 16484-5. The Standard, with its errata or amendments, can be purchased, downloaded, and ordered either on the ASHRAE or ISO websites. The standard can be viewed for free on the ASHRAE website. | |
There are many resources available that could be useful to BACnet product developers. The following lists are only a sampling of available resources and are not intended to be complete. The lists are provided only as a convenience. No approval, endorsement or warranty of any kind is provided by ASHRAE or the SSPC 135.
- Commercial Suppliers: Below are links to several companies that provide hardware and/or software that can be used to develop/implement/test BACnet communication capabilities.
- Open Source BACnet Projects: If you are considering writing your own BACnet implementation, the following open-source projects on SourceForge.net may be useful.
- Other Resources, including implementer guides.
| Apply for a BACnet Vendor ID | BACnet vendor IDs are a unique numeric identifier for each supplier of BACnet products. The vendor ID is a readable property of all BACnet devices, allowing diagnostic tools and other devices on the network to determine the vendor of any device. Vendor IDs are assigned by ASHRAE and are distributed internationally. Click the link below to learn more about applying for a BACnet vendor ID. | | Did you know BACnet International has a YouTube Channel? | | Dive deeper into the world of BACnet through the BACnet International YouTube Channel. Subscribe to stay up to date with recorded conference presentations, educational webinars, member spotlights, and software instruction videos designed to enhance your knowledge of building automation. Whether you're new to BACnet or an experienced professional, the channel offers valuable insights, technical guidance, and industry updates. Don't miss out. Subscribe today and be among the first to access new content as it's released. | | |
Save time and money during BTL Testing
by utilizing Pre-testing Tools
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To save time and money during testing, BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL) strongly encourages manufacturers to take advantage of the wide range of pre-testing tools that focus on developing BACnet products. “It has been found that when the manufacturer performs pre-testing prior to submitting their device for BTL Testing, the issues that are found are limited, thus saving testing cost and expediting testing time,” states Rich Ruel, Testing Services Manager for the BTL Lab. Additionally, the BTL Test Package, used by all RBTOs for BTL Testing, is available to developers for their own internal pre-testing.
A list of third-party pre-testing tools can be found at btl.org/pre-testing-tools. The types of pre-testing tools include Test Frameworks, BACnet Client Software, BACnet Protocol Analyzers, BACnet Device Simulators, General Tools, Reference BACnet Routers and Reference BACnet MS/TP Masters. These lists are provided as a convenience only. They represent a sampling of available resources and are not intended to be complete. No recommendation, endorsement or any form of warranty is implied or provided by BTL or BACnet International for any of the items in these lists.
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Every month, BACnet International
will highlight a resource from
The BACnet Institute (TBI) Resource Library!
| | Presented at the 2025 AHR Expo, David Fisher, a member of the Lighting Applications Working Group (LA-WG) and a long-standing contributor to SSPC-135 (BACnet), explores the relationship between BACnet and lighting, highlighting the latest updates to the BACnet platform in this recorded presentation. | | 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.
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Congratulations to the following
BACnet International Corporate Members who have achieved BTL Certification!
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