Bacnet Product Testing and Certification

ENSURE BACNET CONFORMITY OF YOUR PRODUCTS FROM AN EARLY STAGE

Building automation is crucial for the efficient and sustainable management of buildings and real estate and for ensuring the required connectivity. Smooth and standardised communication between all components of building automation systems is essential for this technology to succeed. The BACnet communication protocol makes it possible. The BTL logo (BTL = BACnet testing laboratory) and a BACnet conformity certificate in accordance with ANSI/ASHRAE 135 (DIN EN ISO 16484-5) provide proof that communication between the components also works in practice. Our recognized BACnet testing laboratory will be happy to help you fulfil the relevant criteria.

recognized BACNET TESTING LABORATORY

As a BTL-recognised BACnet testing laboratory, we can assess all components of building automation systems for their BACnet conformity, irrespective of whether the products have been developed for field, automation or management level. We offer support for all functional devices, from sensors and actuators to application-specific controllers (B-ASC, B-AAC), freely-programmable systems DDC (B-BC) and management and operation equipment (B-AWS or B-OWS).

The ANSI/ASHRAE 135.1 (DIN EN ISO 16484-6) standard defines the test method to ensure tests are comparable and reproducible. Following successful completion of testing, you will receive a test report. Manufacturers can submit this test report to BTL, the umbrella organisation that oversees testing and certification carried out by the BACnet testing laboratories. Once formal review of your documentation has been completed with success, you receive a BTL certificate which proves that your product is in conformity with all relevant requirements of the standard. The certificate also entitles you to affix the BTL logo to your product. In addition, BTL will include the device in its Listing of Tested Products. For more detailed information about the certification process, see below.

WHY IS BTL CERTIFICATION OF YOUR PRODUCTS WORTHWHILE?

Although not mandatory, BTL certification of your BACnet products in accordance with ANSI/ASHRAE 135 (DIN EN ISO 16484-5) gives you significant advantages over your competitors. For instance, it provides you with a third-party quality certificate which enables you to demonstrate the high quality of your products to your customers. Calls for tender for (public) real estate construction projects increasingly require equipment to bear the relevant BTL logo. Depending on the project, you may also have to furnish further evidence, such as AMEV attestations issued by the Mechanical and Electrical Working Party of National, Regional and Local Authorities (AMEV). These attestations are based on third-party conformity certification carried out by an recognized BACnet testing laboratory.

BACNET PRODUCT TESTING OF COMPONENTS FOR BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS – OUR SERVICES

Product testing of your BACnet-enabled components (controllers, sensors, actuators, management-control units) to ensure their conformity with the
ANSI/ASHRAE 135 (DIN EN ISO 16484-5) or ANSI/ASHRAE 135.1 (DIN EN ISO 16484-6) standards;

o Product testing throughout the design and development stage (pretest). By offering pretesting, we support you right from the design and development stage with appropriate partial tests. These tests are also based on the standard. However, in contrast to conformity assessment (full test), they save time and money in case of non-conformities as products need not undergo repeated conformity assessments in a laboratory.

o Comprehensive support in the preparation of the EPICS of your product as one of the criteria of the future BACnet assessment and certification process.

o Conformity assessment of the implemented BACnet protocol for completeness according to the standard.

o Support during the total BTL testing and certification process.

Integration tests for additional operator requirements that go beyond the BACnet standard (e.g. AMEV).

Our certification and assessment services are provided under our accreditation according to DIN EN ISO 17025. We thus ensure premium quality in testing, assessment and certification as well as documentation of results.

BACNET CERTIFICATION OF COMPONENTS For BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS – YOUR BENEFITS:

Enhance the quality of your products, thereby ensuring you are ideally prepared for BACnet certification. Save time and money with an ideally aligned certification process.
Ensure your products’ conformity with the BACnet standard at an early stage.
Reduce total costs of development and speed up time-to-market cycles.
Benefit from traceable and robust test results that you can also communicate to third parties.
Gain statements which consider the state of the art, test programmes and verification methods (e.g. ANSI/ASHRAE and DIN EN ISO) recognised at national and international level.

The Certification Process at a Glance

1. You make an informal enquiry to the BACnet testing laboratory

2. After initial consultation on the technical specifications of your product and the laboratory’s relevant testing capabilities, you provide the testing laboratory with the completed BTL checklist, as well as further documents such as PICS and EPICS, if available.

3. Using the checklist as basis, we check the feasibility, testing capabilities, required test scopes and possible test dates and duration. Depending on the result of this check, we will then issue a non-binding quotation.

4. If you commission us to carry out the certification, we will need further technical information and a fully functional product.

5. As soon as all the required information has been submitted, we carry out all relevant tests according to the BTL test schedule along with appropriate documentation of the results. If you wish, you can witness our tests in the laboratory. This may be a good idea – not only when we place your product into service, but also during the individual tests.

6. As soon as all the necessary tests have been successfully completed, we document the results in a test report, ensuring transparency and clarity. You are presented with this test report. Once testing has been completed with success, we will return the product that we required for testing.

7. At this stage, you have all the results that you need for BTL certification. Your application for certification can be submitted online via the BTL website.

8. Once you have submitted all the required information and the test report to BTL, your documentation will be formally reviewed.

9. If this review is completed with a positive result, you will receive the requested certificate and be entitled to affix the BTL logo to your product. The certificate is then valid for five years from the date of issue.
What is BACnet?

BACnet® stands for Building Automation and Control networks. It is a vendor-independent communication protocol for building automation systems. BACnet describes the form and framework conditions for data transmission in the communication between building-automation devices. Like "http”, the vital communication protocol for the World Wide Web, BACnet is the international leading communication protocol for transparent building automation. Ensuring vendor-independent communication and a standardised view among all building automation stakeholders, the BACnet protocol lays the foundation for transparent and cost-effective planning and projecting in building automation.