The agreement will allow building operators relying on existing wired BACnet infrastructure to confidently add wireless devices to their existing Building Control systems by using ZigBee technology, the alliance says.
"It's a natural fit for ZigBee and BACnet to work together and increase building control options while boosting money saving opportunities for commercial buildings around the world," says Bob Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. "As a result of this partnership, both groups will develop a collaborative roadmap ensuring buildings that have BACnet can leverage ZigBee and vice versa."
Efforts are currently underway to integrate functionality of both technologies with the drafting of interoperability proposals for the two protocols. The BACnet and ZigBee teams will hold joint meetings in the coming months and begin implementing the collaborative plans of this partnership.
"BACnet is partnering with ZigBee because we see a number of strengths by working together and creating a mutually beneficial relationship by marrying our technologies," says Bill Swan, BACnet Committee chair. "Our teams are dedicated to working very closely to deliver long-term value for the commercial building industry."
BACnet currently supports five wired data links with ZigBee becoming its first wireless link. This cooperation will allow existing wired BACnet devices to be upgraded to use ZigBee devices on the Building Control network.
BACnet data types and commands will be added to the ZigBee commercial building profile which will allow BACnet messages to be encapsulated into ZigBee wireless data packets. This will allow for both BACnet and ZigBee gateways and intrinsic ZigBee devices to preserve much of BACnet's underlying object model.
