Aims and tasks of the BIG-EU
Lower building costs and greater energy efficiency - these are the objectives of the BIG-EU. It is because systems that communicate with each other in a single language are far superior to isolated solutions, that we demand the prevalence of the BACnet standard in Europe. We represent European interests in the development of the norm and coordinate the European BACnet activities. Our tasks are:
Best practice
The BIG-EU promotes the spread of best practice solutions. Reference projects
are published in the BACnet Europe Journal and the Internet. Experts share
their experiences at the BACnet Forum, on joint stands at exhibitions, in
the Marketing and Technology Work Groups and at the members' General Meeting.
European Coordination
The BIG-EU coordinates the European BACnet activities and represents the interests
of the European members and countries at ASHRAE, the American BACnet Association
(BMA) as well as the BACnet Interest Groups North America (BIG-NA), Australasia
(BIG-AA) and Middle East (BIG-ME). The close cooperation with the American
board prevents the emergence of a European BACnet dialect.
Interoperability
Interoperability is the ability of different systems to work together. This
is usually achieved by conforming to common standards. By promoting compliance
with the BACnet standard, the BIG-EU promotes interoperability in building
automation.
Conformity
In Europe there is a large demand for proof of a product's conformity. In
agreement with the American BACnet partners, the BIG-EU has developed a procedure
for certifying conformance according to the BACnet norm ISO 16484-5. The goal
is an automated testing procedure. Manufacturers of successfully tested products
receive permission for their products to carry the BTL trade mark. A PICS
(Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement) obliges manufacturers to label
their products with information on the conformance class, the supported functions,
objects, applications and transfer media.
Marketing
The market expects unbiased news about users, profitability and applications
of the BACnet protocol. The BIG-EU informs investors, planners and BACnet
users via the "BACnet Europe Journal", press releases, the BACnet
Forum, exhibitions, and the Internet. It coordinates European marketing activities
and represents members' interests in the market. It also offers advice on
formulating tenders for networked solutions based on BACnet.
Guidelines
The BIG-EU controls the requirements of the conformity tests and the use of
the BACnet trade mark in Europe. It is responsible for the protection of the
BACnet trade mark in Europe for proven BACnet conformity. The BIG-EU has developed
guidelines on writing tenders based on DIN ISO EN 16484-5.
Standardization
The BACnet protocol can always be extended. When developing the standard,
the BIG-EU respects the interests of its members. It represents European interests
in the permanent BACnet committee SSPC 135 of ASHRAE and informs members of
the results.
Training
The use of the BACnet protocol presupposes specialist knowledge. The BIG-EU
offers two day training courses on the fundamentals and methodology of planning,
implementation and operation. These courses are run in cooperation with the
VDI-Wissenforum.