HONG KONG — The first BACnet forum, held Nov. 10 in Hong Kong, revealed an increasing demand for BACnet standards in China and Asia Pacific.

Douglas Chan, president of the BACnet Interest Group China (BIG-CN), announced the commissioning of BACnet ISO 16484-5 as a Chinese standard. He insists a strong BIG-CN that supports the Chinese standardization is needed and anticipates extreme growth of the Chinese user group over the next two years.

The first independent BACnet introduction in Hong Kong was focused on BACnet as an enabler of sustainable building automation for construction and refurbishment. BACnet interest groups AustralAsia (BIG-AA), Europe (BIG-EU), China, and BACnet International (BI) jointly hosted the forum, which focused on the newest BACnet technology and recent applications in large buildings.

Simon D. Mahoney, president of BIG-AA; Raymond Rae, BI board of directors; Klaus Wächter, BIG-EU executive board member; and Chan welcomed experts from China, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

More than 125 specifiers, consultants, integrators, and operators attended the event. Albert So, Ph.D., presented the city of Hong Kong’s application for an elevator addendum to the BACnet standard, which is currently being developed by members of the standardizing committee.

A number of building automation manufacturers pointed out the added value of interoperable BACnet technology. A discussion on technical, economic, and ecologic potential followed, demonstrating the progressive intentions of the Asian “BACneteers.”

Attendees voted for more dissemination activities, BACnet forums, BACnet journals, and trade show presentations in the Asian Pacific megacities, and in the areas of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, and other Chinese economic centers.

Publication date: 01/09/2012