Problem solved, right? We can see that today we're reaping the full benefits of open standard protocols... well, not necessarily. This article will review the reasons open standard protocols were, and still are, desirable, as well as the benefits we had hoped to realize from their successful application. Most importantly this article will describe how you can assist the building owner in attaining many of the expected benefits from an open standard protocol and how to help the owner maximize those benefits for the expected life cycle of the integrated building components.
Twenty years ago, open standard protocols were widely regarded as the solution to the expensive, frustrating problem of being locked into a long-term relationship with one, and only one, building automation system (BAS) supplier who used a proprietary protocol. Have open standard protocols delivered that solution? The answer is yes and maybe. The good news is that you can move your system from the maybe column into the yes column by properly specifying and qualifying the system.