Building Automation Networks and BACnet Protocol Integration

This course delivers practical knowledge of communication networks foundational to modern building management systems. Technicians examine the open system interconnection (OSI) model as applied to facility controls, with deep coverage of RS-485 serial communication, token-passing mechanics, baud rate selection, and end-of-line termination. The curriculum details BACnet protocol standards, distinguishing master-slave/token-passing (MS/TP) architectures from BACnet/IP network structures. Students explore IP addressing, subnet masking, default gateways, and BACnet Broadcast Management Devices (BBMDs) necessary for routing traffic across subnets. Emphasis is placed on using protocol analyzers to capture network packets, evaluate token round-trip times, and isolate transmission faults such as ground loops, reflections, duplicate device instances, and high traffic congestion. Through practical exercises, participants learn to establish reliable communication between controllers, configure network routers, and diagnose physical layer or protocol-level anomalies. This coursework equips technicians with the essential troubleshooting skills required to build, maintain, and optimize robust building control network infrastructures.

InstructorJacob Calhoun

Prerequisites

BMS 101

Course outline

Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.

01Lesson 1: Introduction to Building Automation Networks and the OSI Modellecture

02Lesson 2: RS-485 Electrical Standards, Shielding, and Line Terminationlecture

03Lesson 3: BACnet MS/TP Media Access, MAC Addressing, and Token Passinglecture

04Hands-on Lab: RS-485 Physical Layer Verification and Waveform Analysislab

05Lesson 5: BACnet Objects, Standard Properties, and Service Requestslecture

06Lesson 6: Network Topologies, Device Instances, and Baud Rate Optimizationlecture

07Lesson 7: Ethernet Physical Layer, Subnetting, and Managed Switcheslecture

08Hands-on Lab: IP Configuration and Controller Network Commissioninglab

09Lesson 9: BACnet/IP Structure, UDP Ports, and Foreign Device Registrationlecture

10Lesson 10: BACnet Routers and BACnet Broadcast Management Devices (BBMDs)lecture

11Hands-on Lab: Packet Capture Analysis and Network Traffic Auditinglab

12Lesson 12: Control Network Security, VLANs, and Firewall Segmentationlecture

13Lesson 13: Isolating Network Flaws, Duplicate Addresses, and Lost Tokenslecture

14Capstone Service Project: Multi-Tier Network Integration and Troubleshootingassignment

Syllabus

["Week 1: Lesson 1: Introduction to Building Automation Networks and the OSI Model", "Week 2: Lesson 2: RS-485 Electrical Standards, Shielding, and Line Termination", "Week 3: Lesson 3: BACnet MS/TP Media Access, MAC Addressing, and Token Passing", "Week 4: Hands-on Lab: RS-485 Physical Layer Verification and Waveform Analysis", "Week 5: Lesson 5: BACnet Objects, Standard Properties, and Service Requests", "Week 6: Lesson 6: Network Topologies, Device Instances, and Baud Rate Optimization", "Week 7: Lesson 7: Ethernet Physical Layer, Subnetting, and Managed Switches", "Week 8: Hands-on Lab: IP Configuration and Controller Network Commissioning", "Week 9: Lesson 9: BACnet/IP Structure, UDP Ports, and Foreign Device Registration", "Week 10: Lesson 10: BACnet Routers and BACnet Broadcast Management Devices (BBMDs)", "Week 11: Hands-on Lab: Packet Capture Analysis and Network Traffic Auditing", "Week 12: Lesson 12: Control Network Security, VLANs, and Firewall Segmentation", "Week 13: Lesson 13: Isolating Network Flaws, Duplicate Addresses, and Lost Tokens", "Week 14: Capstone Service Project: Multi-Tier Network Integration and Troubleshooting"]