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Version: 2.4.0

BACnet BACnet/IP Integration Guide

MaestroHub integrates natively with BACnet/IP building automation devices. Browse device objects, read property values in batch, and orchestrate building data acquisition inside your pipelines.

Overview​

The BACnet/IP connector provides:

  • Direct UDP communication with any ASHRAE Standard 135 compliant device
  • Object discovery via device browsing to enumerate all available objects
  • Batch property reads using ReadPropertyMultiple for efficient data acquisition
  • Auto interface detection to find the correct network interface for reaching the target device

Connection Configuration​

Creating a BACnet/IP Connection​

Navigate to Connections → New Connection → BACnet/IP and configure the device endpoint with the following fields.

BACnet/IP Connection Creation Fields​

1. Profile Information​
FieldDefaultDescription
Profile Name—A descriptive name for this connection profile (required, max 100 characters)
Description—Optional description for this BACnet connection
2. BACnet/IP Settings​
FieldDefaultDescription
Device IP Address—IPv4 address of the target BACnet device (e.g., 192.168.1.100) — required
Port47808BACnet/IP UDP port on the target device (1–65535)
Device ID—BACnet Device Instance ID (0–4194302) — required
Timeout (ms)10000Timeout for all BACnet operations including connect, read, and browse (1000–300000 ms)
3. Connection Labels​
FieldDefaultDescription
Labels—Key-value pairs to categorize and organize this BACnet connection (max 10 labels)

Example Labels

  • building: main-campus — Building name
  • floor: 2nd — Floor level
  • system: hvac — Building system
  • location: mechanical-room — Physical location
Notes
  • UDP Protocol: BACnet/IP communicates over UDP. The MaestroHub server must have direct network access to the device on the configured port.
  • No Authentication: BACnet/IP has no built-in authentication — security is managed at the network level.
  • Device ID: The Device Instance ID uniquely identifies the target device on the BACnet network. It can be found in device documentation, the device's configuration interface, or via a BACnet discovery tool.
  • Port 47808: This is the standard BACnet/IP port (0xBAC0). Only change it if the device uses a non-standard port.
  • Timeout: The default 10000 ms (10 seconds) works well for local networks. Increase for slower networks or devices with many objects.
  • Auto Interface Detection: The connector automatically selects the best local network interface to reach the target device — no manual network configuration is required.

Function Builder​

Creating BACnet Functions​

Once the connection is saved:

  1. Go to the Functions tab → New Function
  2. Choose Read Properties
  3. Configure the read items with names, object types, and property IDs
BACnet Function Creation

Configure BACnet read functions with named items and the browse panel for object discovery

Read Properties Function​

Purpose: Read property values from one or more BACnet objects using ReadPropertyMultiple. Each item is given a unique name that becomes the key in the result output.

Configuration Fields​

FieldTypeRequiredDefaultDescription
Function NameStringYes—A descriptive name for this read function (1–100 characters)
DescriptionStringNo—Optional description
Read ItemsArrayYes—List of BACnet objects/properties to read (1–50 items)

Read Item Fields​

FieldTypeRequiredDefaultDescription
Item NameStringYes—Unique name for this item — used as the key in results
Object TypeSelectionYes—BACnet object type (e.g., AnalogInput, BinaryInput, Device)
InstanceNumberYes—Object instance number
Property IDSelectionNo85 (Present_Value)BACnet property to read

Supported Object Types​

CodeNameTypical Use
0AnalogInputTemperature sensors, pressure sensors, flow meters
1AnalogOutputValve positions, damper commands, setpoints
2AnalogValueInternal calculated values, configurable setpoints
3BinaryInputOccupancy sensors, switch states, alarms
4BinaryOutputRelay commands, on/off controls
5BinaryValueInternal binary states, mode flags
8DeviceThe device itself (instance = Device ID)
12LoopPID control loops
13MultiStateInputMulti-position switches, fan speed states
14MultiStateOutputMulti-position actuator commands
17ScheduleWeekly schedules
20TrendLogHistorical data logs

Common Property IDs​

IDNameDescription
85Present_ValueCurrent value — the most commonly read property
77Object_NameHuman-readable name of the object
28DescriptionText description of the object
36Event_StateCurrent alarm/event state
103ReliabilityReliability status of the object
111Status_FlagsBitmask: in-alarm, fault, overridden, out-of-service
117UnitsEngineering units (e.g., degrees-Fahrenheit, percent)

Browse Panel​

The function configuration page includes a Browse Device Objects panel on the right side. Click Browse to discover all objects on the connected device. You can then:

  • Search/filter objects by name, type, or instance number
  • Click an object to add it as a read item with auto-generated name

Testing Functions​

Before saving, you can test your configuration:

  • Per-item testing: Click the test tube icon on any read item to verify it reads correctly
  • Full function test: Click Test Function to execute all items and view results in the test dialog

Pipeline Integration​

Use the BACnet Read node inside the Pipeline Designer to incorporate building automation data into your pipelines. Select the connection, choose a read function, and bind parameters to upstream outputs or constants.

For orchestration blueprints that combine BACnet with analytics, SQL, or notification steps, review the Connector Nodes page.

BACnet node in pipeline designer

BACnet Read node with connection binding and function selection

Common Use Cases​

HVAC Monitoring​

Read temperature, humidity, and airflow values from air handling units (AHUs), rooftop units (RTUs), and variable air volume (VAV) boxes, then push results to dashboards or historians.

Energy Management​

Acquire meter readings, power consumption, and demand data from BACnet-enabled meters and submeters for energy analytics and reporting.

Alarm Aggregation​

Poll event states and status flags from building controllers to aggregate alarms into a central notification system with escalation workflows.

Occupancy Analytics​

Read occupancy sensor data and schedule objects to optimize HVAC and lighting based on real-time building usage patterns.