Knowledge Base

Building Automation Glossary

Clear definitions for the protocols, devices, and project terms used in BACMOVE building-control systems.

Building Automation

BMS: Building Management System, the supervisory platform used to monitor and control building services.
Building automation: The coordinated control of systems such as lighting, HVAC, access, and energy monitoring.
Controller: A device that runs control logic and exchanges data with field devices and supervisory systems.
Gateway: A device that translates or connects two different communication systems, such as BACnet/IP and DALI.
Commissioning: The process of configuring, testing, and documenting a control system before handover.

BACnet/IP: BACnet communication carried over an Ethernet/IP network for building automation systems.
BTL Listed: A certification indicating that a BACnet product has passed BACnet Testing Laboratories testing for interoperability.
Device instance: The unique numeric identifier used to distinguish a BACnet device on a network.
PICS: Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement, a document describing the BACnet services and objects supported by a product.
COV: Change of Value, a BACnet service used to report a value only when it changes, reducing network traffic.
BACnet router: A device that connects BACnet MS/TP networks to BACnet/IP so applications can reach MS/TP devices.

DALI: Digital Addressable Lighting Interface, a digital lighting-control protocol for addressing, monitoring, and dimming luminaires.
DALI-2: The expanded and independently certified version of DALI, including standardized control devices and improved interoperability.
DALI bus: The two-wire communication and power bus connecting DALI control gear and input devices.
DT8: DALI device type 8 for colour control, including colour temperature and RGBW applications.
Daylight harvesting: A control strategy that adjusts electric lighting in response to available natural daylight.
Scene: A stored set of lighting levels that can be recalled as one coordinated command.

Corridor hold: A control strategy that keeps corridor or adjacent-zone lighting active when occupancy is detected in a connected room or zone, reducing dark transitions between areas.
Warning hold: A temporary period after occupancy ends during which lighting remains active or enters a warning state before switching off.
Occupancy hold time: The configurable time that lighting remains active after the last occupancy signal, sometimes called an occupancy extension or grace period.

Art-Net: An Ethernet-based protocol used to transport DMX lighting data over IP networks.
DMX512: A digital lighting-control protocol commonly used for entertainment and architectural lighting.
Modbus TCP: The Modbus protocol transported over TCP/IP for connecting automation devices and software.
REST API: A web-based interface that allows software to read data and issue control commands using HTTP.
sACN: Streaming ACN, an IP-based protocol for distributing DMX lighting data across a network.

Field device: A device installed in the building, such as a sensor, push button, actuator, or luminaire controller.
Interoperability: The ability of products from different manufacturers to exchange data and operate together reliably.
Retrofit: An upgrade that improves an existing installation while preserving as much of the current infrastructure as possible.
System integrator: A specialist who designs, configures, commissions, and supports integrated building-control systems.
Topology: The physical or logical arrangement of devices and communication paths in a control network.

HMI: Human-Machine Interface, the screen through which operators visualize and control building systems.
HMI5: The BACMOVE app for building custom interfaces to visualize and control BACnet systems on iPhone, iPad, and Android.
HTML5: The web markup standard used to structure web pages.
CSS3: The styling standard used to control the layout and appearance of a web page.
JavaScript: The scripting language used to add interactive behavior to web pages.
Callback: A function passed to another routine to be run when a specific event occurs or a task completes.