FOUNDATIONS — A BACNET INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION
New BTL Certification Program By Andy McMillan
President & Managing Director, BACnet International On January 2, 2017, a new BTL Certification Program was created by the merger of the BTL Listing and WSPCert Certificate programs. In this new program, a single application to the BACnet Testing Lab (BTL) provides companies with a Certificate of Conformance, a BTL Listing and the right to use the BTL Mark. The BTL Mark is a mark of distinction and has come to represent a high level of quality and conformance based on rigorous independent testing. The BTL Certification Program provides suppliers with a way to highlight products that have successfully completed this testing, while it provides users with assurance that these products have been independently tested and have passed industry standard BACnet testing. Some projects even require a Certificate of Conformance, since many believe BTL tested products accelerate and lower the cost of system integration. Combining the current BTL Listing and WSPCert programs makes it easier for suppliers and users since there is now one integrated global process for BACnet Certification and Listing. Suppliers only have to submit one application and all new products will have a formal certificate. Users and integrators can now look in one place to find information on all tested products. For many this listing will be a primary research tool for BACnet product information. Other supplier benefits of the new program include: • Managing Certificates of Conformance is simpler because new Certificates are valid for five years instead of just one year. There will still be an annual renewal process but the Certificate will not have to be replaced each year. • The whole process is simpler since suppliers no longer have to apply separately to BTL and WSPCert. A single application to BTL results in a BTL Listing, the right to use the BTL Mark and a Certificate of Conformance.
Next Steps for Suppliers
For suppliers with existing Listings: These suppliers will receive Certification program information with their annual BTL Listings renewal packages and the renewal process will be similar to prior years. For suppliers with existing Certificates: Information including program details, costs and an application for BTL Certification will be sent in February/March 2017. The existing WSPCert program is being discontinued. Therefore, it will not be possible to renew existing WSPCert Certificates when they expire on A pril 1, 2017. Instead, these suppliers must apply to the BTL Certification program. For questions about the new BTL BACnet Certification Program, please visit our FAQ page or contact David Nardone at david@bacnetinternational.org. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Andy McMillan is President and Managing Director of BACnet International, where he works with users and suppliers to expand and enhance the BACnet community. Previously he served as President of a building automation and energy management business unit of Phillips Lighting.
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