Fraport AG is the operating company of Germany’s largest airport: Frankfurt Main, but also owns and operates other airports throughout the world. In 2008 Frankfurt handled 53.5 million passengers and around 2.1 million tons of freight, excluding airmail. The airport zone comprises an area of approx. 21 square kilometres.

Over the next few years, Fraport plans comprehensive modernization and reconstruction activities with an investment volume of 7 billion Euros. Building automation will continue to have an important role in this investment, as it has for many years.

By using the most modern building automation technology and networking all controllers, energy consumption is to be reduced, resulting in lower CO2 emissions. Other aims include the standardization of the demands placed on building automation, which will lead to a minimization of operating risks for the property.

The way to do this is to concentrate on approved products which all support a common technology.

As early as 2003, Fraport opted for the open BACnet data communications protocol, not only to allow standardized technical communication between separate automation stations and from them to the building automation management level, but also to avoid dependence on individual manufacturers.

Furthermore, requirement profiles were defined by Fraport for the BACnet objects and BACnet services that were to be supported, in order to create a uniform technology standard for the use of automation stations from different manufacturers within the BACnet field.

To ensure that the requirements defined were met by manufacturers, Fraport set up its own BACnet test laboratory, which checks whether automation stations adhere to the specifications for use in Fraport building automation.

In September 2008, the company Saia-Burgess Controls Ltd was given the opportunity to participate in tests with a PCD3.M5540 BACnet controller.

After lengthy and intensive testing, it was confirmed that SaiaPCD satisfies the technology standards of Fraport with regard to BACnet objects and services.

On 19.06.2009, following these positive test results from the BACnet test laboratory, SaiaPCD2.M5 and SaiaPCD3.M products were granted approval for use in Fraport projects.