Alliance Launches Open Building Information XChange (oBIX™)

OTTAWA, ONT – The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) and an alliance of leaders from the building automation, HVAC, security, IT and facility management industries announced today the formalization of efforts to create guidelines for sharing data and control across facility systems. These guidelines, called oBIX™ (Open Building Information Xchange), employ XML/Web services to enable open systems capabilities and enhanced operations.

The alliance’s definitive goal is to evolve the oBIX guidelines into a standard protocol for building systems. Although not currently an industry-wide standard, these defining efforts put forth by oBIX will allow building professionals to enjoy such benefits as enterprise-wide facility management and open systems integration based on Information Technology (IT) standards.

Ronald J. Zimmer, president and CEO of CABA, said, “The knowledge and control oBIX puts in the hands of facility managers gives the oBIX guidelines the potential to become the standard of choice to unify operating data from diverse systems. CABA is pleased to offer our support in the formative stages of the evolution of oBIX.”

“Input from diverse constituencies will accelerate acceptance and provide a sound platform to develop products,” said Paul Ehrlich, Trane manager of new product development and chair of oBIX. “Broad industry support for oBIX should create the momentum required for a robust and operationally effective standard.”

Key oBIX milestones include a press conference to be held January 26, 2004, at the AHR Expo in Anaheim, CA, and endorsement of and participation in the XML Symposium scheduled for January 27, 2004, at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel. Those interested in becoming involved in oBIX should visit www.oBIX.org .

oBIX (Open Building Information Xchange) is a focused effort by industry leaders and associations working toward creating a standard XML and Web Services guideline to facilitate the exchange of information between intelligent buildings, enable enterprise application integration and bring forth true systems integration. Based on Standards widely used by the IT Industry, the oBIX guideline will improve operational effectiveness giving facility managers and building owners increased knowledge and control of their properties. Comprised of representatives from the entire spectrum of the buildings systems industry, oBIX includes professionals from the security, HVAC, building automation, open protocol and IT disciplines. For more information, visit www.obix.org .

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