2026 PlugFest Interoperability Workshop

PlugFest is an interoperability workshop where manufacturers can bring their BACnet products and test them with BACnet devices from other manufacturers. It is a friendly and neutral environment, and the goal is to improve the overall quality of BACnet products in the market. The interoperability workshop includes multiple testing sessions with both one-on-one and round table testing, education sessoins, and networking events to build industry relationships.

PlugFest welcomes all developers at any stage of their product engineering. Many industry veterans attend and are willing to help newer engineers understand the standard's esoteric history. We are all aligned to the same purpose of achieving interoperability between the products.

Companies should send engineering and product development staff and QA Analysts. This could include hardware, firmware, software developers, and testers as well as technical product managers.

PlugFest provides an unequaled opportunity to test product functionality with other manufacturers to ensure the core purpose of BACnet: interoperable networks. It is an open and friendly environment dedicated to mutual success. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from experts, potentially shortening their product development learning curve and gaining exposure to helpful tools. Further, this type of interoperability testing is a great way to lower the cost of BTL Testing and Certification by finding and fixing errors earlier in the development cycle.

Companies are only required to share information necessary to interoperate with other products and diagnose any issues that arise. To protect sensitive information, all attendees are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) designed to ensure information shared at PlugFest remains confidential.

In one-on-one testing, or pairing, companies can test in-depth with a specific manufacturer. In round table testing attendees arrange their equipment on a larger Local Area Network (LAN) and test with multiple manufacturers simultaneously. This provides a more robust simulation of the interoperability environment that products will encounter in the field.

Anything BACnet! From devices with the latest data link (BACnet/SC) to devices on MS/TP. From Protocol_Revision 6 to 26. B-SS devices to B-XAWS front-ends. Products from lighting, access control, and other domains. Brand new devices with the latest technology and operating systems to mature products that continue to receive attention. Some attendees bring mainstream building controllers while others bring niche market hardware and software solutions. Basically, everything BACnet. Visit our Shipping Information & Packing List page for more information!

With limited one-on-one testing sessions, it is impossible to provide a one-on-one pairing session with every other vendor. To improve your chances, each vendor has the opportunity to select what other vendors they would like to test with. The round table also provides an opportunity to test with many different vendors. Finally, the last test session of PlugFest is an open session allowing you to request testing time with any vendor. If you have any questions about the pairing process, please contact the BTL Technical Advisor directly.

• Free WiFi in your room
• Daily hot breakfast included*
• Convenient location in Downtown Portsmouth with close proximity to restaurants, shopping, and incredible waterfront views of the New Hampshire Seacoast

*Note: a daily breakfast buffet will also be offered at the PlugFest venue each morning!

There are four (4) major airport options that serve Portsmouth, NH:

• Portsmouth International Airport (PSM): located about 4 miles from the host hotel
• Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT): located about 48 miles from the host hotel
• Portland International Jetport (PWM): located about 49 miles from the host hotel
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS): located about 55 miles from the host hotel

The host hotel does not provide a dedicated airport shuttle; transportation from the airport to the hotel will be on your own. Multiple options are available for ground transportation to the host hotel:

• Rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft are available at airports with dedicated pick-up areas. Rates vary.
• Taxi services are available curbside at airports. Rates vary.
• Rental cars are available from multiple vendors at airports. Rates vary.

A shuttle will be provided to take attendees to and from the UNH-IOL and the host hotel — see agenda for shuttle schedule. Spaces are limited, so ensure to reserve a spot on your registration form.

We provide a shuttle service to Boston Logan International Airport on Thursday, October 1, after the event. The shuttle will depart at 1:00 PM ET, and space is limited. Contact Association Manager Emily Hammonds, MA, as soon as possible to reserve your spot! 

PlugFest participants who are shipping equipment to and from the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Lab (UNH-IoL) must cover all shipping and customs/duties costs. Failure to do so will require the UNH-IoL Team to bill your company for any outstanding shipping and customs/duties charges plus a $100.00 handling fee. Carriers suggested to receive/ship are FedEx and UPS. Storage space at UNH-IoL is limited. We request that all products be shipped one (1) week prior to the event.

All items being shipped for PlugFest 2026 must be shipped to the following address:

ATTN: BACnet PlugFest/Company Name
UNH-IOL
21 Madbury Rd., Ste 100
Durham, NH 03824-4716

Tel: +1-603-862-0090

Notes Regarding Luggage and Customs:

For customs, international attendees will need a proforma document filled out by your customs broker or company's shipping handler. This provides a declaration of the value of the product, the destination (UNH-IoL's address), and that the product is being used for testing and will be returning to your country. It is suggested to put your product in your checked luggage. If your product is small enough to do so, you might want to bring a spare controller that way. If you do bring one in your baggage, you still need a proforma for it. 

If your product does not make it in time, we will adjust the schedule to accommodate you in other ways.

Notes on Shipping Larger Products:

• Crates must not exceed the dimensions of the UNH-IOL loading dock area, which is 56 inches wide x 90 inches high (1.4m x 2.28m). Each crate should not exceed 4,000 pounds (1,814 kg). If a crate shipped is larger, we may have to de-crate the equipment in order to bring it into the lab.
• The loading dock includes a dock leveler, and a liftgate is not required for delivery vehicles. Please note, it is an alley dock and it may be difficult for larger trailers to access. The recommended maximum trailer length is 48 feet.

Click the button below to download the packing list!

DOWNLOAD PACKING LIST

Pre-Registration Tips

• Before registering, verify that ALL of your team members have a BACnet International account! You must be signed in to your BACnet International account in order to register for PlugFest.
• It's recommended best practice to have all your team members sign in and update their account, as we changed our account systems in 2025.
  • If you already have an account, please use your email address to log in, not your username. If you haven't logged into your account since we transitioned to our new software, you will be prompted to reset your password. If you don't remember which e-mail address you used, please e-mail our Executive Office at info@bacnetinternational.org.
  • If you do not have an account, please click here to create your new account.

Member Registration Rate

• BACnet International Corporate Members in good financial standing are eligible for the member registration rate.
• If your company is a Corporate Member and you're unable to register at the member rate, your company's membership renewal invoice may still be outstanding. Please contact your company's primary contact or e-mail us at info@bacnetinternational.org for additional support.

If you or a member of your company volunteers for one of the below groups, you are eligible for an additional $50.00 USD discount per PlugFest attendee! Contact Association Manager Emily Hammonds, MA, to learn more and obtain your promo code!

• BACnet International
  • BTL Working Group
  • Marketing Committee
  • Education Committee
  • Board of Directors
• SSPC 135 Committee

Registration for PlugFest 2026 closes on Wednesday, September 9. We will not accept any new registrations after this date. 

All PlugFest 2026 attendees are required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, Photo Consent, and Liability Waiver Form in order to participate at PlugFest.  

All cancellation requests must be submitted via e-mail to info@bacnetinternational.org by Wednesday, September 9, 2026. No refunds will be given after this date. Substitutions are welcome at any time and must be submitted via e-mail to info@bacnetinternational.org.