A system (100,600,800) for communicating common data between a plurality of building automation devices (106,106a-106c,108,108a-108e) across a network (122,124), the common data corresponding to a group of one or more building automation objects (150a-150n) representing points associated with a plurality of field devices (112a-112d) controlled or monitored in a building by the building automation devices (106,106a-106c,108,108a-108e), wherein a point may be (i) any physical input or output to or from a respective controller, field device, sensor or actuator, or (ii) any virtual point associated with a control application or logic object within a controller or field panel that is measured, monitored or controlled, the system (100,600,800) comprising: a first of the building automation devices including a first control program (130a,230) and a group master object having a group identifier and operatively configured to receive a command from the first control program (130a,230); and a second of the building automation devices including a second control program (130b,330), and a group member object (170,170a-170d) having the same group identifier as the group master object, wherein, in response to receiving the command from the first control program (130a,230), the group master object is operatively configured to exchange the common data corresponding to the group of the building automation objects with each of the building automation devices (106,106a-106c,108,108a-108e) having a group member object (170,170a-170d) that has the same group identifier as the group master object, wherein group member objects (170, 170a-170d) are operatively configured to identify and connect to the respective group master object across the network (122,124) in accordance with a power up process, wherein, before identifying a network address associated with the group master object, the group member object (170,170a-170d) is operatively configured to broadcast a first message on the network (122,124) that includes the group category identifier and the group number identifier and reflects a request for any group master object to respond with a second message indicating that the responding group master object is the group master object for the group category identifier and the group number identified in the first message and providing the network address associated with the group master object. a first of the building automation devices including a first control program (130a,230) and a group master object having a group identifier and operatively configured to receive a command from the first control program (130a,230); and a second of the building automation devices including a second control program (130b,330), and a group member object (170,170a-170d) having the same group identifier as the group master object, wherein, in response to receiving the command from the first control program (130a,230), the group master object is operatively configured to exchange the common data corresponding to the group of the building automation objects with each of the building automation devices (106,106a-106c,108,108a-108e) having a group member object (170,170a-170d) that has the same group identifier as the group master object, wherein group member objects (170, 170a-170d) are operatively configured to identify and connect to the respective group master object across the network (122,124) in accordance with a power up process, wherein, before identifying a network address associated with the group master object, the group member object (170,170a-170d) is operatively configured to broadcast a first message on the network (122,124) that includes the group category identifier and the group number identifier and reflects a request for any group master object to respond with a second message indicating that the responding group master object is the group master object for the group category identifier and the group number identified in the first message and providing the network address associated with the group master object.