Consulting Engineering Services

Commissioning Services

What is Commissioning?	Which Projects Should be Commissioned?
"Commissioning is a systematic process of assuring that a building performs in accordance with the design intent and Owner's operational needs" - National Conference on Building Commissioning, 1993 Summary Report Commissioning is a process not an event. It starts with defining the Owner's needs and goals for the building so all parties involved in the project are on the same page. Commissioning involves systematic review of the design and functional testing of the building and systems to ensure all systems operate and interact as intended. When the commissioning process is complete it will result in a facility that is ideally suited to the Owner's operations, with sustainable operability. Some goals of commissioning are to provide a safe and healthy facility. Commissioning will help to minimize operational deficiencies that can lead to IAQ problems and it will also minimize occupants complaints regarding comfort by optimizing performance. Commissioning will also improve energy efficiency by verifying that the sequence of operations match the design parameters and will also ensure that systems are working at peak efficiency, not just at equipment capacity. Another goal is to reduce operating costs by providing higher quality documentation that is necessary to properly operate and maintain the facility, provide more complete training of staff to ensure systems continue to function properly,and help ensure that the equipment is properly maintained which will provide maximum useful life expectancy and minimize replacement costs. Finally your want to make sure you are meeting the needs of the owner's. You want to meet their functional needs like appropriate control of temperature, humidity and lighting loads; their, operational needs such as minimizing operation and maintenance costs while maximizing operation life expectancy; and their operating needs, optimizing this systems performance.	Every project can benefit from commissioning. Building and building system complexity is the real driving factor, not building size or project budget. Commissioning is especially beneficial when performed on buildings with critical life safety systems. Also all building systems should be commissioned, dynamic and static. The dynamic systems would include HVAC systems, control systems such as HVAC and lighting, communication systems, health and life safety systems, and security systems. Static systems would include building envelop, systems that control noise, vibration isolation and seismic restraint systems. The scope will vary from project to project and should be defined during the programming phase.
	Who is on the Commissioning Team?
	The commissioning Team is responsible for carrying out the commissioning process. The team may include the commissioning agent, design professionals, owner, construction manager, general contractor, TAB firm, Mechanical Contractor, Electrical Contractor and ATC Contractor. The Commissioning Agent manages the overall commissioning process and reports directly to the owner. The Commissioning Agent is actively involved in all phases of the project starting at programming and moving through occupancy. They must also have a broad range of technical and administrative skills to be able to assist the Owner through all phases of the project. The Commissioning Agent must also be extremely familiar with complex building systems.
	What are the Benefits of Commissioning?
	Commissioning will provide benefits for the owner and also for the contractor. It benefits the owner by helping to develop and document project requirements and serve as a systematic quality control process. It will also ensure that all building systems will function as intended, including how the systems interact with each other. It will also ensure that the building is safe and healthy prior to occupancy, which will result in higher levels of productivity with fewer user comfort complaints. Another benefit for the owner is that commissioning will minimize annual operating costs by optimizing efficiency of systems along with providing better documentation so operation and maintenance staff can more efficiently operate and maintain systems which in the end will help to lower the annual maintenance costs. Commissioning will benefit the contractor by increasing attention on scheduling and coordination due to ongoing testing during the construction process and will minimize the potential for post construction call backs.