Interpreting common commissioning classifications.

Prior versions of LEED focused on commissioning the dynamic energy-consuming building systems for confirmation of successful implementation of LEED’s sustainability objectives for each project.

When it comes to commissioning success, who takes on the main point of responsibility?

Early? Late? Which works best? There are pros and cons for each.

Last month, this column explored the best time to functionally test new systems. This month and next month, I want to back up and talk about the best time to prepare the functional performance test procedures (or “scripts” as some people call them).

Quite often, design engineers choose decentralized HVAC systems because of first-cost benefit, packaged equipment, simplicity of design, and the repetitiveness of the installation, to mention just a few of the features.

BAS integration has long fed our hopes for a future with greater building intelligence.

When every project and system is unique, there may not be a “correct” time.

In the commissioning specification, the owner made the general contractor responsible for the cost of retesting required due to deficiencies discovered during initial functional performance testing.

Commissioning is far from being “business as usual” in the design and construction world. I was reminded of this fact recently when a building owner expressed the expectation that the commissioning professional would be responsible for subcontractor coordination, workflow planning, and installation start-up scheduling.