It is a tool to verify design intent, reduce construction delays and enhance energy efficiency.
The commissioning agent can be part of the Ownerâs design team, engineering/construction firm, contractor or an independent third party. The industry standard most recognized arrangement is for an independent third party CxP contracted directly by the Owner. Definition
Commissioning is a holistic process that spans from pre-design through construction, occupancy and operation. It includes detailed planning, documentation and testing to verify that all building systems function as designed and meet the ownerâs project requirements.
A commissioned building often results in lower energy, operation and maintenance costs. It may also reduce repair/replacement costs and extend equipment lifespans.
The person responsible for the commissioning process is the CxP (CxP is an acronym for âcommissioning professionalâ). Generally, the CxP is independent of the design and construction team to ensure unbiased performance in representation of the owner. They are contracted directly to the owner, or in some cases, they are an employee of the design/engineering firm or contractor. Having a CxP helps to minimize construction and schedule delays. Scope
In addition to commissioning plans and manuals, the cxp identifies and enforces specification and contractual provisions, reviews contractor submittal packages and documents, participates in design review meetings, conducts field assessments, oversees equipment verification testing, witnesses construction activities, prepares and audits construction checklists, establishes lines of communication, creates issues/resolution logs, produces commissioning reports.
The cxp can be an Owner’s Staff Member, Engineer/Architect, Construction/Project Manager, or an independent third party contracted directly to the Owner.United States of America It is recommended that the cxp is an independent third party to assure impartial performance in (972) 818-9000 representation of the Owner. The cxp may have other project responsibilities, but is obligated to disclose those relationships and thereby prevent conflict of interest. This ensures unbiased performance in the process of building commissioning. This also leads to a higher level of quality in the commissioning process and subsequent cost savings for the Owner through proactive quality measures. Methods
Building commissioning is fairly new and has become a standard practice in the construction industry. The process is a way to ensure that quality is built into the project from initial planning/design through construction and occupancy.
This involves documenting system design intent and operating sequences, verifying systems function by performing functional performance testing and measurement and ensuring building operations staff is trained. The results are a smoother transition from design to construction to occupancy and ultimately lower energy, operation and maintenance costs for the Owner.
The CxP Rirchardson may be a member of the Ownerâs team (Owner, Engineer, Contractor or Project Manager), a third party plumbing commissioning contractor or an independent CxP contracted directly to the Owner. It is the industry best practice for an independent CxP to be contracted directly to the Owner as it provides a more unbiased representation. Requirements
The cxp is engaged early in the project and establishes the Ownerâs Project Requirements (OPR) for system function, performance expectations, and maintainability, enforces specification and contractual provisions, identifies specialized tests and creates commissioning schedules. The cxp verifies testing is performed in accordance with the methods specified, conducts physical onsite verification (either part or whole), manages and records observations/issues in an issues register and produces and reviews commissioning reports.
The cxp also prepares and reviews a systems manual for the facility which documents all the commissioned equipment, systems, and procedures. Continuous commissioning is a maintenance process which includes scheduled and rigorous retests to verify the commissioned systems are performing as intended. This is especially important for critical facilities to prevent downtime and the associated cost of lost revenue. Team
A team is a group of people who work together to complete a shared task. Members typically have specific roles and are assigned to activities for a defined period of time. A team may be a collection of individuals or it could include groups from different departments within an organization.
Commissioning is a quality-focused process that improves building design and construction. It helps minimize risk, ensures project requirements are met and often results in quantifiable energy savings and sustainability gains.
Ideally, the CxP is engaged in commissioning during pre-design/planning and continues through design, construction field observation and testing, factory equipment inspections, functional performance testing and occupancy and operation. The CxP also performs submittal and O&M manual reviews, develops commissioning specifications and assists with establishing the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) for new buildings and systems and reviews existing OPR for building/system upgrades
Our Linkedin Profile
