The Benefits of Building Commissioning

1. The Benefits of Building Commissioning Carl N. Lawson Hanson Professional Services Inc.

2. Rapid City South Dakota ASHRAE

3. We are told never to cross a bridge until it is finished. In this business we cross bridges every day that have not been finished. And we will continue to do so.

4. What is the Total Building Commissioning Process (TBCxP)? A Quality Process to VERIFY and DOCUMENT that building systems and assemblies meet the needs of BUILDING OWNERS and OCCUPANTS.

5. What is TBCxP? • Owner orientated • Team Responsibility • Continuous improvement • Lower cost, more profits • Consistent delivery of construction projects

6. So, why are we here and what does TBCxP have to offer?

7. Essential Concept of TBCxP • It takes the uncertainty out of the delivery of a constructed projects • Does as well as any other approach, but at a lower cost • Has means to use statistical tools based upon probability distribution of outcome or based upon random estimate of expected outcome distribution • Has an element of continuous improvement • Transfers knowledge from planning to operations

8. Goals of TBCxP • Document owner’s goals and requirements • Keep project team focused on owner’s goals • Prevent or eliminate problems inexpensively • Lower overall costs for the owner • Increase profits for project team by decreasing costs

9. TBCxP Best Practice • Cost effective • Owner’s Project Requirement orientated • Team (commissioning process team) • Quality tools used • Orientated on delivery of the constructed project for: owner, occupants, and O&M

10. What Each Team Member Wants ARCHITECTS • Design the next wonder of the world • Fewer change orders • Fewer RFI’s • Contractor to build it like it is designed • No site visits • Do the engineer’s inspections • No attorneys involved

11. What Each Team Member Wants ENGINEERS • Design that is not VE’d to death • Fewer change orders • Fewer RFI’s • Contractor to install it like it is designed • No inspections • Do their own CA • No legal hassle • Paid on time

12. What Each Team Member Wants SUB-CONTRACTORS • Design he can change (for he believes his design is better) • A/E should stay off the job site • Work at his own pace • Get paid in a timely manner • Holds supplier’s money since he has not been paid by the GC • Get off the job quickly • Hope he gets his retainage

13. What Each Team Member Wants GC/CM • A design that works • To VE the daylights out of it • A/E should stay off the site • Do it his way • Paid 30% mobilization fee • Paid monthly on time • Hold subcontractor’s payment as long as he can • Get off the job and hope he gets his retainage

14. What Each Team Member Wants OWNER • Project that is pretty, functions well and all systems work • Project is complete, on time and within budget • No change orders • No RFI’s • Low interest construction loan • Makes excuses about paying designers and contractors on time • Hopes the building and systems work as anticipated.

15. What Each Team Member Wants Manufacturers • Equipment and system approval • Ship equipment early • Warranty to start when equipment leaves factory • Why can’t I submit on this project? • Take their time in completing project • Paid without penalty

16. HUMAN SYSTEM STATIC SYSTEM ENERGIZED SYSTEM The Three Systems of Buildings STATIC SYSTEM: (THE FRAME AND ENVELOPE)ENERGIZED SYSTEM: (THE BUILDING SERVICES)HUMAN SYSTEM: (THE TENANTS AND OCCUPANTS)

17. O W N E R CONTRACTOR COMMISSIONING AUTHORITY A/E Building Relationships

18. Role of the Commissioning Authority • Determine what the owner really wants • Work with design team to implement a Basis of Design (BOD) document and Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) document • Develop a plan to implement the BOD and OPR into the construction documents • Verify the right systems are being installed • Verify the operation of the systems • Document the entire project

19. Price vs. Cost • Price is something you pay one time • Cost is what it takes to operate

20. PRICE QUALITY SPEED Pick any Two

21. Benefits and Cost Savings Potential vs. Cost to Implement or Change Cost to Change Benefits and Cost Savings Concept Design Construction Acceptance Occupancy Phases

22. Commissioning Consultant Definition of “Consultant” – someone called in to share the blame. The Blame Game…Dr. John Parker Lawyer – Have we left anything out? Surgeon – Have we left anything in? Engineer – Is there anything left?

23. What is Commissioning • Commissioning is a process to verify that the owner has received what they contracted for during the programming and design phases and during the construction phase. It also gives them a comfortable feeling of knowing someone is looking out for them throughout the project and the 1st year of occupancy • It also verifies that the architects and engineers have received the systems they designed and approved

24. The Principal Goal of Commissioning • The Principal Goal of the Commissioning Process is: • The identification and correction of problems as early in the process as possible.

25. Top 10 Deficiencies Discovered by Commissioning New & Existing Buildings • Incorrect scheduling of HVAC and Lighting equipment • Incorrect heating and cooling Sequence of Operation • Incorrect Calibration of Sensors and Instrumentation • Lack of control strategies for optimum comfort and efficient operation • Malfunctioning air and water side economizers

26. Top 10 Deficiencies Discovered by Commissioning New & Existing Buildings (cont.) • Under-utilized computer-based control systems • Short cycling of HVAC equipment leading to premature failure • Lack of design intent and building documentation • Lack of training for building operators or service contractors on complex systems • Missing specified and pair-for equipment economizers

27. What Commissioning is NOT • Test and Balance • Start-up • Plan Review • Design • Contract Administration • Inspection

28. When Should Commissioning Begin?? • Near the end of the Construction Phase? • When MEP systems installation begin? • When construction begins? • When design is complete? • When CD’s are started? • When DD’s are Started? • When SD’s are started? • Prior to beginning design?

29. Commissioning – Where it is going • It is mandatory to commission all LEED projects to a specified level • Some states have mandated that state owned or leased buildings be commissioned • US FEDERAL GSA has mandated that GSA buildings be commissioned • More and more hospitals are now requiring commissioning • Commissioning is a standard in Canada

30. Why Required? • Low quality construction- construction deficiencies • Complex systems – difficult to test • Integrated systems – do cause problems

31. ASHRAE Guideline 0-2006 • Describes the commissioning process that will ensure HVAC systems perform in conformity with design intent and owner’s project requirements

32. Phases of Commissioning • Pre-Design • Design • Construction • Occupancy • Project Turnover • Warranty

33. How does the CxA meet his Responsibilities? • Conduct a OPR Charrette with the owner and design team. • Create and publish the OPR. • Review each step in the process to ensure compliance with the OPR. • Conduct regular meetings with the Cx Team to ensure communications are free flowing. • Document the entire process for the benefit of the owner and his staff.

34. Systems Commissioning • Verifies operation of components under various conditions • Verifies interaction between systems and subsystems • Documents performance of systems to design criteria • Instructs building personnel on proper operation of systems • Ongoing after building occupancy as requirements change

35. Cost Savings from Building Commissioning • Energy Savings of 20 to 50% • Maintenance savings of 15 to 50% • Reduction in claims from 2 to 20% • Reduction of in-house overtime costs • Reduction of trouble-shooting costs

36. Who are the Players • Architect • Engineers • Owner’s Representative • Construction Manager • Mechanical Contractor • Electrical Contractor • Controls Sub-Contractor • Others as deemed necessary

37. Responsibilities ARCHITECT/ENGINEER • Be a team player • Design the project with owner’s thoughts and requirements in mind • Be willing to make changes • Attend and participate in the commissioning meetings • Attend and participate in the owners project requirement meeting

38. Responsibilities (Cont.) • With the assistance of the CxA develop the basis of design document • Answer RFI’s in a timely manner • Answer change orders in a timely manner • Attend and participate in the VE process

39. Responsibilities (Cont.) OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE • Make decisions in a timely manner • Attend and participate in owners project requirement meeting • Attend and participate in commissioning meetings • Must own commissioning authority’s contract • Approve the owners project requirement document • Approve the commissioning plan

40. Responsibilities (Cont.) CONSTRUCTION MANAGER • Manage the project • Coordinate sub-contractors work • Attend and participate in the commissioning meetings • Attend and participate in the owner’s project requirement meeting • Attend and participate in the VE process • Have coordination drawings developed

41. Responsibilities (Cont.) MEP CONTRACTORS • Install their respective work • Complete the various checklist • Be part of the commissioning team • Attend and participate in the owners project requirement meeting • Attend and participate in the commissioning meetings • Attend and participate in the VE process • Be a team player

42. Responsibilities (Cont.) COMMISSIONING AUTHORITY • Manage the commissioning process • Develop the commissioning plan • Develop the commissioning specifications • Work with all the other team members • Develop the owner’s project requirement document • With the assistance of the engineer develop the basis of design • Verify mold and mildew concerns

43. Responsibilities (Cont.) COMMISSIONING AUTHORITY • Conduct the commissioning meetings • Review the project in a timely manner • Review the submittals for compliance • Review the warranties for the record • Review the checklist • Perform the FPT • Turn building over to the owner • Not responsible for the design

44. CxA Responsibities During Design • Review the SD documents and issue comments to the design team • Review the DD documents and issue comments to the design team • Review the CD documents and issue comments to the design team • Work with the VE process

45. To Correct Major Problems • The contract for the commissioning work should be awarded in the programming phase • The commissioning contract should be professional services directly contracted with the owner • Other contractual arrangements may and will lead to conflicts of interest

46. Common Technical Disagreements • Commissioning projects may experience difficulties if the design team does not take an active part in recommending an adequate solution to a found deficiency • It is not the responsibility of the CxA to dictate a design correction or change to solve a problem

47. Conflict Resolution • Responsibilities of the design team must be clearly defined by the commissioning plan • Design team required services and adequate fees also must be included in their contract • It is important that the commissioning authority and design team maintain a close relationship throughout the project

48. Common Technical Disagreements • Cx contract was not awarded until construction bids were received and awarded • The Cx contract is a subcontract under the mechanical contractor

49. O & M Manuals • Should be received within 60 days after approved submittals have been returned • Review with owner and give comments back to contractor for compliance • Use this as your training Bible • Be careful what you get in the O & M • You do not need installation material

50. Training • Factory witness testing on major pieces of equipment • Get factory training out of way up front • Training should be in a classroom setting and also at the respective piece of equipment • Use factory trainers not the local sales rep