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Rob Pether B.E.(Mech)
Commissioning
What is Commissioning?The origin of the word comes from:-commission (n.)mid-14c., “authority entrusted to someone,” from Latin commissionem (nominative commissio) “delegation of business,” noun of action from past participle stem of committere. Meaning “body of persons charged with authority” is from late 15c.commission (v.)1660s, from commission (n.). Related: Commissioned; commissioning.
And the word Authority?
authority (n.)early 13c., autorite "book or quotation that settles an argument," from Old French auctorité "authority, prestige, right, permission, dignity, gravity; the Scriptures" (12c.; Modern French autorité), from Latin auctoritatem (nominative auctoritas) "invention, advice, opinion, influence, command," from auctor "master, leader, author".
Usually spelled with a -c- in English till 16c., when it was dropped in imitation of the French. Meaning "power to enforce obedience" is from late 14c.; meaning "people in authority" is from 1610s. Authorities "those in charge, those with police powers" is recorded from mid-19c.
So a Commissioning Authority is:
A leader that has been entrusted to ensure that the facility is fit for purpose
What is Health Facility Commissioning?The ASHE Health Facility Commissioning Guidelines (HFCx Guidelines) defines “commissioning” as a process intended to assure that all building systems in a facility, including sustainable building technologies, are installed and perform in accordance with the design intent, that the design intent is consistent with the owner’s project requirements, and that operations and maintenance staff are adequately prepared to operate and maintain the completed facility. The LEED-New Construction (NC) Reference Guide states that “a commissioned building provides optimized energy efficiency, indoor air quality and occupant comfort” and goes on to say that “conventional commissioning has limited the focus to HVAC systems but that coordinating other building sustainable design systems in the commissioning process results in higher performance, sustainable buildings.”
What Systems are there for Commissioning ?CIBSE – UK Based SchemeFocus is predominantly on the construction phase
ASHRAE – USA Based SchemeTakes a more holistic view of the facility over the life of the project
What is Commissioning as per CIBSE?
Commissioning is:The advancement of an installation from the state of static completion to full working order to the specified requirements. It includes the setting to work of an installation, the regulation of the system, and the fine tuning of the system.
What is Commissioning as per ASHRAE?Commissioning is:A quality-focused process for enhancing the delivery of a project. The process focuses upon verifying and documenting that the facility and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated and maintained to meet the owner’s project requirements.
What Platforms Enforce Commissioning ?Estidama – Abu Dhabi Based (CIBSE Basis)IDP-R3 – Basic Commissioning (This is a mandatory credit)
IDP-5: Re-Commissioning (This is an optional credit)
LEED – USA Based (ASHRAE Basis)EA Prerequisite 1: “Funadmental Building Systems Commissioning” (This is a mandatory credit)EA Credit 3: “Additional Commissioning” (This is an optional credit)
Are these Systems Similar?Credit Requirement Estidama
IDP-R3LEED EAP 1
Engage a Commissioning Authority
Review design intent and basis of design documentation
Include commissioning requirements in the construction documents
Develop and utilize a commissioning plan
Verify installation, functional performance, training and documentation
Complete a commissioning report
Are these Systems Similar?Credit Requirement Estidama
IDP-5LEED EA 3
Complete a focused design review prior to the construction documents phase (3rd party commissioning authority must be used)
Complete a focused design review of the construction documents
Complete a selective submittal review for commissioned equipment
Create a recommissioning management manual
Contract for a warranty or post occupancy review
Specific Requirements
Estidama –Currently Version 1.0 is applicableVersion 2.0 has been issued as information only, but not yet enforcedThe guidelines are generic for all building types
LEED –Currently LEED V4Healthcare projects have been specifically addressed
What Systems should be Considered for Commissioning?
HVAC systems ControlsPlumbing systemsElectrical systems
Interior lighting Exterior lightingRefrigeration
What Systems should be Considered for Commissioning?
Building envelope Life safety systemsHVAC systems ControlsPlumbing systems Medical gas systemsElectrical systems Fire alarm systemsInformation technology Fire protection systemInterior lighting Exterior lightingRefrigeration Vertical transportMaterial handling
Does the CxA do all of these?
The short answer is that nobody is a specialist in everything.Normally the CxA has specific areas that they are well experienced in. For the areas that they are not experienced in they manage the process and specialists are brought in for the actual verification works to be undertaken.
So which areas need additional specialists?
Building envelope Life safety systemsHVAC systems ControlsPlumbing systems Medical gas systemsElectrical systems Fire alarm systemsInformation technology Fire protection systemInterior lighting Exterior lightingRefrigeration Vertical transportMaterial handling
This will differ between companies based on their specific strengths and specialties. Currently within EKO Engineering we utilize additional specialists for:
Building envelope Life safety systems
Medical gas systemsFire alarm systemsFire protection system
Refrigeration Vertical transportMaterial handling
So Commissioning is Just Testing and Balancing isn’t it?• Commissioning is far more than testing and
balancing.• Testing and Balancing is one element of
commissioning• Commissioning is the process of ensuring that the
facility operates in accordance with the design requirements (which hopefully match the client’s brief!) while minimising the energy consumption of the facility.
• It is a process that can be undertaken throughout the life cycle of the project/ facility.
Commissioning is:• Documenting the owner’s goals and
requirements• Keeping the project team focused on the
owner’s goals• Identification and correction of problems as
cost effectively as possible and as early as possible
• Reducing the overall costs for the owner• Improve profitability by decreasing costs
And the Role of the Commissioning Authority (CxA) is to:• Determine what the owner REALLY wants• Work with the design team to implement a
Basis of Design (BOD) document and the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) document
• Develop a plan to implement the BOD and OPR into the construction documents
• Verify that the right systems are being installed• Verify the operation of the systems• Document the entire project
When Should Commissioning Start?
• There are no rigid timeframes regarding the commencement of commissioning; however, if compliance with LEED or Estidama is required a CxA needs to be appointed during the design phase.
• Beyond this it is up to the discretion of the owner and a cost-benefit analysis should be undertaken to determine when to appoint the CxA.
The Importance of Design Reviews• Design reviews help to resolve issues before the
project moves to the construction phase.• It is far cheaper to change ink on paper than to make
a change during or after construction.• For healthcare the design needs to manage the
infection control risks associated with air and water. For air this involves maintaining pressure differentials.
• A commissioning design review considers how to maintain the facility in addition to whether the system can be commissioned effectively from a controls perspective.
The Top 10 Commissioning Issues in Hospitals• Building pressurization is incorrect. This results in
wasted energy and infection control issues.• Theatres have incorrect air balance, humidity and
temperature control• Incorrect operation of fuel oil systems leading to
generator failure• Incorrect sequencing and operation of generators
leading to failure of critical equipment• Incorrect load shed sequencing leading to failure of
critical equipment
The Top 10 Commissioning Issues in Hospitals• Cause and effect strategy for chiller plant/
boiler plant has not been developed• Short cycling of HVAC equipment leading to
premature equipment failure• Incorrect installation and set up of sensors
leading to incorrect control• Incorrect balancing/ set up of isolation rooms• Lack of training for building operators and/ or
service contractors on complex systems
Example of Issues Identified in a Design Review
Design Intent
Design Philosophy
Room Register No.
Design Actual% Design Within
Spec.(L/s) (L/s)
Toilet E1 -40 -40 100% a
Patient Room D2 170 170 100% a
D2 100 100 100% a
B1 -300 -300 100% a
Balance -30 -30
Cumulative Balance -70 -70
Ante Room D2 100 100 100% a
F3 -80 -80 100% a
Balance 20 20
Cumulative Balance -50 -50
Tolerance 0% to -10%
Specification nominates tolerance of 0 to -10 percent
Room Register No.
Design Actual% Design Within
Spec.(L/s) (L/s)
Toilet E1 -40 -36 90% a
Patient Room D2 170 170 100% a
D2 100 100 100% a
B1 -300 -270 90% a
Balance -30 0
Cumulative Balance -70 -36
Ante Room D2 100 100 100% a
F3 -80 -72 90% a
Balance 20 28
Cumulative Balance -50 -8
Tolerance +/-10%
What if we consider tolerance +/-10%?
Room Register No.
Design Actual% Design Within
Spec.(L/s) (L/s)
Toilet E1 -40 -36 90% a
Patient Room D2 170 187 110% a
D2 100 110 110% a
B1 -300 -270 90% a
Balance -30 27
Cumulative Balance -70 -9
Ante Room D2 100 110 110% a
F3 -80 -72 90% a
Balance 20 38
Cumulative Balance -50 29
Other Issues Identified from CxA Review
Low Level Exhaust introduces lint to the system which will block HEPA filters after approx. 2 weeks of useHEPA filter bank is only accessible in roomHEPA terminal outlets must be accessed in room.Filters will load at different rates and disrupt the air balanceSplitter configuration will be difficult to balance thereby impacting on the pressure differentials in the roomsDoors appear too small to facilitate bed access. Larger doors will impact the pressure differential of the rooms.Large penetrations cannot be effectively sealed (site observation) thereby impacting pressure differential
Back to back wall mounted TV sets will result in air transfer through the wall (power receptacles, data points) thereby affecting the pressure differentialTemperature sensors appear to be in close proximity to heat source and also subject to direct sunlight making control of the room problematic
But How Much Does Commissioning Cost?
• There are a number of studies available regarding the cost of commissioning and associated pay back periods.
• As a rule of thumb commissioning will cost approximately 1% of the project value.
• Pay back periods in the USA are typically between 1 and 5 years for retrospective commissioning (depending on the energy savings that can be realized).
But How Much Does Commissioning Cost?New Construction Retrospective Pay Back Period
Building Commissioning, A Golden Opportunity for Reducing Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mills, E, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA 2009
A Parting Thought….
Good commissioning forces good construction and thereby raises the bar as to what is acceptable.
