What Contractors Need to Know about LEED Commissioning ... Commissioning and IAQ Mgmt for Contractors.pdfSMACNA Guideline 1. HVAC Protection – seal openings with plastic, use MERV

©2006 Energy Ace, Inc. ©2006 Energy Ace, Inc.

What Contractors Need to What Contractors Need to Know about LEED Know about LEED Commissioning & IAQ Commissioning & IAQ Management Management

Presented by Energy Ace, Inc.

Wayne Robertson, PE, CxA


What is Commissioning?What is Commissioning?

Commissioning “is a Commissioning “is a systematic process of systematic process of assuring that a building assuring that a building performs in accordance performs in accordance with the design intent and with the design intent and the Owner’s operational the Owner’s operational needs”needs”Inspired by the Navy Inspired by the Navy practice of a “shake down” practice of a “shake down” cruisecruiseSimply stated, Simply stated, commissioning is making commissioning is making sure the building runs rightsure the building runs right


Why Commissioning?Why Commissioning?

Reduces the Owner’s Total Cost of Reduces the Owner’s Total Cost of OwnershipOwnershipPays for itself with improved operations, Pays for itself with improved operations, avoided problems, and energy efficiency avoided problems, and energy efficiency What Owner doesn’t want reduced risk, What Owner doesn’t want reduced risk, fewer change orders, improved energy fewer change orders, improved energy efficiency, & lower operating costs?efficiency, & lower operating costs?What Architect or Contractor doesn’t dream What Architect or Contractor doesn’t dream of a project with few or no problems and no of a project with few or no problems and no call backs?call backs?


Benefits of Commissioning Benefits of Commissioning

Energy Efficiency Energy Efficiency Good IAQ ManagementGood IAQ ManagementLEED™ LEED™ -- Basic Commissioning Basic Commissioning required. Additional (Enhanced) required. Additional (Enhanced) Commissioning earns one credit.Commissioning earns one credit.


Improve Design & Reduce Improve Design & Reduce Construction CostsConstruction Costs

Design Review and Submittal Review by Design Review and Submittal Review by Commissioning TeamCommissioning TeamFinds problems early while they can still be fixed Finds problems early while they can still be fixed economically. Study found an average of 28 economically. Study found an average of 28 deficiencies per building in new construction. deficiencies per building in new construction. Commissioning catches these so you don’t have to.Commissioning catches these so you don’t have to.61% of the time commissioning pays for itself just in 61% of the time commissioning pays for itself just in construction cost savings.construction cost savings.Fewer Change Orders and ClaimsFewer Change Orders and Claims


Reduce Operating CostsReduce Operating Costs

Energy Efficiency Energy Efficiency –– Commissioning has an average Commissioning has an average

4.8 yr payback on energy 4.8 yr payback on energy savings alonesavings alone

Construction problems are Construction problems are found sooner, while still found sooner, while still under warrantyunder warrantyOperating Personnel are Operating Personnel are better trained and provided better trained and provided with better O&M with better O&M documentationdocumentation


LEED CommissioningLEED Commissioning-- Two PartsTwo Parts

EA Prerequisite 1: Fundamental EA Prerequisite 1: Fundamental Building CommissioningBuilding CommissioningEA Credit 3: Enhanced Commissioning EA Credit 3: Enhanced Commissioning


LEED Commissioning LEED Commissioning --FundamentalFundamental

Commissioning Agent (CxA) creates a Commissioning Agent (CxA) creates a Commissioning Plan Commissioning Plan Develop Commissioning SpecsDevelop Commissioning SpecsVerify Installation and Performance of Verify Installation and Performance of Commissioned SystemsCommissioned Systems


LEED Commissioning LEED Commissioning --EnhancedEnhanced

CxA performs design reviews and CxA performs design reviews and submittal review submittal review Produce O&M Manual (contractor, Produce O&M Manual (contractor, with help from CxA)with help from CxA)Provide Training (contractor, with Provide Training (contractor, with help from CxA)help from CxA)1010--month warranty follow up by month warranty follow up by Commissioning Agent Commissioning Agent


LEED Commissioning LEED Commissioning

LEED Commissioning is basic LEED Commissioning is basic commissioning: only energycommissioning: only energy--using using systems are commissionedsystems are commissioned–– HVACHVAC–– Lighting and Lighting Controls Lighting and Lighting Controls –– DHW DHW ½ Planning & Paperwork; ½ Actual ½ Planning & Paperwork; ½ Actual Field Work Field Work


Contractor Role in Contractor Role in Commissioning Commissioning

Contractor cooperates with CxAContractor cooperates with CxA–– Schedules walk Schedules walk thrusthrus–– Responds to questionsResponds to questions–– Works with CxA to develop system testsWorks with CxA to develop system tests

Functional Performance TestingFunctional Performance Testing–– Contractor performs tests on his ownContractor performs tests on his own–– Contractor prepares a Certificate of ReadinessContractor prepares a Certificate of Readiness–– Contractor performs test again, witnessed by Contractor performs test again, witnessed by

CxA, and corrects any deficiencies foundCxA, and corrects any deficiencies found


Contractor Role in Contractor Role in CommissioningCommissioning

TAB Commissioning TAB Commissioning –– TAB firm may TAB firm may be required to retest, say, 10% of be required to retest, say, 10% of devices, witnessed by CxA devices, witnessed by CxA Contractor produces O&M Manuals Contractor produces O&M Manuals and performs Training, witnessed by and performs Training, witnessed by CxACxACxA performs 10CxA performs 10--month warranty month warranty walkthrough with Contractorwalkthrough with Contractor


Commissioning of MEP Commissioning of MEP Systems Systems

HVAC, Domestic Hot Water, Lighting HVAC, Domestic Hot Water, Lighting and Lighting Controlsand Lighting Controls–– Design Reviews by Professional Design Reviews by Professional

EngineersEngineers–– Construction Installation InspectionsConstruction Installation Inspections–– Functional Testing of EquipmentFunctional Testing of Equipment–– Data Logging of Energy Use and Interior Data Logging of Energy Use and Interior

Comfort Conditions Comfort Conditions –– O&M Manuals, Training of Operating O&M Manuals, Training of Operating

Personnel, 10Personnel, 10--month warranty month warranty inspection inspection


Envelope Commissioning Envelope Commissioning

Drawing Review Drawing Review –– to determine vapor to determine vapor pressure and dew points in walls, pressure and dew points in walls, exterior drainage planes, wind barriersexterior drainage planes, wind barriersThermal Performance Continuity Thermal Performance Continuity ReviewReviewInfrared Infrared ThermographyThermographyTesting for Water Intrusion Through Testing for Water Intrusion Through Building EnvelopeBuilding Envelope


Commissioning of Life Commissioning of Life Safety SystemsSafety Systems

Review of Hazardous Chemical Storage Review of Hazardous Chemical Storage rooms for Explosion Protection, rooms for Explosion Protection, Containment of Spills, storage Containment of Spills, storage configurations and HVAC airflow configurations and HVAC airflow installation. installation. Separation of Control Areas per floor Separation of Control Areas per floor by fire resistive separation. by fire resistive separation. Confirmation of HVAC system airflow Confirmation of HVAC system airflow to accomplish both positive and to accomplish both positive and negative pressure in specific lab negative pressure in specific lab control areas. control areas.


IAQ Management IAQ Management


IAQ Management During IAQ Management During Construction Construction –– Credit EQ 3.1Credit EQ 3.1

1.1. Meet or exceed control measures of Meet or exceed control measures of SMACNA IAQ Guidelines, Chapter 3SMACNA IAQ Guidelines, Chapter 3

2.2. Protect absorptive materials from Protect absorptive materials from moisture damagemoisture damage

3.3. If AHU’s are used during If AHU’s are used during construction, use MERV 8 filters and construction, use MERV 8 filters and replace before occupancyreplace before occupancy


IAQ Management IAQ Management ––SMACNA GuidelineSMACNA Guideline1.1. HVAC Protection HVAC Protection –– seal openings with seal openings with

plastic, use MERV 8 filters, duct cleaningplastic, use MERV 8 filters, duct cleaning2.2. Source Control Source Control –– toxic materials, exhaust toxic materials, exhaust

fumesfumes3.3. Pathway Interruption Pathway Interruption –– isolate areas of isolate areas of

work, install temporary seals, work, install temporary seals, pressurize/depressurizepressurize/depressurize

4.4. Housekeeping Housekeeping –– dust management, site dust management, site cleaning, remove standing water and spillscleaning, remove standing water and spills

5.5. Scheduling Scheduling –– applies mainly to renovationsapplies mainly to renovations


IAQ ManagementIAQ Management

Develop an IAQ Management PlanDevelop an IAQ Management PlanTake photos during construction to Take photos during construction to show what was doneshow what was doneReport if AHU’s were used during Report if AHU’s were used during construction and describe filtration construction and describe filtration media usedmedia usedProvide a narrative describing Provide a narrative describing anything special doneanything special done


IAQ Management Before IAQ Management Before Occupancy Occupancy –– EQ Credit 3.2EQ Credit 3.2

Two Options Two Options –– Flush Out or Air TestingFlush Out or Air TestingFlush Out Flush Out –– after construction ends but after construction ends but before occupancy, flush out for before occupancy, flush out for approximately 2 weeks, or flush out while approximately 2 weeks, or flush out while occupied under certain conditionsoccupied under certain conditionsAir Quality Testing Air Quality Testing –– Conduct IAQ testing Conduct IAQ testing after construction but before occupancy after construction but before occupancy


For More InfoFor More Info

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Documents

What Contractors Need to Know about LEED Commissioning ... Commissioning and IAQ Mgmt for Contractors.pdfSMACNA Guideline 1. HVAC Protection – seal openings with plastic, use MERV