Facility Commissioning Group is a long term member of the U.S. Green Building Council and our commissioning process adheres to the requirements of the 2009 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System – New Construction Version 4 pertaining specifically to Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Prerequisite 1: Fundamental Commissioning of Building Systems and EA Credit 3: Enhanced Commissioning. Benefits of commissioning for LEED include reduced energy use, lower operating costs, reduced contractor callbacks, better building documentation, improved occupant productivity, and verification that the systems perform in accordance with the owner’s project requirements.

Intent:

Verify that the building’s energy related systems are installed, calibrated, and perform according to the owner’s project requirements, basis of design  and construction documents.

Requirements:

Designate an individual as the Commissioning Authority (CxA) to lead, review, and oversee the completion of the commissioning process activities.

  1. The CxA shall have documented commissioning authority experience in at least  two building projects.
  2. The individual serving as the CxA shall be independent of the project’s design and construction management, though they may be employees of the firms providing those services. The CxA may be a qualified employee or consultant of the Owner.
  3. The CxA shall report results, findings and recommendations directly to the Owner. d) For projects smaller than 50,000 square feet, the CxA may include qualified persons on the design or construction teams who have the required experience.
  4. Owner shall document the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR). Design team shall develop the Basis of Design (BOD). The CxA shall review these documents for clarity and completeness. Owner and design team shall be responsible for updates to their respective documents.
    • Develop and incorporate commissioning requirements into the construction documents.
    • Develop and implement a commissioning plan.
    • Verify the installation and performance of the system to be commissioned.
    • Complete a summary commissioning report.

Intent:

Begin the commissioning process early during the design process and execute additional activities after systems performance verification is completed.

Requirements:

Prior to start of construction documents phase, designate an independent Commissioning Authority (CxA) to lead, review, and oversee the completion of all commissioning process activities. The CxA shall, at a minimum, perform Tasks 2, 3 and 6. Other team members may perform Tasks 4 and 5.

     a) The CxA shall have documented commissioning authority experience in at least two building projects.

     b) The individual serving as the CxA shall be:

          i.   independent of the work of design and construction;

          ii.  not an employee of the design firm, though they may be contracted through them;

          iii. not an employee of, or contracted through, a contractor, or construction manager holding construction contracts;

          iv. (can be) a qualified employee or consultant of the Owner.

  • The CxA shall conduct, at a minimum, one commissioning design review of the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR),Basis of Design (BOD), and design documents prior to mid-construction documents phase and back-check review comments in the subsequent design submission.
  • The CxA shall review contractor submittals applicable to systems being commissioned for compliance with the OPR and BOD.  This review shall be concurrent with A/E reviews and submitted to the design team and the Owner.
  • Develop a systems manual that provides future operating staff the information needed to understand and optimally operate the commissioned systems.
  • Verify that the requirements for training operating personnel and building occupants are completed.
  • Assure the involvement by the CxA in reviewing building operation within 10 months after substantial completion with O&M staff and occupants.  Include a plan for resolution of outstanding commissioning-related issues.