Understanding the Commissioning Process.

Proper system operation is key to realizing anticipated energy savings

Although a number of organizations have published definitions of building commissioning, a specific, industry-accepted definition of commissioning has not emerged. The lack of a standard, however, does not mask the consensus on the importance of commissioning building systems and the general agreement that building commissioning leads to energy savings.

The following definition conveys the spirit of most building commission definitions and contains many, if not all, of the essential elements: Commissioning is a systematic process of ensuring by verification and documentation, from the design phase to a minimum of one year after construction, that all building facility systems perform interactively in accordance with the design documentation and intent, and in accordance with the owner's operational needs, including training of operating personnel.

Why Commission?

Simply put, commissioned buildings are more likely to operate as expected after the construction phase, and are less likely to experience ongoing problems. The benefits of commissioning include reduced operating and maintenance costs, improved energy efficiency, better indoor air quality, a more informed owner, and Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

* Reduced costs. The equipment and systems training portion of the commissioning process results in better trained and informed building operators. Properly trained operators are less likely to make blind changes or adjustments to the systems, which could reduce building efficiency.

* Improved energy efficiency. Generally, a building that is commissioned will consume less energy than a building that has not been commissioned. Table 1 shows actual energy cost savings for existing buildings that had not been commissioned initially, but were later retrocommissioned.