Building Commissioning (Cx)
Commissioning Overview
Commissioning is a process where qualified professionals verify that the performance of building systems matches the specifications in the approved construction documents. In the case of New York City, commissioning requirements are established in the NYC Energy Conservation Code, Section C408 as well as through Local Laws.
New Construction Commissioning
New construction commissioning offers may benefits to the owner and is the most common type of commissioning. The reason this type of commissioning is gaining so much popularity amongst new construction projects is that it allows the commissioning process to start in the pre-design phase and help inform design decisions before they are made. The Cx provider works with the owner to develop the owners project requirements and a commissioning plan that will be the foundation and guidelines for the projects systems design, construction, and testing. This will help ensure that the completed project will be built and function according to the design intent. Functional testing procedures are developed and used throughout construction to verify and document that the systems are conforming with the guidelines set forth in the OPR and basis of design. During the design and construction phases, commissioning can help reduce any design or installation issues before they become hefty change orders and delays to the project. At the end of construction, a detailed report is created for the commissioned systems documenting the design and construction process, design intent, suggested setpoints, operations and maintenance manuals schedules, testing results, as-built drawings and any other pertinent information to the project. This basis can use as a reference for operations personnel to maintain the building upon occupancy.
Retro Commissioning
Similar to New Construction Commissioning, Retro-commissioning is the process analyzing the existing performance characteristics of a buildings systems. The commissioning professional can then works from this baseline to suggest systems upgrades, maintenance schedules, and operational procedures to obtain maximum efficiency. When new equipment is installed, the Cx professional verifies and documents that the new energy systems in an existing building are installed as per the design intentions, functionally tested, and capable of being operated and maintained, according to the owner's operational needs.