Commissioning

Before moving into a space, you want to know it’s right. Clients, building owners and building users should feel confident that all systems function as intended and are working efficiently. Commissioning provides that extra level of confidence. This service includes testing: HVAC, lighting, life safety, building envelope, plumbing, fire, security, and controls associated sub-systems.

Commissioning isn’t a redundant inspection process. It complements the quality efforts of both the design and construction teams, enhancing oversight and assisting in final project turnover. All teams involved in the construction process have a common goal: to provide a completed project that functions as intended.

The leader of the commissioning team is the commissioning agent. This person helps to develop and manage the process that functionally tests the building systems, validates design intent, verifies that client requirements are met and provides commissioning documentation. Design professionals, construction teams, property management associates and owners/developers can all be included in a commissioning team.

Dialectic recommends an enhanced commissioning process that begins before the typical construction document production. Our practice also weighs the Owner Project Requirements against the developed Basis of Design from the design team. The commissioning process continues through design and construction and into the early occupancy stages. Systems training for end users and a systems manual can be included as part of the process.

Prior to construction, the commissioning team will:

      • Review the building owners’ project requirements
      • Develop the commissioning plan
      • Perform a commissioning design review
      • Develop pre-functional checks and functional performance tests

During construction, the team will perform pre-functional checks.

Prior to handoff, they will:

      • Perform functional performance testing
      • Finalize the commissioning report
      • Verify training of building user’s staff
      • Follow-up with site visits as necessary to validate correction of deficiencies and/or perform additional testing

Commissioning was once considered a voluntary activity reserved for complicated projects. However, recent energy conservation codes have evolved to require commissioning in many jurisdictions. Dialectic has many years of commissioning building systems and has been the commissioning partner for clients on hundreds of projects.

Commissioning Services

Enhanced Commissioning

      • Engagement begins in the conceptual stages of design

Retro Commissioning

      • Review of existing facilities and original design to ensure peak efficiencies for all systems, as it relates to current building use

Continual Commissioning

      • Monitoring and tracking systems previously commissioned to ensure systems continue to perform properly and to add any performance improvements found through experience with the facility

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