Why You Should Hire a Collaborative Commissioning Team

Did you know that Whole Building Commissioning including Building Envelope Commissioning can substantially increase the efficiency and performance of your building? It is a process that many organizations overlook; however it can make a huge difference in the overall quality of your property. If you are not sure why commissioning is so important, or if you are not sure how to go about hiring a commissioning team, please read on:

What is Building Commissioning?

Building commissioning is the process of ensuring that a building and its systems are designed, installed, operated, and maintained to meet the owner’s operational and performance requirements. Commissioning integrates many disciplines, such as architecture, engineering, interior design, construction management, systems integration, life safety and facilities management to optimize building performance.

By definition, then, it is easy to see that commissioning is a critical part of any successful Built Environment. From airports to hospitals, to office buildings and data centers – if it has mechanical or electrical systems, it likely needs full building commissioning to achieve peak performance.

What Are the Types of Building Commissioning?

Construction Commissioning

Construction Commissioning is the process of verifying and documenting that a facility is designed, constructed, and functioning according to the owner’s requirements. It can be used for both new construction and renovation projects. The most common type of commissioning is for new construction, where the commissioning agent works with the contractor and designers during the early stages of design and construction to ensure that everything is built correctly.

Re-Commissioning

Re-commissioning is the process of taking an existing structure and renovating it to suit a new purpose and then confirming that the product is performing as it was intended. This can be anything from restoring an old building to making changes to meet current facility requirements. The great thing about re-commissioning is that it is customizable to fit your specific needs so that you can make the important changes necessary to reach peak performance.

Monitor-Based or Continuous Commissioning

Monitor-based or continuous commissioning is a process that uses data taken from building sensors to optimize system performance. The information collected by the sensors is analyzed to identify opportunities for improved energy efficiency and comfort. Monitor-based continuous commissioning aims to ensure that the building’s systems are working together as intended, thus maximizing comfort and saving energy over the life of the facility.

Why is Building Commissioning Essential?

When it comes to commissioning a building, many people may be wondering – is it worth the added cost?  After all, if everything is working, why go through the trouble and expense? The truth is that commissioning a building is essential to ensuring all systems are functioning as best they can and that the occupants of the building are safe and comfortable. Without commissioning, you run the risk of costly and time-consuming problems down the road, and increased operating costs for the life of the facility.

Taking the time to properly commission a new or existing building or facility can save substantial money and headaches down the road. Commissioning ensures efficiency, compatibility and reliability when different systems are combined (HVAC, lighting, security). It is important to verify that they work together as intended. Otherwise, you may run into problems with incompatible systems and less than optimal performance of all systems.

Benefits of Hiring a Collaborative Commissioning Team for Your Project

Extend the Building’s Lifespan

When building a new building, the last thing you want to have to worry about is how long it will last. You can ensure that your building is properly designed and built to last by hiring a commissioning expert up front, before the design process is underway. Commissioning professionals work with architects, engineers, and contractors during the design and construction process to ensure that everything is designed and built correctly and according to code. This can help extend the life of your building by decades.

Minimize Human Error

No one is perfect, and that includes building and construction professionals as well as those who are tasked with the day-to-day operations of any type of facility. Even with the best intentions, human error can creep into the design, construction, and/or operation of a building. These errors, if left unchecked, can lead to inefficient operation or even safety issues. This is why hiring a building commissioning professional early in the design process can be such a wise investment.

By minimizing human error, commissioning agents can help ensure that your building will operate as efficiently and safely as possible. So, if you are considering building a new structure or renovating an existing one, consider commissioning services to help avoid these potentially costly mistakes.

Rapid Return on Investment

Commissioning a building is like giving it a fitness test. It is an important step in bringing any structure up to snuff – ensuring that everything is working as it should and that the occupants are safe and comfortable. But, what many people do not realize is that commissioning can offer a very rapid return on investment (ROI), often in just months.  This is due to the inherent operational inefficiencies that exist in most buildings that have not been commissioned.  Even new buildings suffer from shortcuts or misunderstandings of the design intent, leading to on-going losses over the life of the building.  Commissioning avoids those losses by guiding the design and ensuring that design is properly executed in the field.

Reduce Maintenance Costs

Like most business owners, you may be looking for ways to reduce your maintenance costs. One way to do that is by hiring a building commissioning firm to review and critique your building’s envelope and operational systems. Commissioning firms can help save you money by ensuring that your building is operating according to plan and employs the most cost efficient and maintenance free systems possible based on today’s technology.

Final Word

By hiring a commissioning expert, you are ensuring that your building is as safe and efficient as possible. Not only will this save you money in the long run, but it will also improve the quality of life for those who live or work in the building. If you are thinking about constructing a new building or renovating an existing one, make sure to include commissioning as an integral part of your upfront design and construction process. If you currently own a building that is not be performing as well as you would like, retro-commissioning can provide the right answers to bring your building up to current standards and improve operational efficiency in the process.  It may be one of the most important decisions you make for the future of your property.

This blog is meant to be a guideline for those looking into commissioning services.  It is important that all parties involved in a building project collaborate to ensure a successful outcome, which includes understanding your role and their responsibilities.  Collaborative Commissioning brings all parties together for a mutually beneficial result – a successful project.

If you are considering using a commissioning agent for any part of your next project or existing facility, make sure you understand how they can help with each phase – from design through execution of the work and beyond. We hope our guidelines have been helpful! Feel free to contact us if we can further clarify anything else or can be of service on your next project.