Commissioning capabilities

Commissioning Capabilities

 

What is Commissioning?

Commissioning is a systematic process that ensures the new and renovated building systems are designed, built, and operated to meet the Owner's requirements.Commissioning Capablities

We deliver a comprehensive quality assurance process to assist the team in:

  • Minimizing building energy use over time
  • Optimizing equipment selection and performance to control first cost while ensuring operational effectiveness
  • Performing rigorous verification to ensure that building systems are installed and work as intended
  • Ensuring operating staff are provided with appropriate documentation and training to meet their needs

Effective commissioning requires providers who bring depth of knowledge and experience to the project. Cx Associates' Managing Principal Matt Napolitan has over 20 years experience in building design, construction, and operations. Since our firm is small, you know that we will be directly involved in and responsible for the project work.

 

Commissioned Systems

LEED requires the following systems be commissioned:

  • HVAC
  • Domestic Hot Water
  • Lighting and Lighting Controls
  • Renewable Energy Systems

Cx Associates also has proficiency in commissioning solar hot water, solar photovoltaic, sprinkler and fire alarm systems, normal and emergency power systems, as well as building envelope.

We provide building envelope commissioning by partnering with consultants with expertise in that field. By combining their expertise with our rigorous process, the maximum benefit from this service is realized.

 

Beyond Commissioning - Measurement & Verification to meet Project Goals

Our expertise in Measurement & Verification allows us to go beyond traditional commissioning. We can use our metering equipment to supplement information gathered through test equipment and the DDC and for project pursuing the LEED M&V Credit, we have the experience and expertise to simplify the process while ensuring the right data is available to track project performance over time.

For LEED M&V Projects, we work with our clients to establish the objectives of undertaking the M&V effort and ensure a comprehensive M&V approach is taken. We detail the M&V requirements, work with the design team to ensure systems are set up for tracking, draft an M&V plan, work with the customer to ensure the funding and personnel will be in place to implement the plan, verify that the design and construction meets the M&V requirements outlined in the plan and commission the final M&V system. By pairing our M&V capabilities with our commissioning rigor, building owners can be confident that they have an M&V system in place that not only achieves three LEED credits for new construction via LEED EAc5, but is comprehensive, has been verified to be accurate and meets the needs of the building owner.

 

The 3 Essential Commissioning Steps

Design Review

Design Review is essentially a process during which a second set of eyes verifies that the project meets the owner’s objectives and the system design has been optimized as well as provide ideas to minimize first-cost and improve efficiency.

Design Review Process

Cx Associates Design Review Process

 

Pre-Functional Checkout

Pre-Functional Checkout (PFC) provides you with a high degree of confidence that systems and equipment are being installed per the design documents, approved submittals, coordination drawings, and best industry practices. We work with contractors on site to identify and resolve installation issues before they become long-term headaches for the building owner.

Pre-Functional Checkout Process

Cx Associates pre-functional checkout process

Functional Performance Testing

Functional Performance Testing (FPT) is a quality assurance process that verifies whether systems have been programmed to meet the design intent. As buildings become “smarter,” FPT is a way to ensure any kinks in the controls are worked out before a building is turned over to the owner.

FPT allows us to better understand the "brains" behind why equipment performs and reacts as it does, and to make sure a piece of equipment works as intended and can provide the expected performance.

Functional Performance Testing Process

Cx Associates functional performance testing process