Commissioning is
an old idea, but, as a formal concept, is of fairly recent origin. In
the ASHRAE Handbook the term first appears in the Applications, 1995
volume. The activities it includes are those that have been found
necessary—beyond the actual construction process— for achieving a
complete and working HVAC system, which satisfies the requirements of
the design and the needs of the owner.
The term ‘‘quality
assurance’’ is sometimes used. The ideal, from owner’s
viewpoint, is that the commissioning team, selected by and working
for the owner, will assist in the design phase as well as the
construction phase, ensuring that the owner’s needs are met by the
design.
This is rarely the
case except for those owners who have staff personnel with these
capabilities. And many owners do not desire the extra expense,
although this expense is compensated for in the long run by better
system performance and more user satisfaction.
The objectives of
commissioning are:
# To ensure that
the system design satisfies the owner’s needs.
# To ensure that
the system performs in accordance with the design intent.
# To require
complete and detailed documentation of operation and maintenance
requirements, including reference and training manuals.
# To provide basic
training for operators and maintenance personnel.
# To observe,
coordinate, and document all system performance tests (TAB). This is
especially desirable in connection with DDC control technology, to
prove the proper operation of the DDC software.
# To assist in the
resolution of disputes, subject to the terms of the contract
documents.
# To ensure
compliance with all code requirements.
# To advise the
owner when each part of the work has been satisfactorily completed
and can be accepted.
For these purposes
the commissioning team should be selected and paid by the owner and
operate separately from the design and construction teams.
Commissioning can
also be applied to existing systems with sometimes amazing results in
improved performance and better use of energy. This usually happens
as a study with recommendations for redesign and upgrade, followed by
implementation of the recommendations.
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