Overview What is commissioning (short version) How to purchase commissioning (Cx) services Differences in commissioning strategies Decisions owner needs to make Expectations of the commissioning process Case studies – University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center Ross School of Business

What is Commissioning “Commissioning is the process of ensuring that building systems are designed, installed, functionally tested and capable of being operated and maintained according to the owner’s operational needs.” Documentation that equipment/systems are installed and perform in accordance with the owner’s project requirements. Verify O&M documentation and as-built drawings’ accuracy and completion. Coordinate the training of O&M personnel.

Benefits of Cx Energy Savings According to Evan Mills, Ph D. from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab., who conducted a study for the USDOE, of 643 building across 26 states: Median commissioning costs: $0.30 and $1.16 per square foot for existing buildings and new construction, respectively (and 0.4% of total construction costs for new buildings) Median whole-building energy savings: 16% and 13% Median payback times: 1.1 and 4.2 years “Cx is arguably the single-most cost-effective strategy for reducing energy, costs, and greenhouse-gas emissions in buildings today.” http://cx.lbl.gov/2009-assessment.html

Purchasing Cx Services Key points about Cx It’s a professional service It’s a systematic quality control process It’s a paper trail Differences in Cx Process Sampling Who fills out checklists Contractor Cx Provider

Purchasing Cx Services Owners Goals What’s important to me - Prioritize Energy efficiency Reliability Reduced customer complaints Ease of maintenance Cost

Purchasing Cx Services New Construction Design Phase Design Development Phase Most bang for the buck Required to bring in for LEED Enhanced Cx Construction Phase How much time on site Cost is dependant on this Sampling Meetings, etc

Purchasing Cx Services Existing Building Commissioning Cx a building that is already operating Verify that the system still works for any changes made since design (ex: conference room to office) Review HVAC issues (hot/cold spots, complaints) Look into reducing energy costs

Purchasing Cx Services Existing Building Commissioning Steps taken Review design documents Review current facility operations Test HVAC equipment for proper function Recommend changes in sequence of operations to meet current facility use Recommend repairs to system to save energy, fix temp complaints Recommend further energy saving measures (new equipment, etc)

Expectations of the Cx Process Reduced Energy Cost Finding all of the small items that add up to big savings BMS that works Validating BMS systems by observing in the field Reduced complaints Systems have been tested for proper operations

Expectations of the Cx Process Reliability All sequences of operations tested for interoperability Relative Ease of Maintenance Reviewed during construction to maximize space There will still be issues, Cx won’t find everything, but there will be a lot less issues!

Case Studies UM Cardiovascular Center UM Ross School of Business 500,000 ft2 heart hospital Clinical, support, and office space Reliability and customer satisfaction key priorities UM Ross School of Business 270,000 ft2 academic and faculty building Classrooms, auditorium, colloquium, student services area, and gathering space Energy and customer satisfaction key priorities

Cardiovascular Center

Cardiovascular Center 12 OR’s 10 Cath/EP Labs Recovery Room 24 Bed ICU 24 Bed Med/Surg Unit 16 Main Air Handling Units

Cardiovascular Center 3 HVAC Chillers 1 Process Chiller 4 Cooling Towers Free Cooling Thermal Basin Steam from Central Power Plant Two 2 MW Diesel Generators

Cardiovascular Center Cx Differences for CVC Cx Authority was also mechanical engineer site representative Much more authority than typical Fully integrated MEP inspections & testing Cx Authority involved from schematic design Greater understanding of design intent Univ. of Michigan Commitment Totally supported Cx process

Cardiovascular Center Cx Challenges Free cooling sequence Controls schedule Systems are last to come online Time to functional test before turnover Room pressurization Pull the Plug Test Fuel Oil System Domestic hot water State Bureau of Fire Safety State Health Facility Engineering Section

Ross School of Business

Ross School of Business LEED Silver Certified Large classrooms with individual fan coil units Administrative area for the business college Full kitchen for the students and staff Work out facility and locker rooms for all students and staff Over 400 Variable air Volume Units

Ross School of Business 7 Air Handler Units (AHU’s) Hot Water / Campus Steam Hx Stair Pressurization Units Pull the Plug Test Smoke Control System 12 Classroom Fan Coil Units

Ross School of Business Cx Role Assisted Univ. of Michigan and the construction team on the LEED process Cx process drove the final stages of the project Scheduled training with Univ. of Michigan and the contractors Univ. of Michigan Commitment Supported Cx process 100%

Ross School of Business Cx Challenges Classroom fan coil unit access, controls sequence, and performance Lighting controls system – tuned the system to meet the owners needs Smoke control system – perform the special inspector test VAV naming to meet the owner’s end result from the beginning of construction to turn over

Resources Building Commissioning Association (BCA) www.bcxa.org Portland Energy Conservation, Inc. (PECI) www.peci.org Horizon Engineering Associates, LLP www.horizon-engineering.com Building Commissioning: A Golden Opportunity for Reducing Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions http://cx.lbl.gov/2009-assessment.html

Contacts Matthew Tunnard, PE, CCP, LEED mtunnard@horizon-engineering.com 248-348-8800 Michael Keith, LEED mkeith@horizon-engineering.com www.horizon-engineering.com