2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.”

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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!

12. 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

13. Cardiovascular Center

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Ross School of Business

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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%

22. 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

23. Resources Building Commissioning Association (BCA)
Portland Energy Conservation, Inc. (PECI)
Horizon Engineering Associates, LLP
Building Commissioning: A Golden Opportunity for Reducing Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

24. Contacts Matthew Tunnard, PE, CCP, LEED
Michael Keith, LEED