1. COMMISSIONING HVAC CONTROLS
Considerations and Tools
for Simple and Complex Systems
Jim Magee, CxA, EMP, LEED-AP BD+C
Facility Commissioning Group

2. AIA Continuing Education Course
The Associated Air Balance Council (AABC) is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material or construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing with any material or product.
Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

3. Course Description
This 1-hour HVAC Commissioning Seminar Presentation will cover the commissioning process as described in the ACG Commissioning Guideline, as well as valuable practical insight on skills, strategies, and communication and documentation protocols essential to applying the process on “real-world” HVAC controls projects.

4. Learning Objectives At the end of this program, participants will be able to:
Explain the purpose, methodology, and benefits of the commissioning process as it relates to HVAC controls.
Identify and distinguish between the five phases of commissioning – (1) Pre-Design, (2) Design, (3) Construction, (4) Acceptance, and (5) Post-Acceptance – and the activities carried out in each of them.
Describe the documentation and deliverables that are essential to the delivery of quality HVAC controls commissioning services.
Identify the roles and responsibilities of all commissioning team members within the HVAC controls commissioning process, with particular emphasis on the role of the commissioning provider.

5. Commissioning Process

6. Commissioning Process
A process of documentation, adjustment, testing, verification, and training, performed specifically to ensure that the finished facility operates in accordance with the owner’s documented project requirements and the construction documents. It begins in pre-design and continues through design, construction, and the life of the facility. (BCA draft document, 2004.)

7. What is Commissioning? (validates the “design”!) Commissioning
“retro” ; “re”; or “ongoing” Cx
Commissioning
Commissioning
validates the design!
That the design works and meets the “design intent”
Design
Intent
Design
Construction
O & M
Kenig
Changing Needs
“Inspections” validate construction
That the construction is installed correctly per the “design”
This is not commissioning!

8. Commissioning Process
Design Intent Document
Details functional requirements and Owner’s expectations of how a building will be used and operated - OWNER’S PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
Basis for building commissioning
Basis of Design
The concepts, calculations, decisions, and product selections used to meet the OWNER’S PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

9. Cx Standards and Guidelines
ACG Commissioning Guideline – 2005
ASHRAE Standard 202P – Public Review Period: The Commissioning Process for Buildings and Systems
ASHRAE Guideline 1.1 – 2007: HVAC&R Technical Requirements for the Commissioning Process
ASHRAE Guideline : The Commissioning Process
NECA : Recommended Practices for Commissioning Building Electrical Systems
ICC Commissioning Guideline
VA Whole Building Commissioning Process Manual

10. Commissioning Definitions
Commissioning Authority (CxA):
A person (or firm) representing the facility owner
Leader of the Commissioning Team
Authority of Cx Process – not design or means and methods
CxA not in chain of command – preserves objectivity

11. Commissioning Definitions
Commissioning Provider (CP):
Independent Third-Party Commissioning Firm
A/E Firm
General Contractor
Construction Manager
Owner's Personnel

12. Commissioning Definitions
EXISTING BUILDING COMMISSIONING
Retro-Commissioning (RetroCx):
Commissioning an existing building that has never been commissioned
Re-Commissioning (ReCx):
Commissioning a building that has been previously commissioned
Continuous Commissioning (CCx):
Owner continues to collect and compare baseline data on selected building systems to ensure that the building functions optimally throughout its operating life

13. HVAC Controls Cx Team Owner / Operator Architect Design Consultants
Commissioning Agent
Construction Manager (or General Contractor)
Mechanical Contractor
Electrical Contractor
Temperature Controls Contractor
Test and Balance Contractor

14. HVAC Controls Cx Team Equipment Vendors Specialty Trades
Specialty Consultants
Program Manager
Service Contract Providers
BAS Specialists
IT Support Groups

15. Cx Process Deliverables
Design Intent Documents (DID or OPR)
Design Reviews
Submittal Reviews
Site Observations and Site Meetings
Resolution Tracking Forms (RTF’s)
System Verification Checklists (SVC’s)
Organized Systems Start-Ups
Functional Performance Tests (FPT's)
Operation and Maintenance (O&M) training
O&M Documentation
Commissioning Report
Warranty Review of Building Operation

16. Approaches to Commissioning
Comprehensive Commissioning
Construction Phase Commissioning

17. Phases of Commissioning
Pre-Design Phase
Design Phase
Construction Phase
Acceptance Phase
Post-Acceptance Phase

18. Independent 3rd Party Cx

19. Independent 3rd Party Cx
Avoid conflicts of interest
Report directly to owner
Peer level with design consultants
Unbiased objectivity
Not influenced by contractor/vendor prerogatives
Not influenced by design team prerogatives

20. Design Review of Controls

21. HVAC Controls Definition
The starting and stopping or modulation of HVAC systems, equipment and component assemblies to regulate the condition being changed by the process.

22. Pre-Design Phase Review
Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR)
Design Narrative Controls Descriptions
Scope of Controls Systems
Providers of Controls Products
Installers of Controls Products
Quality Control Provisions of Controls
Commissioning Provisions for Controls
User Interface Requirements
Procurement Criteria

23. Design Phase Review OPR and BOD Progress Reviews
Controls Specifications Progress reviews
Provisions for Testing and Commissioning
Operation and Maintenance Considerations
Incorporate Controls into Commissioning Plan
Establish Controls Elements on Project Schedule
Conformity to Owner’s Design Standards
Access for Controls Equipment and Components

24. Design Phase Review Design Sequence of Operation with Narratives
Points List with Types of Points
Define Integration Strategy: BACNET, LON, Gateways
Define User Interactions: local, work station, campus
Level of User Interfaces: HVAC, Lighting Controls, DHW, Life Safety, Fire Alarm & Suppression, Security Systems
Individual Space Control vs. Limited or Central Control
Code Compliance
Local AHJ Requirements

25. HVAC Controls Design HVAC Systems Basic Control Supervisory Control
Optimizing Control
Sources of Supply

26. HVAC Systems
Unitary Package Equipment – stand-alone, monitored or controlled externally
Original Equipment Manufacturer Furnished Controls
Central Systems
Special Purpose Systems: free cooling, rejected heat, thermal storage, cogeneration, renewable

27. Basic Control
Regulates heating & cooling to maintain conditioned spaces (meet the load)
Discharge temperature controllers control the rate of primary conversion (chillers or boilers)
Pressure controls determine the delivery rate of flows from pumps or fans for distribution

28. Supervisory Control Scheduling and Interaction of Sub-Systems
Meet building needs with operator input
Building Automation Systems (BAS)
Energy Monitoring and Control System (EMCS)
Facility Management System (FMS)
Energy Management System (EMS)
Direct Digital Control (DDC)

29. DDC
Everything done by a computer or microprocessor (overly broad definition)
Closed loop control of local loops by a digital computer or microprocessor
Energy management application programs are different from DDC controls and more specialized

30. Optimizing Controls
Control parameters in a manner that minimizes energy and operation costs
Improve efficiency of primary supply equipment
Reduce loss of energy in end use systems
Load reset, dynamic load control, warm-up/cool- down, occupied/unoccupied detection, etc.

31. Sources of Supply Full-Line Control Companies Control Distributors
Full-Line HVAC Equipment Companies
Specialized Control Companies

32. Submittal Review of Controls

33. Construction Phase Submittal Review of Controls
Compliant with Specifications
Compliant with Owner’s Design/Construction Standards
Verify Design Sequence of Operation
Verify Means & Methods and Narratives
Verify Points Lists
Verify equipment and components

34. Construction Phase Submittal Review of Controls
Verify Appropriate Option Selections
Confirm Basis of Design Alternate Submittals
Verify Compatibility of Controls with Equipment
Verify Controls Integration Capabilities
Verify Controls Interface Capabilities

35. Sequence of Operation

36. SOO Cx Considerations SOO is typically inadequately specified
Design SOO is typically not installed
SOO Priorities and Hierarchy
Simultaneous Opposing SOO Routines
Life Safety Priorities

37. Survey of SOO Schemes Temperature Control Humidity Control
Ventilation Rate Control
Pollutant and/or Life Safety Control
Overrides and Emergency Stop/Start

38. Sustainable HVAC Controls
Utility Metering & Sub-Metering
MBH Metering
Minimum/Optimized Energy Performance (ASHRAE 90.1)
Measurement & Verification
Minimum IAQ (ASHRAE 62.1)
Environmental Pollutants Control
Carbon Dioxide Control
Thermal Comfort Control (ASHRAE 55)
Mixed Mode Ventilation

39. Exotic HVAC Controls SOO’s
Hybrid Geothermal Heat Pump Systems
VRV Systems
Water-to-Water Heat Pump Systems
Chilled Beams

40. System Verification

41. System Verification Checklists
Site Observation
Progress/Coordination Meetings
Commissioning/Pre-Start-Up Meetings
SVC Implementation
Manufacturer Installation Checklists

42. System Verification Checklists
Equipment
Components
Systems
Graphics
Interfaces/Integrations

45. Controls System Start-Up

46. Controls Systems Start-Up
Start-Up = Installer Responsibility
CxA Monitor Controls Start-Up
Power/Communications
Programming
Point-to-Point Verification & Documentation
Safties Testing
SOO Verification and Testing

47. Controls System Start-Up
Devices Calibration
TAB Coordination and Support Services
Controllers Range and Accuracy/Tolerance
Locations of Transmitters, Sensors, Pick-Ups
Scheduling
Local & Remote Communication Signals Strength
Wiring Conditions
Graphics and Integration

55. - Raytheon DDC FEMC Guidelines

56. Functional Performance Tests

57. Writing FPT’s for HVAC Controls
FPT typically for equipment or system with controls imbedded and/or separate blocks
Confirm Prerequisites
Organize in Sections
Begin with Tests to Confirm Readiness
Test Safeties First

58. Writing FPT’s for HVAC Controls
Do Positional Checks Early
Start with Basic Controls
Proceed Logically
Conclude with Supervisory Controls
Confirm Graphic Interfaces
Confirm Integration

69. Off-Season Mode and Deferred Testing Documented and Scheduled

70. Operation & Maintenance and O&M Training

71. HVAC Controls O&M Provisions
Set Up Trends After FPT’s (while completing)
Acquire VPN/Web/Modem Access to BAS
Monitor BAS Regularly (transient conditions)
Review O&M Manuals, As-Built SOO Documents and HVAC Controls Existing Conditions Drawings

72. O&M Training CxA Facilitates Installer-Provided Training
DVD Record Visual and Audio
Sign-In Sheets
Advance Notice to Owner Personnel
Divide Training into Appropriate Intervals

73. O&M Training Advocate for Owner Interests During Training
Collect and Review Handouts
Agendas Required In Advance
DID Review by Designer
Manufacturer Rep per Specifications

74. Warranty Period Reviews

75. Warranty Period Reviews
Maintain Remote Access for Periodic Review
Specify Periodic Controls Vendor Visits
Near End Warranty Review
RTF/Punchlist Resolutions
Communicate with Owner, Designers and Contractor

76. Warranty Period Reviews
Analyze Energy Usage
Review Equipment/Components Condition
Owner/Operator Conference
Occupant Comfort Verification
Systems Manual

77. Q&A This concludes The American Institute of
Architects Continuing Education Systems Course.

78. Copyright Materials
This presentation is protected by U.S. and International Copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, display and use of the presentation without permission of AABC is prohibited.
© AABC 2012