Commissioning should begin during the design phase, ideally at schematic design or earlier. Early involvement allows the commissioning team to review and/or help define the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR), verify the basis of design (BOD) aligns with owner expectations, identify potential performance issues, and incorporate commissioning requirements into construction documents.
Integrating the commissioning process early prevents costly changes later. Issues identified during design can be corrected with minimal expense, while problems discovered after construction may require expensive rework. The commissioning authority develops a comprehensive commissioning plan, coordinates with the design team, develops commissioning specifications to insert into the design team’s bid package, and establishes testing requirements before construction begins.
When equipment is being pre-purchased to meet operational schedules, commissioning agents are also utilized to review the pre-purchase specifications, pre-purchase submittals, visit the factory assembly for quality assurance and quality control, and establish commissioning specifications that help streamline the assignment and integration of the pre-purchased equipment into the construction team’s workflows.
For projects pursuing LEED certification, early commissioning involvement is required to earn fundamental or enhanced commissioning credits. Projects that delay commissioning until construction often struggle to meet certification requirements and miss opportunities for design optimization.
The construction phase involves equipment submittal reviews, site observation, functional performance testing, and systems integration verification. Post-occupancy activities include training, seasonal testing, and warranty period reviews.
It’s never too late to engage a commissioning agent. To ensure commissioning is properly integrated into your project schedule and budget from the start, or wherever you may be in the lifecycle of your project, reach out to Catalyst Commissioning Group at info@catalystcx.com.