Commissioning

The process of quality control and verification in public buildings is known as commissioning.

It is a powerful tool because it can prove if the designers and contractors have done what you have hired them to do. The district then has the authority to make them fix it up front instead of dealing with maintenance problems or poor performance down the road.

In many ways, commissioning is similar to a "test run" or "systems check." It tests, verifies, and fine tunes the performance of key building systems so that the highest levels of performance are achieved. Correctly implemented it should improve the building delivery process, increase systems reliability, improve energy performance, ensure good indoor environmental quality, and improve operation and maintenance of the facility.

All building systems can be commissioned.

The important components are:

Documentation
Ensure that all required documentation has been provided, such as the design intent, and operating protocols for all building systems.

Thought Transfer
Prepare comprehensive operation and maintenance manuals, coupled with training of building operations staff.

Installation checks
Checking installed equipment to ensure that all associated equipment and accessories are in place.

Operational checks
Verify and document that the system is performing as expected, and that all of the sensors and other system control devices are calibrated properly, and

Ongoing monitoring
Properly implemented such a plan will ensure that a new school starts its life cycle at the highest performance level possible. However, building commissioning is not yet common practice. It is therefore important that areas of responsibility in the process, particularly who will bear the cost of correcting conditions that do not meet specifications, are clearly spelled out in the very beginning.

For more detailed information please see the CHPS Best Practices Manual Commissioning of High Performance Schools.