Commissioning

What Is It?

Have you properly installed a particular system, and does it work right? Does it perform the way the owner wants it to? These are the basics of commissioning. As formally defined by ASRHAE, commissioning is "a quality-oriented process for achieving, verifying, and documenting that the performance of facilities, systems, and assemblies meets defined objectives and criteria". Commissioning is a process that covers the planning, delivery, verification, and managing risks to critical functions performed in, or by, facilities.

As the Whole Building Design Guide explains, "Commissioning uncovers deficiencies in design or installation using peer review and field verification. Commissioning also accomplishes higher energy efficiency, environmental health, and occupant safety and improves indoor air quality. Commissioning is a quality assurance-based process that delivers preventive and predictive maintenance plans, tailored operating manuals, and training procedures. Essentially, the commissioning process formalizes review and integration of all project expectations during planning, design, construction, and occupancy phases by inspection and functional performance testing, and oversight of operator training and record documentation."