Last month, this column explored the best time to functionally test new systems. This month and next month, I want to back up and talk about the best time to prepare the functional performance test procedures (or “scripts” as some people call them).
Quite often, design engineers choose decentralized HVAC systems because of first-cost benefit, packaged equipment, simplicity of design, and the repetitiveness of the installation, to mention just a few of the features.
In the commissioning specification, the owner made the general contractor responsible for the cost of retesting required due to deficiencies discovered during initial functional performance testing.
Commissioning is far from being “business as usual” in the design and construction world. I was reminded of this fact recently when a building owner expressed the expectation that the commissioning professional would be responsible for subcontractor coordination, workflow planning, and installation start-up scheduling.
Last month, this column acknowledged the fact that some projects do not have written Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) documents for the commissioning professional to reference.
Over the past two months, this column has focused on the building owner’s role in obtaining meaningful and timely training on new equipment and systems installed as part of major capital projects. O&M training is one of the most challenging parts of the commissioning process to do well.