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Occupants, Owners and Buildings Benefit From Commissioning
Occupants, owners, designers, contractors and buildings all benefit from commissioning,
which improves health and comfort, reduces utility costs and prolongs equipment
life.
“The building commissioning process restores existing buildings to high
performance, and in most cases, even higher performance than ever before,”
Rick Casault, P.E., president, Casault Engineering, said.
Guidance on how commissioning can be used in new and existing buildings was
presented in An Integrated Approach to Building Commissioning, a professional
development seminar offered this spring by the American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineer (ASHRAE).
“Occupants benefit from living and working in a safe, healthy, comfortable
environment,” Casault, one of the course instructors, said. “The commissioning
process verifies the proper operation of systems intended to keep the workplace
safe and reduces the incidence of indoor air quality issues and comfort complaints.
People who work in a quiet, comfortable, well-illuminated environment experience
greater job satisfaction and are more productive.”
For new buildings, commissioning helps designers and contractors deliver a
project that meets owners’ project requirements. Commissioning reduces
change orders resulting from design errors. Commissioned buildings are more
likely to be completed on time and within budget. Commissioning reduces contractor
call-backs during the warranty period.
Commissioning also reduces the cost of operation and maintenance and equipment
replacement in existing buildings, according to Casault. Commissioning improves
the performance of the operations and maintenance staff through effective training.
“Commissioning improves a building’s asset value,” he said.
“High performance buildings with reliable equipment kept in good condition
are worth more than their uncommissioned counterparts.”
For more information, visit the “ASHRAE Learning Institute” shortcut
on ASHRAE.org.
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