Commercial Plumber (CP)

Correct: The immediate priority in post-occupancy or re-commissioning is to ensure that the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) are still relevant and that the building is being operated in accordance with them. Often, performance gaps arise because the actual use of the building (occupancy density, equipment loads, or schedules) has changed since the design phase. Comparing current operational needs to the OPR allows the CxA to determine if the issue is a mechanical failure or a shift in the building’s functional requirements.

Incorrect: Recalibrating sensors is a tactical maintenance task that assumes the design intent is still valid but the hardware has drifted; it does not address potential systemic changes in building use. Re-executing original FPTs is a valid step in the commissioning process but is premature before understanding if the design setpoints themselves are still appropriate for the current occupancy. Adjusting PID loops and sequences of operations without first verifying the underlying cause of the pressure fluctuations could mask deeper issues or lead to further instability if the load profiles have fundamentally changed.

Takeaway: The foundation of post-occupancy commissioning is validating that the current facility requirements align with the original design intent before performing technical troubleshooting or mechanical adjustments.

Correct: In the construction phase, the CxA’s primary role is to verify that the systems are installed according to the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) and the Basis of Design (BOD). This is accomplished through the execution and verification of Pre-Functional Checklists (PFCs). These checklists ensure that equipment is physically installed correctly, energized, and ready for Functional Performance Testing (FPT). Managing the issues log to ensure installation deficiencies are corrected is a critical component of this phase.

Incorrect: Updating the BOD is primarily a design phase activity, and while it may be updated for ‘as-built’ conditions, the CxA does not perform primary code compliance inspections, which are the domain of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Seasonal testing is a post-occupancy or occupancy phase activity that occurs after the building is in use. Issuing a final commissioning report before site-based verification has occurred is premature and violates the fundamental process of commissioning, which relies on physical verification of performance.

Takeaway: The construction phase of commissioning focuses on the transition from design to operation through rigorous installation verification and the resolution of deficiencies via pre-functional checklists.

Correct: The primary purpose of the Basis of Design (BOD) is to describe the technical approach and assumptions used by the design team to meet the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR). The Commissioning Authority’s role is to review the BOD for clarity, completeness, and, most importantly, alignment with the OPR. This ensures that the design intent is documented and that the proposed systems are capable of meeting the owner’s performance goals.

Incorrect: Selecting equipment based on cost is a procurement or value engineering function rather than a commissioning review objective. Pre-functional checklists and test scripts are commissioning process documents that are developed based on the BOD and OPR, but they are not part of the BOD itself. Finalizing 100% of construction drawings before the BOD is incorrect because the BOD is intended to be a living document that guides the design process; it should be established early to inform the development of drawings and specifications.

Takeaway: The CxA reviews the BOD to ensure the design team’s technical strategy and assumptions are fully aligned with the goals defined in the Owner’s Project Requirements.

Correct: The Pre-Functional Checklist (PFC) serves as a critical quality control milestone ensuring that equipment is properly installed, energized, and ready for dynamic testing. According to BCxA guidelines, the CxA must verify the completion of these checklists—typically through a combination of document review and field sampling—before Functional Performance Testing (FPT) begins. Proceeding without verified PFCs can lead to inefficient testing, equipment damage, or failure to identify fundamental installation errors. Requiring the missing data and performing a verification walk-through ensures the system is truly ready for the next phase.

Incorrect: Permitting functional testing to proceed without verified PFCs is a violation of commissioning logic because FPT relies on the assumption that the system is already correctly installed and statically tested. Bypassing PFCs to move to 100% functional testing is incorrect because FPT is not designed to catch the basic installation and static issues that PFCs address. The CxA must never perform the contractor’s work, such as filling in calibration data, as this compromises the CxA’s independence and shifts liability for the installation quality from the contractor to the CxA.

Takeaway: Pre-Functional Checklists must be completed by the contractor and verified by the Commissioning Authority through documentation review and field sampling before Functional Performance Testing can commence.

Correct: In renovation and tenant improvement projects, the CxA must ensure that the new systems are compatible with the existing infrastructure. This involves verifying that the central plant has the capacity to handle the new loads and that the new control sequences do not conflict with the existing BAS logic. Failure to do so can lead to system-wide instability, which directly threatens business continuity for both the tenant and the other occupants of the building.

Incorrect: Focusing exclusively on new equipment ignores the critical interface between the TI project and the base building systems, which is where most failures occur in renovations. Prioritizing temporary cooling is a short-term mitigation strategy rather than a commissioning responsibility for long-term system integration. Modifying the original Basis of Design without consulting the base building team is a violation of professional standards and can lead to unsafe or inefficient building operations.

Takeaway: The primary challenge in commissioning renovations is ensuring the seamless integration and capacity compatibility between new tenant systems and existing base building infrastructure to maintain overall facility stability.

Correct: In renovations and tenant improvements, the Commissioning Authority must ensure that the new design is compatible with existing building systems. By facilitating an update to the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) and Basis of Design (BOD), the CxA ensures that the project goals are realistic and that the design is adjusted to fit the physical constraints of the building. This prevents performance degradation for other tenants and ensures the central plant operates within its design parameters.

Incorrect: Increasing central fan speed and static pressure setpoints is incorrect because it can lead to excessive noise, energy waste, and potential damage to ductwork or terminal units on other floors. Waiting until functional performance testing is performed is a reactive approach that risks costly remediation and schedule delays after construction is complete. Installing booster fans is a localized fix that adds mechanical complexity and maintenance requirements without addressing the fundamental design mismatch or the impact on the central system’s overall balance.

Takeaway: Effective commissioning for tenant improvements requires early alignment of the new design with existing system capacities through the formal OPR and BOD review process.

Correct: Functional performance testing (FPT) is the primary mechanism for translating commissioning into action. In a healthcare environment, the commissioning authority must verify that the domestic hot water system provides stable temperatures at the point of use through thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) and that the recirculation loop functions to keep water temperatures within a range that inhibits the growth of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens, as defined in the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR).

Incorrect: Relying on contractor pressure tests and startup reports is a quality control function but does not constitute independent functional verification by the commissioning authority. Visual inspections of insulation and supports are critical components of pre-functional checklists (PFCs) but do not verify the dynamic performance of the system. Adjusting valves to maximum settings during the PFC phase is inappropriate as PFCs are intended for static verification of installation, and such adjustments could create safety hazards or deviate from the intended design setpoints.

Takeaway: Effective plumbing commissioning requires dynamic functional testing of temperature controls and recirculation loops to ensure both operational performance and occupant safety requirements are met.

Correct: ASHRAE Guideline 0, ‘The Commissioning Process,’ defines commissioning as a quality-oriented process for achieving, verifying, and documenting that the performance of facilities, systems, and assemblies meets defined objectives and criteria. This definition emphasizes that commissioning is a holistic, process-driven discipline focused on the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) rather than just a set of technical tests performed at the end of a project.

Incorrect: The focus on technical procedures like sensor calibration and balancing (TAB) is a specific technical activity often associated with NEBB or AABC standards, but it does not represent the broad process-oriented definition of ASHRAE Guideline 0. While independence and professional licensing are often required by specific building codes or LEED certification, ASHRAE Guideline 0 itself defines the process framework rather than specific contractual or licensing mandates. Post-occupancy evaluation for energy savings is more aligned with Retro-Commissioning (RCx) or specific energy auditing standards, whereas Guideline 0 is the foundational process for all commissioning, including new construction.

Takeaway: ASHRAE Guideline 0 establishes commissioning as a comprehensive quality-oriented process centered on meeting the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) throughout the project life cycle.

Correct: Daylight harvesting systems are highly dependent on site-specific variables such as glazing, interior reflectance, and solar orientation. Testing under only one condition (overcast) fails to verify the system’s ability to dim or switch appropriately during peak sunlight or clear-sky conditions. To mitigate the risk of energy waste or occupant discomfort, the CxA must verify performance across the full range of expected environmental conditions as defined in the OPR and BOD.

Incorrect: Increasing pre-functional checklists focuses on installation and connectivity rather than the logic and calibration of the control sequence. Relying on factory calibration is insufficient because it does not account for the unique spatial geometry or light reflectance of the actual installed environment. Using subjective tenant surveys as a primary metric is reactive and fails to provide the objective, measurable performance data required for technical commissioning and system validation.

Takeaway: Effective commissioning of lighting controls requires performance verification under diverse environmental conditions to ensure the system meets energy and functional requirements specified in the OPR.

Correct: Functional Performance Testing (FPT) is the process of verifying that the installed systems and sequences of operation perform in accordance with the Basis of Design (BOD). In the context of BAS, this requires active testing—simulating various loads, failures, and setpoint changes—to ensure the programmed logic responds correctly to real-world conditions.

Incorrect: Reviewing Pre-Functional Checklists is a prerequisite for FPT but only confirms that equipment is properly installed and ready for testing, not that the logic works. Analyzing utility bills is part of Measurement and Verification (M&V) or post-occupancy commissioning, which occurs after the acceptance phase. Confirming the delivery of as-built drawings and manuals is a project closeout administrative task and does not validate the functional performance of the control logic.

Takeaway: Functional Performance Testing for BAS requires active simulation of sequences to ensure the control logic aligns with the design intent.