NC v2.2 EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning

You would have to meet the qualifications outlined in this section and in the pre-requisite section. It sounds like you already are an independent third party agent.

It does not sound like you have any limitations. As long as you are not commissioning any of the systems that you design and/or install and you meet the experience requirements.

Hi Banafsheh, 

See the credit language tab for guidance here. Depending on who your LEED AP is it may be ok, or not.

Make sure that the person/people who are doing the LEED certification are not the same as the ones doing the Cx1. Commissioning (Cx) is the process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements. 2. The process of checking the performance of a building against the owner's goals during design, construction, and occupancy. At a minimum, mechanical and electrical equipment are tested, although much more extensive testing may also be included. activities. This would not meet the requirement to be independent of the design team. We have run into this on previous projects.

Debra, balancing is not a specific requirement, no. That's not to say it shouldn't be done, or might not be done in the course of Cx1. Commissioning (Cx) is the process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements. 2. The process of checking the performance of a building against the owner's goals during design, construction, and occupancy. At a minimum, mechanical and electrical equipment are tested, although much more extensive testing may also be included., but it is not specifically called for.

Does anyone know how to deal with Commissioning of District Energy System (DES)? As I mentioned above the project which I'm working on is situated in a city which is supplied with heat by a large District Energy System. It's impossible to make a commissioning of the whole system. How can I comply with the requirements of EA Cre 3? Is it enough to submit official documents obtained from the heat generating plant and distribution system owner saying that DES was properly commissioned and maintained?

Adam, based on the requirements of EA C3 and the associated “Treatment of District or Campus Thermal Energy ...” (August 13, 2010), you must include all upstream equipmentUpstream equipment consists of all heating or cooling systems, equipment, and controls that are associated with a district energy system but are not part of the project building's thermal connection or do not interface with the district energy system. It includes the central energy plant and all transmission and distribution equipment associated with transporting the thermal energy to the project building and site. associated with serving the project as part of the Cx1. Commissioning (Cx) is the process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements. 2. The process of checking the performance of a building against the owner's goals during design, construction, and occupancy. At a minimum, mechanical and electrical equipment are tested, although much more extensive testing may also be included. scope. Assuming your building is not excluded from compliance based on the points established in section 2.3.2 of the guide, then you must show that the DES was commissioned within the past three years from the date of your buildings substantial completion or, that the DES has had a comprehensive maintenance and efficiency monitoring program that has been used to maintain or improve the DES system. There is more detail in the guidance document.

I would assume that a large DES system, like the one you reference, would have an established maintenance and efficiency program that would comply with option two even if they do not comply with option 1.

Yes, the owner can perform commissioning, but must still qualify having the required experiance in the process. The real benefits from the enhnaced process is in the peer review that a qualified provider can bring to project; a voice that should have no agenda or preconcieved ideas related to the project, and can promote good dialogue and communication in the design team including the owner.

Agreed. We promote owner involvement in our process to enhance their ability to operate the building after we have all abandoned them. As Scott says, make sure the owner representative meets the LEED requirements, but also has the technical capabilities to perform an effective commissioning process.

Related to Sue's question, does the required experience (.e. in at least two building projects) of the Operations Manager have to be LEED projects? LEED is quite new in our country, while they are several professionals who can carry out the LEED Cx1. Commissioning (Cx) is the process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements. 2. The process of checking the performance of a building against the owner's goals during design, construction, and occupancy. At a minimum, mechanical and electrical equipment are tested, although much more extensive testing may also be included. service only a few have been involved in LEED projects as their CxAThe commissioning authority (CxA) is the individual designated to organize, lead, and review the completion of commissioning process activities. The CxA facilitates communication among the owner, designer, and contractor to ensure that complex systems are installed and function in accordance with the owner's project requirements..

Katherine, the experience does not have to be on LEED projects.

We have always been substantially complete with Cx1. Commissioning (Cx) is the process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements. 2. The process of checking the performance of a building against the owner's goals during design, construction, and occupancy. At a minimum, mechanical and electrical equipment are tested, although much more extensive testing may also be included. before submittal. There can be selected items that are not complete, like specific seasonal testing, the 10 month review for Enhanced, or maybe two or three issues in the Cx log, but we clearly call them out and indicate the contractual requirement to complete them.

LEED V3 allows the following option on the Fundamental Cx1. Commissioning (Cx) is the process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements. 2. The process of checking the performance of a building against the owner's goals during design, construction, and occupancy. At a minimum, mechanical and electrical equipment are tested, although much more extensive testing may also be included. template:

"The commissioning report is pending completion. A contract is in place to ensure the report will be completed"
PENDING COMMISSIONING REPORT required uploads:
Executive Summary (+ list of systems commissioned and by whom)
Signed contract with defined scope and timing of commissioning services.
Sample prefunctional & functional checklists for at least two of the commissioned systems.

You can refer to the sample Cx template viewable at LEED Online.

To answer your questions, YES, the project team is allowed to submit for review / approval of the Cx prior to completion.
I am currently purtsiong this path on a LEED CI project I am commissioning.

Just to confirm, have you had success submitting pending documentation for a LEED NC v2.2 project, or only for LEED 2009?

We've had success on LEED NC v2.2 projects.

Currently we are following the same route on a LEED 2009 project. As this project is not yet certified we do not have success yet.

To expand on Myra's question with my silly question, if "Pending Commissioning Report" is used, the "Commissioning Report Completed" box gets left unchecked, right? I've never left a box unchecked. What happens? Also, where do you recommend noting "Pending Commissioning Report"? In the narrative, or attached doc?

We have provided blank versions of all the forms that were created for the project (with modificaitons that may have happened during the actual testing). We then include some recommended durations between the testing.

Just to confirm, have you had success submitting pending documentation for a LEED NC v2.2 project, or only for LEED 2009?

We have had various levels of success with each of your strategies and the main indicator seems to be the coordination/communication of the person managing the submittals. Since it is not the goal of the Cx1. Commissioning (Cx) is the process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements. 2. The process of checking the performance of a building against the owner's goals during design, construction, and occupancy. At a minimum, mechanical and electrical equipment are tested, although much more extensive testing may also be included. submittal review to duplicate the engineers review, we do a parallell review and provide our comments to the engineer for review and inclusion in his/her comments. We concentrate on OPROwner's project requirements (OPR) is a written document that details the ideas, concepts, and criteria that are determined by the owner to be important to the success of the project., maintenance, and operational issues related to the submitted equipment.

Hi Mara. Did you ever receive an answer to your question about separate design and construction commissioning agents? Were you successful in your projects using a split CxAThe commissioning authority (CxA) is the individual designated to organize, lead, and review the completion of commissioning process activities. The CxA facilitates communication among the owner, designer, and contractor to ensure that complex systems are installed and function in accordance with the owner's project requirements.? We are running into this issue as well on federal projects and I am curious to know what your experience has been. Thanks!

I thought I answered this previously. It must have been a different credit discussion or I am getting old.

The LEED reference guide (Enhanced Cx1. Commissioning (Cx) is the process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner's project requirements. 2. The process of checking the performance of a building against the owner's goals during design, construction, and occupancy. At a minimum, mechanical and electrical equipment are tested, although much more extensive testing may also be included.) states that the commissioning agent must “lead, review, and oversee the completion of all commissioning process activities”. In the case of having two separate firms perform the fundamental and enhanced Cx portions of the project, I would suggest that the enhanced CxAThe commissioning authority (CxA) is the individual designated to organize, lead, and review the completion of commissioning process activities. The CxA facilitates communication among the owner, designer, and contractor to ensure that complex systems are installed and function in accordance with the owner's project requirements. must still oversee (and potentially verify) the fundamental activities and ensure their compliance with the enhanced commissioning activities.

On all of our federal projects we have provided both functions. We are in the middle of a situation similar to your question but have not submitted the LEED credit at this time. We are performing and documenting our work per my comments above.

I would consider the intent of this credit with respect to the design schedule. You need to be able to have the CxAThe commissioning authority (CxA) is the individual designated to organize, lead, and review the completion of commissioning process activities. The CxA facilitates communication among the owner, designer, and contractor to ensure that complex systems are installed and function in accordance with the owner's project requirements. review the project documents in enough time for their comments to be picked up, the drawings to be reissued (pre-100%), and the CxA to back-check the corrections. I have heard of very large projects with long design schedules incorporating a Cx design review this late, because a 65% set may still be over six months away from completion. For most projects, though, this is probably too late.

As Mara was saying, by the intent of the credit you will not be able to achieve the credit. Although, you can make the argument that you meet the intent as long as you have established and OPROwner's project requirements (OPR) is a written document that details the ideas, concepts, and criteria that are determined by the owner to be important to the success of the project. and BODBasis of design (BOD) includes design information necessary to accomplish the owner's project requirements, including system descriptions, indoor environmental quality criteria, design assumptions, and references to applicable codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines., adjusted the design based on these documents, and have the opportunity for the CxAThe commissioning authority (CxA) is the individual designated to organize, lead, and review the completion of commissioning process activities. The CxA facilitates communication among the owner, designer, and contractor to ensure that complex systems are installed and function in accordance with the owner's project requirements. to do an additional review before completion of the CD’s.