Standards for Compliance with Building Commissioning – Above Green

Reference: Section 5.410.2, Commissioning.
Introduction:
The purpose of this code is to improve public health, safety, and general welfare by enhancing the design and construction of buildings through the use of concepts that reduce negative and increase positive environmental impacts. Commissioning is a vital element in this effort.
Definitions used in the CALGreen Cx Reference standard:
Acronyms
BOD Basis of Design
Cx Commissioning
FPT Functional Performance Test
HVAC Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning
O&M Operations and Maintenance
OPR Owner's Project Requirements
Glossary:
Acceptance Criteria—The conditions that must be met for systems or equipment to meet defined and expected outcomes.
Commissioning (Cx)—Building commissioning as required in this code involves a quality assurance process that begins during design and continues to occupancy. Commissioning verifies that the new building operates as the owner intended and that building staff are prepared to operate and maintain its systems and equipment. Exceptions are allowed for dry storage warehouses of any size and conditioned spaces under 10,000 square feet accessory to them; and for tenant improvements under 10,000 square feet within a larger space.
Owner—The individual or entity holding title to the property on which the building is constructed. Commissioning Coordinator—The person who coordinates the commissioning process. This can be either a third-party commissioning provider or an experienced member of the design team or owner in-house staff member.
Commissioning Team—The key members of each party involved with the project designated to provide insight and carry out tasks necessary for a successful commissioning project. Team members may include the commissioning coordinator, owner or owner's representative, building staff, design professionals, contractors or manufacturer's representatives, and testing specialists.
Independent Third-Party Commissioning Professional—A commissioning consultant contracted directly by the owner who is not responsible to, or affiliated with, any other member of the design and construction team.
Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Manuals—Documents that provide information necessary for operating and maintaining installed equipment and systems.
Owner Representative—An individual or entity assigned by the owner to act and sign on the owner's behalf.
Process Equipment—Energy-using equipment and components that are not used for HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and irrigation operations. Such devices would include but are not limited to heat transfer, water purifying, air cleaning, air vacuum, and air compressing.
Sequence of Operation—A written description of the intended performance and operation of each control element and feature of the equipment and systems.
Selecting Trained Personnel (for Commissioning)
This code requires that "Commissioning shall be performed in accordance with this section by trained personnel with experience on projects of comparable size and complexity." The trained personnel manage and facilitate the commissioning process. The trained personnel develop and implement the commissioning tasks and documentation identified in Sections 5.410.2.1 through 5.410.2.6. Trained personnel may include appropriate members of owner staff, contractor, and design team as well as independent commissioning professionals.
It is essential that there is a single person designated to lead and manage the commissioning activities. In practice, this individual has been referenced by various identifiers such as commissioning authority, agent, provider, coordinator, lead, etc. In this guide the term "commissioning coordinator" is used.
The designated commissioning coordinator may be an independent, third-party commissioning professional, a project design team member (e.g., engineer or architect), an owner's engineer or facility staff, contractor or specialty subcontractor. Methods of evaluating the designated commissioning coordinator and trained personnel include review of the following:

Technical knowledge;
Relevant experience;
Potential conflict of interest concerns;
Professional certifications and training;
Communication and organizational skills; and
Reference and sample work products.

Selection of "trained," qualified personnel is required by this code. In order to meet this requirement, the commissioning provider should be evaluated via the methods discussed above. In addition, various organizations have training and certification programs that may be a source for identification of qualified commissioning providers.
For information about enforcement and compliance of each commissioning element see Sections 5.410.2.1 through 5.410.2.6.
For compliance forms and templates see Part 2 following this standard.