Building Commissioning: Understanding the Quality Assurance Process
Building Commissioning is a crucial quality assurance process in construction that ensures all components in a building, including MEP/FP systems, are properly installed and tested. The commissioning process is carried out by a commissioning agent who works for the building owner with the sole objective of delivering the building as designed and meeting the owner’s goals. The commissioning process is divided into four phases: design, construction, acceptance, and post-acceptance and includes the owner, design team, contractors, and commissioning agent. During the design phase, the commissioning agent helps develop the owner’s project requirements and reviews plans and specifications. During construction, the agent creates a commissioning plan and monitors all issues and deficiencies. In the acceptance phase, the agent functionally tests systems and documents compliance. In post-acceptance, the agent provides documentation and conducts seasonal testing, and assists with owner training. Building Commissioning ensures that the building meets the owner’s goals and operates efficiently, providing long-term benefits to the owner.