Key concepts and processes
Third Party Commissioning Services are value added services that provide the owner with a second set of eyes regarding the design of new projects as well as technical expertise that monitors the progress of a project. Commissioning agents work with the interests of the owner in mind to ensure that components within the project are optimally designed, installed, tested and verified as meeting project objectives. Commissioning agents are engaged during the design phases to ask the questions that “future proof” the project and prevent expensive change orders. They optimally have extensive experience with energy efficiency and work to ensure that the life cycle (long term) costs of projects is as low as possible. Commissioning agents also help train building operators and provide summarized documentation as guidance to operators should there be issues with equipment in the future.
Commissioning services are best implemented at the onset of a project and continue until the commissioning agent signs off that a project has been thoroughly completed. At project onset, a commissioning agent can work with the owner’s personnel such as maintenance staff and project managers to understand existing operations and provide technical feedback/guidance to design professionals on the owner’s behalf.
By engaging a commissioning professional early in the design process, it is more probable that designs are efficient and designed with the owner’s best long-term interests in mind. Ideally a third party commissioning agent works directly for the owner under separate contract from the rest of the design/construction team. This helps to ensure that recommendations of the commissioning agent are always in favor of the owners best interests.
0 Comments