Why Commissioning Authority Should Complete Commissioning Checklists
Instead of
contactors, the completion of commissioning documents should be done by the
commissioning authority (CxA) – and for good reason!
Typically the
commissioning management
services company is in direct contract with the owner of the building
and it acts as an independent, 3rd-party representative who ensures
that the entire commissioning phase is completely unbiased and follows best
practices while working towards achieving the project requirements of the
owner. The commissioning authority bears the responsibility to assist the
project team during the construction, acceptance and design phases, which ensures that
the project achieves success, but without being dependent on the construction and
design teams, so as to maintain objectivity.
The
commissioning process needs the commissioning authority to develop testing
procedures, data forms and checklists, and record performance criteria. In
general, these materials are handed over by the commissioning authority to
members of the project team. The materials are further passed on to
sub-contractors – and then their installation contractors complete and return
the documentation for review.
Surely, Not an Unbiased Approach to Commissioning!
This makes
things complicated for the commissioning authority who may then have to
approach various members of the project team for different kinds of documents
that need to be reviewed and confirmed by the commissioning authority. It is
important to ensure that contractors should not complete the commissioning
documentation, such as pre-functional checklists (PFC) –obviously, because they’re
not the independent commissioning authority.
If
contractors take the responsibility to complete commissioning documentation,
the building owner will not reap any benefits from the true value of
commissioning. When the commissioning authority are responsible for completing
commissioning documentation, they are required to completely understand
equipment specifications and choice, design details, and installation requirements from
the manufacturers, identify any access limitations in future and describe their
findings in a crisp and clear fashion. Also, during commissioning coordination
meetings, this documentation needs to be provided to the project team for
review.
Appropriate Role of Contractors in the Commissioning Process
Contactors should
give the required equipment and initial documents to the commissioning management
services agency. They should also ensure their availability during PFC
site visits and make the required repairs, if the installation of equipment is
not in line with the design requirements while meeting their general contract
obligations. When the commissioning authority works on PFC documentation, issues
can be identified and fixed quickly, documentation offers more detail and the
project team can go into the acceptance phase confidently with unbiased quality
control offered by a good global
commissioning authority.
Completing Commissioning Documentation Is No Mean Feat
Completing
commissioning documentation needs an exhaustive database of mechanical
equipment, including air handlers, boilers, expansion tanks, cooling towers,
and every imaginable piece of MEP equipment within a commercial setting. For
every equipment piece, the commissioning authority requires to place the
nameplate(s) to verify manufacturers’ data accurately. This piece of
information shows that the equipment conforms to the authorised equipment submission
and could be used in the equipment inventory database of the owner. Once the
equipment is installed completely, the commission management services firm requires to
return and check if the installation is in line with the design requirements.
Reputed global commissioning
firms make use of design details from contract drawings and follow best
installation practices for every piece of equipment. These may include verifying
if the equipment has isolation valves for servicing, disconnects are accessible
and labelled, all pipe fittings are supported properly, piping supports coil
changes and protective shrouds are installed. The list is exhaustive for every
kind of equipment and such levels of details are also needed in functional
testing documentation.
Completing Commissioning Documentation Is a Time-Intensive,
All-Inclusive Process – Even for the Commissioning Team!
Imagine how difficult
it would be for the contractor to get time to document precisely every piece of
equipment when they too have their own responsibilities with respect to the project
they are involved in. Accuracy, efficiency, comprehensive verification and
unbiased view are to name a few of the reasons why reputable commissioning management services stress completing commissioning documentation. Contractors
are made fully aware of their tasks and responsibilities. Installers know that
they have the time to concentrate on their work and building owners have the
reassurance that their project is being commissioned by a dedicated team of
experienced professionals.
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