We have been contracted to do the fundamental commissioning for a college building that we also designed. However it took a long time for the architect to give us the LEED boundary and recently checking the boundary it comes up to be 53000 SF. The CxA at our firm had already setup many meetings and visits, so since we have been contracted for that should we continue with the commissioning or USGBC would blindly reject it even though it's only 3000 SF difference?
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Scott Bowman
LEED FellowIntegrated Design + Energy Advisors, LLC
LEEDuser Expert
519 thumbs up
November 25, 2013 - 11:56 am
Victor: Please look at Table 2 in EAp1 of the Reference Guild. This is a much more detailed table of required qualifications for who can be the CxA. The EOR can always be the fundamental CxA, but the size determines if they can be an employee WITH design duty (under 50k SF) or a DISINTERESTED employee with no design duties (equal or greater than 50k SF). Of course, enhanced must be a separate subconsultant.
Tristen; perhaps the FAQ above should be worded a little different. Here is what I would suggest:
“For fundamental commissioning and project area less than 50,000 ft2, the commissioning agent can be an employee of the design or construction firm, even if they are directly doing design or construction management. For fundamental commissioning and project area equal or greater than 50,000 ft2, the commissioning agent can be a disinterested (NO design or management duties) employee of the design or construction firm. For enhanced commissioning the CxA must be independent of both teams. The CxA must be appointed by the Owner. No matter what, the CxA must meet the qualification requirements of the prerequisite and credit.”
Saju Varghese
SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATORJALRW Eng. Group Inc.
39 thumbs up
November 25, 2013 - 12:24 pm
Can you tell me exactly where did you get this excerpt? Just to back up our info. Thanks very much.
Saju Varghese
SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATORJALRW Eng. Group Inc.
39 thumbs up
November 25, 2013 - 12:33 pm
I'm looking at the reference guide and I quote:
"For projects larger than 50000 SF the individual serving as the CxA on a LEED project must be independent of the projects' design and construction teams."
" For projects smaller than 50000 SF, the CxA may be qualified staff member of the owner, an owners consultant to the project, or an individual on the design or construction team and may have additional project responsabilities beyond leading the commissioning services."
Thus I am confused at this point with your previous comments. Thanks for the assistance.
Scott Bowman
LEED FellowIntegrated Design + Energy Advisors, LLC
LEEDuser Expert
519 thumbs up
November 25, 2013 - 12:41 pm
Look to Page 221 of the Reference Guide, leading up to Table 2 (on the same page). The very next paragraph after the one you quote explains what it means being “independent of the project’s design and construction teams”. It goes on to say that “The CxA may be a qualified staff member of the owner, an owner’s consultant to the project, or an employee of a firm providing design and/or construction management services. The CxA may not, however, have responsibility for design (e.g., be the engineer of record) or for the construction.”
Then it goes on about projects smaller than 50k. We have been the CxA on several large projects where we were also the EOR, but we assigned qualified staff that were not on the design team, and typically were part of our dedicated commissioning team or from another office.
Saju Varghese
SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATORJALRW Eng. Group Inc.
39 thumbs up
November 25, 2013 - 2:11 pm
Totally understand now. However, the bird's eye view in this credit makes it confusing. Under FAQ, it says
"Can the CxA authority be a member of the design or construction team?
For fundamental commissioning and project area less than 50,000 ft2, the commissioning agent can be an employee of the design or construction firm. For enhanced commissioning and projects larger than 50,000 ft2, CxA must be independent of both teams. The CxA must be appointed by the Owner"
Scott Bowman
LEED FellowIntegrated Design + Energy Advisors, LLC
LEEDuser Expert
519 thumbs up
November 25, 2013 - 2:28 pm
Yes, I agree. The FAQ should be changed, which is what I suggested for Tristan Roberts, who moderates LEEDuser.
By the way, it was great to see you again and talk at Greenbuild Tristan!