Dear All,
Our CxA has produced functional tests that are simpler than we have expected. Our expectations were in line with sample tests found in ASHRAE guidelines or the peci.org website. The CxA tells us that for LEED simpler tests are OK, where only the result of the test as "COMPLIANCE" or "NON COMPLIANCE" are presented on the test forms.
We would appreciate your comments on this.
Chris Ladner
PartnerViridian
261 thumbs up
September 16, 2010 - 9:54 am
The sample tests are from particular Cx provider on specific projects. Each FPT should reflect the complexity of the system and the confirmation required to ensure that the system is functioning per the design documents and OPR.
For our testing, we verify and document the sequence of operation and associated system modes, develop a test procedure that addresses devices within the system being tested, and produce a pass/fail report for each of the devices in each of the modes of operation. For some systems this can be quite complicated and lengthy.
Al Tibbs
CLI Group, LLC17 thumbs up
November 10, 2010 - 8:36 am
The goal of commissioning is not necessarily LEED credit, although that is a by-product. As a commissioning authority you should be concentrating on the best value for the fee charged. To look at how simple we can make robs both the owner and LEED. Owners need to start being able to see the value of the commissioning process and doing the bare bones minimum is not going to do much in that regard. Compliance or Non-Compliance does nothing to bring value to the Cx process. I can't begin to count the number of buildings (in failure) that I have evaluated that were commissioned by a company using the compliance, non-compliance method. One system may be working to compliance, but do not forget that buildings are integrated system that must function together.