We have a situation where an owner wants to directly hire a sub-division of the civil engineering firm of record to perform enhanced commissioning. The reference guide states that for enhanced Cx, they cannot be a disinterested employee of the architect or engineering firm. In this situation, is it assumed to be the MEP engineering firm they are referencing? If they are a disinterested party not involved in design as part of the civil engineering firm, is that allowable?
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Chris Ladner
PartnerViridian
261 thumbs up
November 10, 2010 - 8:10 am
I don't think they mean just MEP. Due to the fact that the CxA could commission a variety of items (not just the LEED-required items), I would expect that the civil firm would still be under the "disinterested" category and not be eligible to act as the CxA.
Remember there has been a fair amount of variability in the responses from the LEED reviewers so predicting their response can be tricky.
Keith Amann
Vice PresidentWSP Built Ecology
67 thumbs up
November 19, 2010 - 3:45 pm
Thanks Chris. Another question on this subject for a different situation that has come up. If an MEP firm provides early design but is not the engineer of record (another firm takes over at CD phase), can they then perform Cx as they are not signing/sealing drawings?
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
November 19, 2010 - 9:17 pm
Keith my two cents would be that this situation wouldn't comply. The credit language seems pretty clear: the individual should be independent of the work of design and construction.
Chris Ladner
PartnerViridian
261 thumbs up
November 23, 2010 - 9:07 am
I agree with Tristan. The fact that they were involved with any portion of the design would put them in a conflict position. I would assume that the reviewers would decline this credit.