How Sophisticated Should Functional Tests Be?

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.

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.