Commissioning of Process Equipment

Graham Langton

Building Services Engineer

PM-Group

LEEDuser Basic Member

1 thumbs up

August 8, 2013

'Commissioning is required for all systems and equipment installed as part of the tenant’s project scope'... Is it the case that for a building who's primary function is the support of a manufacturing process - any commissioning work carried out (or not) on the manufacturing equipment is not applicable to this credit? Process equipment having multiple services supplied, gas / steam / electrical etc. Cheers

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Scott Bowman

LEED Fellow

Integrated Design + Energy Advisors, LLC

LEEDuser Expert

377 thumbs up

Tue, 08/20/2013 - 15:44

Commissioned Systems are defined under EAp1, and they related to the “energy-related” systems. This has been limited to the HVAC, lighting, DHW, and renewable energy systems. True process loads and services, where they only serve that purpose, would not have to be commissioned. The quote you indicate has to do with defining the border for the commissioning scope. For example, if the space is served by an AHU outside the boundary of the project, and it is existing and not be modified in any way, it would not be in the tenant scope, therefor would not have to be commissioned. But, if an AHU had to be installed for this tenant, even if it is outside the boundary of the project, it would have to be commissioned. As I have said many times, there are tons of good reasons that all these systems should be commissioned, but they are not required. My argument would be why is the owner NOT concerned about those systems that create revenue? Now, if there is a system that addresses some of the building needs, maybe like steam for heating or humidification, then that system would have to be commissioned to the extent it serves the building.