I am looking for updated studies with cost data for LEED v4 Commissioning services, including Enhanced, Envelope and Monitoring-Based Commissioning. "The Cost of LEED v4" is a good publication, but I am looking for more data focused on commissioning. Most of the articles I find from PECI and other organizations are out-of-date. Does anyone know of any good industry publications with commissioning fee data (percent of construction cost or $/SF) for LEED v4 projects? Thank you.
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Scott Bowman
LEED FellowIntegrated Design + Energy Advisors, LLC
LEEDuser Expert
519 thumbs up
August 15, 2019 - 2:03 pm
I have not seen any data on this for some time now. The cost of Cx is so tied into the scope and the qualifications of the agents that I think it is very hard to have good data on this. When I was still active in competing for work, it was very clear there are low service providers and high service providers...less experienced agents, non-engineer agents, and providers with very experienced and all engineer agents. When I looked at the group of those answering an RFP, I could often predict who would get the work and if certain people were on the list, I would not submit at all. On those where I respected the other submitting firms, we were always within a very tight margin on fee, so we were all providing high scope quality service. Then the owner is looking at broader qualifications and frankly how they connect during an interview. While disappointed when we lost those commissions, I knew the owner was getting a great job and would get high value. Sorry, no good answer to your question; I recommend doing the work you feel is right for the project instead of trying to match others without a good understanding of how they do the work.
Brett Farbstein
Commissioning EngineerCannonDesign
4 thumbs up
August 15, 2019 - 2:16 pm
The Building Commissioning Association (BCxA) recently published their "Value of Commissioning Market Survey Report"
https://www.bcxa.org/blog/2019/07/25/bcxa-market-study-value-of-commissioning
Tom Grassi
DirectorM/E 1 Engineering
2 thumbs up
August 15, 2019 - 2:43 pm
Scott, thank you for the response. I agree with all of your statements. It would be interesting to see some updated historical fee data that could possibly help when justifying adequate commissioning fee levels. As an experienced engineer-agent, we provide high quality services and therefore we can't compete with a low cost provider. Thanks again for your insight.
Scott Bowman
LEED FellowIntegrated Design + Energy Advisors, LLC
LEEDuser Expert
519 thumbs up
August 18, 2019 - 1:14 pm
Brett, thank you for posting that link! I look forward to reading it very soon.
Tom Grassi
DirectorM/E 1 Engineering
2 thumbs up
August 20, 2019 - 6:00 pm
Brett, thanks for the information and the link to BCxA.org. This is very helpful and up-to-date.
Sara BENLOUBA
Green building managerConfidential
13 thumbs up
November 30, 2020 - 5:05 am
hello Dears,
We have appointed a facade / curtain wall company for our project and we intend to entrust it with the mission of carrying out the necessary tests concerning the commissioning of the envelope. At the same time, we have a Commissioning Authority for earning (4 points of LEED commissioning).
Would it be acceptable from a LEED point of view for the tests to be carried out by the company of execution of facade but on condition that these tests are supervised and verified by our principal commissioning Authority. In other words, is this envelope commissioning testing must be conducted only by commissioning authority and cannot be accepted if conducted by execution company of facade but supervised, verified and approved by commissioning authority?
Joyce Kelly
Architect - Cx Provider - Building Performance SpecialistGLHN Architects & Engineers
27 thumbs up
July 20, 2021 - 7:01 pm
Folllowing a big change with our website+blog; here's the current link to that BCxA article:
https://www.bcxa.org/blog/bcxa-market-study-value-of-commissioning.html