There are some owners that require a single contract for all work related to a project, as in design-build delivery. Typically, the general contractor will then hold the contracts for all design and construction team members.

According to GBCI, any significant issues uncovered during the commissioning process should be noted in the required commissioning report. A narrative and/or supporting documentation must be provided to summarize the corrected issues and outline any outstanding issues, as well as include detailed information on the plan for correcting any outstanding issues. However, evidence that the follow-up was completed and systems corrected is not required.

USGBC does not require any certifications. The commissioning agent must demonstrate experience on two similar projects, with direct involvement spanning from the early design phase through at least 10 months of occupancy. There are several certifications available, but ultimately it will be the direct personal qualifications of the CxA that matters. One recommended way to check qualifications is to follow up on references of any CxA.

Projects pursuing only the prerequisite and with area less than 20,000 ft2 may employ a qualified member of the project’s design or construction firm to act as CxA. To be fully qualified, the individual must have experience performing commissioning tasks from early design through at least 10 months of occupancy on at least two similar projects. For any project exceeding 20,000 ft2 or any project pursuing Enhanced Commissioning, the CxA must be independent of both teams. In either case, the CxA is appointed by and reports directly to the owner.

All no-cost issues should be remedied during the performance period. This is not clearly spelled out in the LEED Reference Guide, but the LEED Online credit form is more specific about this requirement. The team should establish a plan (strategy, timeline, and funding) for remedying all problems that require expenditure. This information can be included in your audit report.

EPA’s I-BEAM forms can be downloaded from this page on the EPA website (see the Baseline Audit forms for Indoor Spaces, HVAC System, and Exterior). Alternatively, audit forms can be found in the Documentation Toolkit that are modeled off of the most relevant I-BEAM forms. The forms in the Toolkit can be customized depending on your building’s specific needs. However, the I-BEAM audit is well suited to a wide variety of buildings and only minimal tailoring to the forms should be needed.

Typically the IAQ manager will need approximately one hour per 20,000 square feet to conduct the baseline audit, and less than half that time to complete a follow-up. However, it will take several additional hours to review the I-BEAM educational modules and complete the IAQ audit report.

Yes, and it’s a good strategy if in-house staff don’t have time to do the audit. Most professional firms are familiar with the technical aspects of the I-BEAM forms, though they are not necessarily accustomed to performing the non-technical aspects of the audit. Make sure the outside auditor has a copy of the I-BEAM forms so they can adjust their existing IAQ audit materials accordingly. Be sure to work with these firms to develop the required IAQ management program, in addition to the audit report.

Provide a signed contract from the contractor stating that they will only use products and materials meeting the requirements of the credit within the contract. Additionally, provide a narrative about the scope of the contractor. Are they cleaning the entire building? In order to meet the requirements, cleaning products used on the entire building must meet the requirements.

Products certified under an international third-party certification may be compliant with the credit criteria. The Reference Guide provides a list of acceptable Type 1 eco-labeling programs. If your product isn’t labeled by one of the approved eco-labels, it’s incumbent upon you to provide clear documentation demonstrating that the product is comparable to or more rigorous than the accepted standards.