07 May NEW BUILDING COMMISSIONING
What is New Building Commissioning?
It is an all-inclusive process of systematic quality assurance that verifies building systems to be designed, installed, tested, and capable of being operated and maintained to perform interactively according to the design intent and the owner’s operational needs. The Building Commissioning Association (BCxA) is an international non-profit organization that serves as the recognized authority and resource on commissioning. ASHRAE Guideline 0 presents the defining characteristics of the ideal building commissioning process.
The New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) Section C-408 mandates Building commissioning based on the capacity of the heating and cooling equipment being installed. The threshold is 600,000 BTU/h for heating equipment (inclusive of domestic water heating equipment) and 480,000 BTU/h for cooling equipment (i.e. 20-tons of air conditioning). Renewable energy systems (i.e. solar panels) are also required to be commissioned if the installed system exceeds 25 kW. Building Commissioning is also a requisite for LEED certification of a building.
Building Commissioning authenticates subsystems such as:
- Mechanical (HVAC)
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Fire/Life Safety
- Building Envelopes
- Interior Systems
- Co-Generation
- Utility Plans
- Sustainable Systems
- Lighting
- Wastewater
- Controls
- Building Security
Key Elements:
- Thoroughly documenting system design, operating sequences and test procedures.
- Verifying system performance based on extensive functional testing and measurement.
- Ensuring that building operation staff members receive the training and resources they need on system operations and maintenance procedures.
Benefits:
- Smoother construction processes
- Reduced operation & maintenance costs
- Lower energy costs
- Satisfied building occupants & tenants.
*A 2004 report showed that, on average, the cost of performing commissioning was paid back in 4.8 years from energy savings alone. It has been proven that the operational cost of Non Commissioned Buildings is 8-20 percent more compared to Commissioned Buildings.
The NYC Energy Conservation Code FAQ provides a deeper understanding and general guidance for the new buildings seeking compliance with the 2016 NYCECC and related regulations of the City of New York and the Department of Buildings.
The Cotocon Group are verified third party experts that can carry out third party Commissioning for your building and make you reap the benefits. Get in touch with us today to know more! (212) 889-6566.