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Building commissioning is the systematic process of ensuring that all building systems are designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained according to the owner’s project requirements and intended performance standards. Gain confidence that your mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems operate according to design intent. Get in touch with the engineering experts at Performance Validation (PV) for building commissioning that meets your timeline and compliance needs for an efficient facility.
Trusted Partners with Performance Validation
Our Building Commissioning Process
PV commissioning engineers are pioneers in building commissioning, with over three decades of expertise, insights, and accomplishments. Our extensive experience has allowed us to develop a meticulous and holistic approach that balances the needs of your facility, the comfort of its end users, and the requirements of your regulatory environment. Our commitment is to ensure that your facility is delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with the owner’s envisioned functionality.
- Pre-Design: During this phase, the commissioning goals, objectives, and scope are established, as well as the commissioning team’s roles and responsibilities. The commissioning plan, which outlines the process, timeline, and deliverables for the project, is also created.
- Design: This phase reviews the design documentation to ensure it meets the owners’ intended requirements. Potential issues or discrepancies are identified, and input is shared to optimize designs for enhanced efficiency and occupant comfort.
- Construction: Building systems are verified throughout the installation and functional testing process to ensure they are operating as intended and meet the design intent and performance requirements.
- Occupancy: Building performance is typically monitored for the first year after occupancy to address any potential issues or deficiencies that have arisen.
Commissioning Process
SCHEMATIC DESIGN
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS, PERMITTING & BIDDING
CONSTRUCTION
POST-OCCUPANCY/WARRANTYFunctional Building Commissioning Services
New Building Commissioning
The comprehensive process of new building commissioning ensures that newly constructed or renovated buildings operate efficiently, effectively, and sustainably from the outset. It verifies that building systems are designed, installed, tested, and operated to meet the owner’s project requirements, design intent, and performance standards. The process is typically conducted during the design, construction, and early occupancy phases of building construction to identify and address potential issues before they impact building performance and occupant comfort.
Existing Building Commissioning
Existing building commissioning (EBCx) improves the performance, efficiency, and sustainability of existing buildings. It involves evaluating and optimizing the operation of building systems and equipment to ensure they meet current performance standards, energy efficiency goals, and occupant comfort requirements. EBCx is often conducted in buildings that have been in operation for several years and may be experiencing performance issues, energy inefficiencies, or comfort complaints.
Building Envelope Testing
Building envelope testing is used to assess and verify the performance of a building’s exterior envelope, which includes the walls, roof, windows, doors, and other components that separate the interior conditioned space from the exterior environment. The purpose of envelope testing is to identify and mitigate potential issues related to air leakage, water infiltration, thermal bridging, and moisture penetration, which can compromise the energy efficiency, durability, and indoor environmental quality of a building.
LEED Commissioning
In order to obtain LEED certification for a building, it is crucial to obtain the commissioning-specific points for certification. Compliance for certification ensures that building systems perform efficiently, effectively, and sustainably throughout the building’s lifecycle. LEED commissioning focuses on verifying that all building systems are designed, installed, and operated to meet the owner’s project requirements and to optimize energy performance and indoor environmental quality.
Building Tune-Ups
Building tune-ups are systematic, periodic evaluations and adjustments of building systems and operations to optimize energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and overall building performance. The goal of a building tune-up is to identify and address operational inefficiencies, equipment malfunctions, and opportunities for improvement to ensure that the building operates at peak efficiency while meeting the needs of its occupants.
ASHRAE Energy Audits
ASHRAE energy audits are comprehensive assessments of a building’s energy performance and efficiency conducted in accordance with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards and guidelines. These audits provide opportunities to conserve energy, improve building systems, and reduce energy costs while maintaining and enhancing occupant comfort and productivity.
Commissioning that Delivers
Failing to commission a building can lead to poor system performance, higher maintenance costs, reduced occupant comfort, potential legal and regulatory consequences, and an overall decrease in facility value. We help you improve performance and longevity for new or existing buildings, prolonging successful operations for years.
- Identify and address issues.
- Ensure design intent.
- Reduce energy consumption.
- Optimize occupant comfort.
- Adhere to regulatory requirements.
- Support sustainability.
“Performance Validation was able to contribute more value to our projects than other commissioning providers. They really helped to deliver a quality project.”
Casey Huebner, Director of Facilities Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Failing to commission a building can lead to poor system performance, higher maintenance costs, reduced occupant comfort, potential legal and regulatory consequences, and an overall decrease in facility value. We help you improve performance and longevity for new or existing buildings, prolonging successful operations for years.
Adhere to Building Commissioning Regulations
There are many kinds of building commissioning regulations that ensure buildings operate efficiently, maintain optimal performance, and comply with safety, environmental, and health standards. By following these regulations, you can reduce long-term operational costs and risks.
Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard
In early 2019, the Washington State Legislature passed HB-1257, the Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard, into law. The legislature requires that facilities greater than 50,000 gross square feet will need to meet or exceed a prescriptive energy usage target based on the type of facility, with the with the first tier of buildings needed to comply by June 2026. At PV, we are working collaboratively with utility providers across Washington, the Department of Commerce, and our clients to provide innovative approaches that bring facilities into compliance while also realizing meaningful and lasting energy savings.
It is most cost-effective to start the compliance process early. There are early adopter programs and utility incentives available that can help reduce the cost of compliance.
Compliance Dates:
- Buildings over 200,000 Square Feet: June 1, 2026
- Remaining Buildings over 90,000 Square Feet: June 1, 2027
- Remaining Buildings over 50,000 Square Feet: June 1, 2028
The Department of Commerce’s portal for HB-1257 provides resources and guides to support your path to compliance.
Washington Sustainable Schools Protocol (WSSP)
The Washington Sustainable Schools Protocol serves as the green building guide for both new and modern school construction within educational facilities across Washington state. Developed collectively by the Washington State Department of Ecology and the Washington Sustainable Schools Team, this protocol serves the purpose of providing a comprehensive goal-setting and planning tool. With the aim of enabling districts to articulate clear design objectives while adhering to the prerequisites for state-funded building projects.
Comprising of six primary categories of compliance including energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, indoor air quality, transportation, and environmental education.
The PV team is the trusted partner for compliance, supporting over 115 facilities in achieving certification our team has the knowledge and experience needed to navigate the complexities of adherence.
Washington State Energy Code
The Washington State Energy Code was established to regulate the energy efficiency requirements within the state for new construction, renovations, and additions to buildings. The primary goal is to foster energy conservation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower energy costs for both building occupants and owners.
The energy code is consistently updated to include advancements within building technology and energy efficiency standards. Key requirements for building design and construction include the building envelope, mechanical systems, lighting, electrical power and renewable energy.
Achieving compliance entails adherence of the energy modeling, energy code compliance documentation, and on-site inspection during the construction phase. Compliance is a prerequisite for obtaining building permits within the state.
Additional State Codes
The PV team also complies with state-level commercial and residential efficiency codes across Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. Chat with an engineer to learn more.
NOTE: Building commissioning is not currently available in North Carolina.
Adhere to Building Commissioning Regulations
The PV team of commissioning engineers is thoroughly trained to conduct building commissioning with a singular focus: to instill unwavering confidence in our clients that their completed building surpasses all expectations.
Commissioning that Delivers
With over thirty-five years of collective expertise, our team ensures that every project benefits from a wealth of knowledge and experience, guaranteeing the optimization of your building systems and sequences.
Commissioning that Delivers
Our proactive, diligent approach centers on understanding and achieving your project and sustainability objectives, resulting in timely delivery, adherence to budgetary constraints, and operation as intended.
Commissioning that Delivers
Architects, engineers, and contractors consistently highlight our team’s commitment to ensuring building functionality above all else, which includes identifying your specific training and documentation needs.
“Performance Validation approached the project with strength of experience and didn’t back off difficult issues while still maintaining a team commitment.”
Peter Brunjes, Principal (Retired) VCBO Architecture
Our Certifications
Commissioning Engineer Certifications
- Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP)
- Professional Engineer (PE)
- Commissioning Authority + Building Enclosure (CxA+BE)
- Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECxP)
- LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP)
- Certified Commissioning Firm
Company Association Memberships
- Building Commissioning Association (BCA)
- American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
- Association for Learning Environments (A4LE)
Case Study: Edmonds School District Energy Audit
The PV team conducted a comprehensive building tune-up for the Edmonds School District, encompassing 30 buildings across elementary, middle, and high schools and supporting district facilities. Our primary objective was to enhance the buildings’ system performance and establish a more accurate energy usage baseline for the Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard, allowing for more informed decisions to be made for compliance with the legislation.
Check out the full case study to learn how we supported the district in saving significantly on energy costs.
Your Dedicated Partner for Building Commissioning
Choosing PV for building commissioning services ensures access to a trusted and experienced partner with a proven track record in optimizing building performance, maximizing energy efficiency, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations. Our comprehensive approach combines technical expertise, innovative solutions, and a commitment to sustainability. This results in tangible benefits such as reduced operational costs, enhanced occupant comfort, and long-term building performance.
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