The Commissioning Process for Delivering Quality Constructed Projects

Learn how to use the commissioning process (CxP), which is the most cost-effective and successfully quality method for buildings and constructed projects. Created for building owners, facility managers, commissioning authorities, and all members of the design and construction team, this course presents hands-on opportunities to learn the fundamentals of this effective method for whole building design, green buildings, and rehab or additions. Gain tools and techniques to incorporate full-quality project management from pre-design through the life of the facility.

Who should attend?

• Project managers and planners
• Commissioning authorities and agents
• Building owners 
• Developers 
• Architects 
• Engineers 
• Construction managers 
• Building operating staff

What you will learn

This course is designed to help you:

• Implement whole building design and delivery using the ASHRAE Guideline 0-2013 commissioning process (CxP)
• Recognize the characteristics of an effective quality process
• Differentiate between the CxP and your current procedures
• Explain the value of the NIBS and ASHRAE guidelines
• Explore the key steps and tools used in the CxP
• Transform your organization from its current process to the CxP
• Establish expectations for project costs and savings/benefits related to the CxP
• Explain the role of commissioning process teams and how that role changes from pre-design to occupancy

MONDAY

7:30 Registration

8:00 Welcome and Overview

8:30 Overview of the Commissioning Process (CxP)

• What is the ASHRAE Guideline 0 commissioning process?
• Current best practice
• What is a quality delivery process?
• Benefits of the commissioning process
• What occurs in each phase of project delivery?

11:15 Pre-Design Phase Commissioning Tasks (Part 1)

• Developing the owner’s project requirements (OPR)
• Owner’s workshop: preparation and participants, nominal group technique, procedures and results

12:00 Lunch

1:00 The Owner’s Project Requirements Workshop

• Executing an OPR workshop
• Determining which questions to ask – project success criteria
• Class activity: workshop in action

3:00 Pre-Design Phase Commissioning Tasks (Part 2)

• Planning the CxP effort
• Commissioning plan fundamentals, key milestones, structure
• Evaluating the benefits of pre-design phase involvement
• The CxP as a strategic quality plan

4:00 Workshop: Defining CxP Needs

4:45 Daily Adjournment

TUESDAY

8:00 Workshop Reports

8:15 Developing the OPR Document

• Review of key OPR concepts
• Typical information required to develop needs
• Steps in document creation
• Group review of example document

9:45 CxP Activities in the Design Phase

• Pre-design meetings
• Design checklists
• Basis of design development
• CxP design review process
• CxPlan update

11:00 Design Review Workshop

• Group workshop using the four steps of a CxP design review procedure

12:00 Lunch

1:00 Design Review Workshop continues

1:45 Commissioning Specifications

• Format options
• Types of requirements: contractor participation; maintainability; checklist implementation; shop drawings, training, and systems manual; testing and verification

2:45 Commissioning Process Checklists

• Purpose, goals
• Use in all project phases
• Construction checklists: development, tracking methods, verification, statistical sampling, checklist work session

4:00 Systems Manual and Training

• Systems manual (role in all phases)
• Training (role in all phases)

4:40 Daily Adjournment

4:45 University of Wisconsin CxP Certification Exam Review (part 1, for 1 hour)

WEDNESDAY

8:00 Construction Phase CxP Tasks

• Pre-construction activities (pre-bid, workshops, partnering)
• Cx meetings and coordination, role of the CxA
• Tracking commissioning activities
• Cx schedule
• Testing
• Commissioning reports
• Benefits/issues log

9:30 Commissioning Process Tests

• Developing test protocols
• Confirmation of readiness
• Implementation steps
• Documentation

10:45 Integrating CxP with Contractor Efforts

• Quality processes
• Overlaps and gaps

11:15 Acceptance Phase, First Year of Operation, and Beyond

• Training
• Systems manual
• Project CxP report(s)
• Warranty review and seasonal testing
• On-going commissioning

12:00  Lunch

1:00 Electronic and Web-Based Commissioning Tools

• Computer tools for site tracking
• Electronic systems manuals

1:45 Analyzing the Benefits of Commissioning: Case Studies

• Scope of commissioning
• Detailed cost analysis
• Benefits and lessons learned

2:45 Special Topics in the CxP

• Review of LEED Cx process
• Review of existing building Cx process

4:00 Course Adjourns

John Davis
Faculty Assoc / Program Director PE

John holds dual appointments at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, College of Engineering. He is an Assistant Faculty Associate and Program Director in the Department of Engineering Professional Development and a Research Engineer at the Industrial Refrigeration Consortium (IRC). John’s professional interests include HVAC products and systems, DX refrigeration, industrial refrigeration, geothermal system design, thermal systems optimization, building science and building energy management, technical leadership and project management. John is a member of ASHRAE. 

Teaching in courses starting: 04/01/2019, 09/09/2019

Joy Altwies
Program Director PhD, PE

Joy Altwies is a Program Director for the UW–Madison College of Engineering’s Department of Engineering Professional Development. Her courses emphasize high performance building design and construction, commissioning, mechanical system design and operation, and energy efficiency. Prior to joining the University, Joy worked as a consulting engineer focusing on green building projects and commissioning. She is an active member of the US Green Building Council and ASHRAE, and is a LEED Accredited Professional (BD+C). Joy holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering, and earned her Doctorate degree in Environment and Resources at UW-Madison. Her interdisciplinary research investigated the impact of building energy code policies on technology adoption in the commercial and residential building sectors.

Teaching in courses starting: 04/01/2019, 09/09/2019

Chad Grindle
Facility Engineer PE, LEED, LEEDAP, CXAP

Chad S. Grindle is the facility engineer for Cellular Dynamics International. He is a licensed professional engineer with over 16 years of experience as a consultant developing, managing and implementing the commissioning process for a diverse, national client base. Today Mr. Grindle applies his knowledge and experience with the commissioning industry in the management of facility design, maintenance and operations for Cellular Dynamics International (CDI), an industry leader in autologous stem cell research, development, and manufacturing. Currently Mr. Grindle's efforts includes adaptation of the commissioning process to facilitate validation efforts for CDI's new cGMP facility and headquarters in the Madison area, as well as several expansion and adaptation projects with CDI's current facilities.

Teaching in courses starting: 04/01/2019, 09/09/2019

Chad Dorgan
Vice President - Quality and Sustainability PE, PhD, LEED FELLOW, CXAP, LEEDF

Chad B. Dorgan, PE, PhD, CxAP, CCP, vice president, corporate quality, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., is active on many ASHRAE committees. He is also a leader in the development and implementation of construction quality processes, as well as the author of many application and design guides for EPRI and ASHRAE.

Teaching in courses starting: 04/01/2019, 09/09/2019

Rick Casault
President

Rick Casault, PE, CDT, CCP, president of Casault Engineering, Seattle, Washington, specializes in developing commissioning process master plans and process services. He has more than 23 years of experience in the commissioning, operation, design, and management of laboratory, medical, public transportation, institutional, industrial, and commercial facilities. Casault is developing new MasterSpec specification sections related to the commissioning process and was founding president of the Building Commissioning Association.

Teaching in courses starting: 04/01/2019, 09/09/2019

By participating in this course you will earn:

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