The Commissioning Process for Delivering Quality Constructed Projects

Important: Enrollment for this course is now closed.  If you are interested in attending the next offering, please contact us to receive updates on the next scheduled dates.

Learn how to use the ASHRAE Guideline 0 Commissioning Process (CxP), a cost-effective and successful 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 process 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.

What you will learn

This course is designed to help you:

• Implement whole building design and delivery using the ASHRAE Guideline 0 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

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

Click here to learn more about the course instructors.

Online course agenda

Download the online course agenda in pdf format here.

Classroom (in person) course agenda

Download the full agenda in pdf format here.

Topics

Introduction and Course Orientation 

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?

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 

The Owner’s Project Requirements Workshop

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

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

Class Workshop: Defining CxP Needs

Developing the OPR Document

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

CxP Activities in the Design Phase

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

Design Review Workshop

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

Commissioning Specifications

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

Commissioning Process Checklists

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

Systems Manual and Training

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

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

Commissioning Process Tests

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

Integrating CxP with Contractor Efforts

• Quality processes
• Overlaps and gaps

Acceptance Phase, First Year of Operation, and Beyond

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

Electronic and Web-Based Commissioning Tools

• Computer tools for site tracking
• Electronic systems manuals

Analyzing the Benefits of Commissioning: Case Studies

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

Special Topics in the CxP

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

Rick Casault

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.

John Davis

John holds dual appointments at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, College of Engineering.  He is an associate faculty associate and program director in the Office of Engineering Professional Development and a research engineer at the Industrial Refrigeration Consortium (IRC).  He holds a BSME degree (Iowa State University) and MS degrees in Engineering (Purdue University) and Engineering Management (Northwestern University).  John’s professional interests include technical leadership, HVAC products and systems, DX refrigeration, industrial refrigeration, geothermal system design, thermal systems optimization, building science and building energy management.  John is a registered P.E. and a member of both ASHRAE and IIAR.

Chad Dorgan

Chad Dorgan, P.E., Ph.D., LEED Fellow, is Vice President - Quality and Sustainability for McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., a 100% employee-owned national construction company specializing in complex, high technology facilities such as hospitals, research laboratories and industrial plants. In this role, he is responsible for the development and implementation of McCarthy’s innovative “Quality Without Question” Program and oversees McCarthy’s Virtual Design and Construction efforts, both focused upon consistently building the best buildings in America for the firm’s clients and industry partners. Chad is also responsible for McCarthy’s Sustainability Initiatives and is the Corporate Leader of McCarthy’s Green Steering Committee.

Chad Grindle

Chad S. Grindle is Senior Manager of Technical Services 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.

Sarah Maston

Sarah Maston, P.E., CPMP, LEED AP BD+C, president of Green Footprints Commissioning, Inc., is a mechanical engineer with over 16 years of experience in mechanical/ HVAC systems evaluation, troubleshooting, design, startup, and commissioning for a variety of project types.

Serving as lead commissioning authority for new construction projects as well as existing building commissioning projects, her responsibilities include facilitating Owner's Project Requirement (OPR) workshops, project management, performing building system assessments, developing commissioning plans, design reviews, specifications, system readiness, system evaluations and facilitating functional performance tests. She also follows up with occupants to evaluate comfort and review 10-month warranty meetings.

She has also designed systems utilizing terminal units, radiant heat, central air systems, humidity controls, building automation, energy recovery, and central plants. Additionally, Ms. Maston has performed building efficiency studies, and LEED® feasibility studies. She is active on ASHRAE's Building Commissioning Technical Committee 7.9.

Joy Altwies

Joy Altwies, Ph.D., P.E., LEED AP+, is a program director for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Engineering Professional Development (EPD).

For over 15 years, Dr. Altwies has developed and taught continuing education courses emphasizing high-performance building design and construction, mechanical system design and operation, energy efficiency, and commissioning. She also develops and teaches graduate courses in the Master of Sustainable Systems Engineering (SSE) degree program.

Prior to joining the University, Joy worked as a consulting engineer focusing on green building projects and commissioning. She is an active member of ASHRAE and the US Green Building Council. Joy holds a Bachelor and Master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering, and earned her Doctorate 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.