Commissioning HVAC Systems

TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM TM 1/88.1

Guidance on the division of responsibilities

By Jim Wild
 CONTENTS & APPENDICES

1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. COMMISSIONING 2

3. REPORTING ACTIVITIES 4

4. THE COMMISSIONING SPECIALIST 5

5. RECOMMENDATION 6

GLOSSARY 13

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A1 7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project was originally funded jointly by BSRIA and the former
Department of the Environment as part of a contract placed under the
Sponsorship Research Contract.

Final editorial control of this document rested with BSRIA.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including
photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the publisher.

©BSRIA Updated May 2002 ISBN 0 86022 605 0 Printed by The Chameleon Press Ltd.

COMMISSIONING HVAC SYSTEMS

© BSRIA TM 1/88.1
 INTRODUCTION 1

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 WHY USE A A review of the commissioning specialist’s contribution upon

COMMISSIONING
HVAC SPECIALIST
completion of the project often shows that it is less than satisfactory.

The use of specialist hvac commissioning firms is now common in the

UK. The success of these specialists is judged from the viewpoints of the
client, consultant, main contractor, hvac installer, and those responsible
for operating and maintaining the building. The evaluation of their
performance is carried out by those with a subject knowledge base
varying from virtually zero to expert.

The performance of commissioning specialists is sometimes viewed as

being below that purchased under their terms of engagement or
subcontract. It is considered that this state largely exists because the
parties in a project do not understand their individual and collective
responsibilities for hvac commissioning occurring at the various stages of
a building project. This Technical Memorandum suggests a division of
responsibilities for those projects where a hvac commissioning specialist is
to be appointed. It also sets out to consider the causes of dissatisfaction
and suggests a remedy involving a better-managed appointment of the
specialist and an understanding of all project parties’ responsibilities for
hvac commissioning.

It is recognised that every project has a unique set of circumstances and

participants and therefore requires its own particular division of
responsibilities.

Further guidance relating to the commissioning of building services is

provided in the following BSRIA publications:

• Commissioning management – How to achieve a fully-functioning building,

AG 5/2002, ISBN 0 86022 599 2

• Commissioning air systems – application procedures for buildings,

AG 3/89.3, ISBN 0 86022 591 7

• Commissioning water systems – application procedures for buildings,

AG 2/89.3, ISBN 0 86022 584 4

• Pre-commissioning cleaning of pipework systems, AG 1/2001,

ISBN 0 86022 569 0

COMMISSIONING HVAC SYSTEMS 1

© BSRIA TM 1/88.1
 8
HVAC Works - Division of responsibilities for commissioning (Schedule)

No. Activity Employer Design team Managing contractor HVAC installation Commissioning specialist
A1

(E) (DT) (MC) package contractor (PC) (CS)

1. Consultant selection Request proposals. Respond to employer’s

Negotiate fees. request for proposals.

© BSRIA TM 1/88.1
Negotiate fees, accept
appointment.

2. Brief Provide information and Take brief and agree with E.

agree brief with DT.

COMMISSIONING HVAC SYSTEMS

3. Project contract Agree with DT most Agree with E the best
selection suitable contractual contractual arrangements to
arrangement to procure procure the works.
the works.

4. Managing contractor Agree with DT and Agree with E and implement Prequalify. Respond to
selection implement process for process for selection of request for proposals. Join
selection of managing managing contractor. project team.
contractor.

5. Commissioning Agree with DT and MC Agree with E and MC the Agree with E and DT need Respond to request for
specialist selection the need for need for a commissioning for a commissioning proposals. Negotiate service
commissioning specialist specialist and implement a specialist and implement a and remuneration. Join
and implement a selection process. selection process. project team.
selection process.
APPENDIX - DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES SCHEDULE

6. Design and Review with project Develop designs to meet Contribute to DT and CS Develop proposals for
commissioning team the design and the brief. Receive the proposal development with installation hardware,
procedure commissioning commissioning proposals. respect to the buildability. documentation, and methods
development proposals at agreed Present them for review by Join with E and DT in for commissioning. Submit and
stages of development. E and MC. reviews. integrate them with DT. Join
with project team in reviews.