So what actually is commissioning?

When we look at commissioning, let us first look at the project delivery. There are a number of items to ensure that a project is successfully delivered There are four key requirements for handover of a construction project, these are as follows:​

• Building Ready – The building is physically complete, and all systems are operationally ready at handover.​
• Systems Ready – Validation of building services to ensure that they perform to suit their required functions and ensuring that they have high levels of performance over the long term.​
• Documentation Ready – Having all the available asset documentation completed and ready, which includes statutory documentation signed off by the relevant authority.​
• People Ready – Having the right people to manage and maintain the building systems at handover. Training and familiarisation is plays a crucial role in ensuring that we meet the people ready criteria.

So, what is the definition of commissioning? For clarity, Commissioning, and Commissioning Management have two separate definitions, which are addressed below:​

Commissioning is defined as:

“Process of assurance that delivers correctly performing buildings.”

The goal of Commissioning as defined above is to ensure that all the building systems are installed, tested, set up, and validated to suit the required functions and performance.

Who is responsible for managing the Commissioning process? The Commissioning Manager, who is the competent entity that will facilitate the role. The Commissioning manager is the single point of accountability for managing the whole Commissioning process on a project. ​

Commissioning Management is defined as:​

“Planning, monitoring, and control of all aspects of Commissioning and engagement of all those involved to achieve the specific outcomes.”

Essentially, the Commissioning Manager leads the commissioning process and is responsible for coordinating the Commissioning with the management efforts by the rest of the project team.

When does Commissioning start on a Project?

If we look at the project life cycle which is defined by the RIBA Plan of works which breaks down the project into eight key stages, starting at stage 0 and finishing at stage 7. One thing to note is that the RIBA plan of works is a continuous lifecycle which is better defined as a circular process, but for ease of identifying the Commissioning stages the RIBA plan of works has been produced as a line.

When we think of the Commissioning process, traditionally the Commissioning process on a construction project usually started somewhere between stage 4 and 5. Which makes logical sense as the Commissioning process follows up from the technical design and becomes more involved during the Construction phase up until handover.

However, the Commissioning process actually starts at Stage 1!

With the release of CIBSE Commissioning Code M (2022) the Commissioning process now begins much earlier to ensure that the project Commissioning requirements are defined early in the lifecycle of the project. It is much easier and cost effective to ensure all the Commissioning outcomes, performance criteria, and success criteria are outlined and budgeted for at the beginning of the project rather than after the design phase.

What Commissioning activities occur at each stage?

Below the activities have been summarised into their relevant stages. Take a note of the how involved the Commissioning process is at an early stage and through the entire life cycle of the project. Again Stages 4 and 5 are the most involved, but it is important to note Commissioning doesn’t stop at the handover stage. As part of the key Commissioning criteria as discussed at the beginning of the blog is that building systems ensuring that they have high levels of performance over the long term, this involves carrying out Commissioning activities up to 12 months after the building is in use to determine the overall system performance.

What does Commissioning Address in construction Projects?

If we were to define the key criteria in what a construction project should achieve we would expect the project to achieve a minimum standard of delivery which includes the following criteria:

• Time – The project is delivered on time

• Cost – The project is delivered within the budget

• Quality – The building systems functionality meets the performance criteria, the project success criteria, and project specifications

• Health and Safety – The building systems are delivered safely, and ensure that end users and operators continue to be safe whilst operating and maintaining the systems for the lifecycle of the building

Most importantly, and the overall key objective to delivering a project is to ensure that the project is delivered Right first time.

Why is it important to do so?

To ensure that the buildings systems are delivered correctly operational with the aim of being defect free prior to handover.

Why is this important?

Right first time ensures that the building systems meet the four minimum standards of delivery described above, and ensures there is little impact on the building when it is in use, and prevents costly and disruptive works which affects the specialist contractors, the main contractor, the client, and building occupiers during the use stage. By utilising the early project stages this allows for the early establishment of the desired functionality, allows for the functionality to be captured in the design stage, and proven in the manufacturing and construction stage.

And finally commissioning ensures that the systems will operate an a high level over the lifecycle of the building systems. This ensures that systems operate efficiently ensuring minimal operating and maintenance costs.

Any Questions?

If your project requires commissioning expertise, or if you have any questions then please get in touch.