


Building Commissioning Professionals do not function as an additional layer of construction or project management but rather confirm that the planning, design, construction and operational processes are meeting established owner goals and will result in a high-quality building.
Building envelope commissioning certification professional#
The work of a Building Commissioning Professional ideally begins early in the design phase of a building project and continues through the construction and operations phases, culminating in the testing of the installed systems from project completion through the contractor’s warranty period. They advise architects and clients on building enclosure performance, constructability, and durability. Building Commissioning Professionals also consult on the building envelope, supporting facade design, detailing and analysis, and participate in testing, fabrication and construction of the envelope. Building Commissioning Professionals test existing building systems to investigate, analyze, and optimize their operation and maintenance to ensure their continued performance over time. This can be done on new construction projects or with existing building stock. While BECx may be a new concept to some owners, it plays a vital role in the overall commissioning plan of a building.The main function of Building Commissioning Professionals is to ensure the HVAC/R systems and associated controls, domestic hot water systems, lighting controls, renewable energy systems, and other energy-using building systems meet the owner's performance requirements and perform and operate as intended with maximum efficiency. The building envelope is critical to the performance of any building. If results show the envelope is not performing to the owner’s standards, they can implement solutions as part of an improvement plan. Envelope evaluation may include thermal scanning as well as water and air intrusion testing. By reviewing the original design and submittal documentation, an owner can evaluate the current performance of an existing building. One persistent myth is that BECx is solely for new construction, but it can be applied to existing buildings as well. LEED v4 allows 2 points when the building envelope is included in the commissioning process activities and follows NIBS Guideline 3-2006 used in conjunction with ASHRAE Guideline 0-2005. A building envelope’s increasingly complex design and construction, often involving multiple contractors and material suppliers, requires a well coordinated systematic approach.īECx (sometimes referred to as building enclosure commissioning) is a quality-based process for evaluating the performance of a facility envelope to determine if a project is meeting the defined objectives, standards, and requirements of the owner.īECx is especially critical when it comes to measuring energy performance. Owners can apply commissioning protocols to any building system, and one often overlooked element is the building envelope system. Conducting pre-installation meetings and site inspections.Reviewing plans, specifications and submittal documents.Developing the owner’s project requirements (OPR).The major components of the commissioning process include: Owners should perform BECx as part of an overall commissioning plan. It can also significantly reduce the operating costs associated with poor or ineffective thermal breaks and insulation. Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx) can significantly reduce the primary sources of these failures – air and moisture infiltration. Some of the most common and costliest sources of building failure involve building envelopes.
