Simplifying the commissioning process

This is Part 1 of a three-part series. The original paper was first submitted in the Proceedings of the World Energy Engineering Congress 2006. It has been reformatted into three parts and condensed for publication in Energy Engineering. The complete original paper is available from the author. The success of commissioning depends to a very large extent on the support of the owner, which in turn depends upon the owner knowing what commissioning is. The topic of commissioning (Cx) is often viewed as complex, confusing, and expensive. This article speaks to anyone with interest in the field of commissioning. It emphasizes anticipating and answering questions owners may have, and will have served its purpose if it improves the owner’s comfort level with respect to commissioning. This article is divided into three parts. Part 1 - What is Commissioning? Part 2 - Tips for Applying Commissioning Part 3 - Quantifying Commissioning Benefits Part 1, “What is Commissioning?,” will cover the core concepts of the trade. The topics discussed will become common threads and readily identifiable parts of any commissioning project. The subject matter will provide a core framework of concepts that can be built upon with more in-depth study as needed. The material will focus on the most common primary activities, with sufficient detail to illustrate the points. The progression of the Cx work is tied to the different stages of the construction project, and examples will show how the owner’s interest is protected at each stage. By keeping the subject matter concise, it is hoped that the core concepts will be clear and retained in memory. © 2007 Energy Engineering. All rights reserved.