Stage


Activities


Ensure that the commissioning information included in tender documentation is clear, complete and fully coordinated.


Participate in the tender phase meetings to clearly communicate all information relating to the commissioning process.


Assist with the selection of construction specialists to ensure that commissioning requirements will be met.


Figure 1: Pre-construction stage activities from BSRIA Model Commissioning Plan. Source: BSRIA BG8/2009 The approved document to the England


and Wales regulations notes that it would be ‘helpful’ if the notifications made to the BCB were signed by a suitably qualified person as from the Commissioning Specialists Association or the commissioning group of the Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association (HVCA). The use of templates as outlined in


the Model Commissioning Plan (BSRIA BG 8/2009) is recommended for documenting the process in an appropriate way. Not only do the templates provide a checklist of the required stages of activity, but they also ensure that the responsibility for that activity is clearly identified and signed off by the appropriate building professional. The principal stages identified are preparation, design, pre- construction, construction, commissioning of engineering services, pre-handover, initial occupation and post-occupancy (with each being subdivided into a number of activities). An example of one of the stages, pre-construction, is given in Figure 1.


CIBSE Commissioning Code M Whether by a sub-contractor or a specialist firm, the actual commissioning must be carried out in accordance with approved procedures in CIBSE Commissioning Code M: Commissioning Management. This Code provides an overview of the management arrangements required to ensure that building services systems are commissioned to meet the objectives of the relevant parts of UK Building Regulations (as described in AD Part L for UK and Wales). The Code is intended as a guide to good practice to enable the development of appropriate procedures and specifications aimed at developing a whole team approach to project commissioning. It does not contain specific detail on procedures for particular types of installations; these are provided in the CIBSE Commissioning Codes specific to the technology. (These are Code A: Air distribution systems; Code B:


52 CIBSE Journal July 2011


Boilers; Code C: Automatic Controls; Code L: Lighting ; Code R: Refrigerating Systems and Code W: Water Distribution Systems). And although much of the content of


Code M is generic, it lays out an underlying structure for the commissioning cycle that is then contextualised in the detailed technology codes. It provides some clarity by defining terms used in this work in an attempt to avoid misunderstandings. Fairly commonly interpreted terms such as ‘balancing’ and ‘regulation’ are succinctly defined. Potentially more contentious terms that may not be universally understood by professionals are also given. One example of this is ‘static completion’, defined as: ‘The state of a system when it is installed in accordance with the specification, i.e. clean and ready for setting to work. In the case of water systems this includes flushing, cleaning, pressure testing, filling and venting.’ Code M outlines the management of


the whole process, from the need to set up the commissioning systems, programmes and teams early in the project; through


Activity number


1


Activity description Commissioning management organisation (CMO)


Review design drawings and specifications for commissioning requirements


2


Review installation drawings and technical submissions from BSC for commissioning requirements.


3


Review installations with respect to compliance with specifications and drawing intent for commissioning.


4


Production of detailed coordinated commissioning programme, including revisions and updating.


Action and advise CE. Coordinate any comments from BSC and MC.


Action and advise MC/CE.


Lead role Suport role End date Comments


the design and co-ordination of commissioning; the actual commissioning and proving of the systems; and the need for proper recording, certification and handover. A particularly helpful appendix, ‘Example responsibility matrix’, provides guidance on the responsibilities that are likely to be taken by the various building professionals. (Four of the 17 example responsibilities are shown in Figure 2.) The practices and delineation of responsibilities in a building project may well have shifted in the eight years since Code M was published. However, the core underlying requirement for the activities remains.


Commissioning Code W for Water Distribution Systems 2010 CIBSE updated its Commissioning Code W for Water Distribution Systems only a few months ago. This code describes the requirements for balancing and commissioning water distribution systems, and is complemented by BSRIA Guide BG2/2010 Commissioning Water Systems, which gives the more detailed procedures in a step-by-step format. (Both documents potentially are needed to properly plan and execute the commissioning process.) The scope of both documents relates to the circulatory systems associated with heating and cooling systems. Code W 2010 replaces the 2003 edition


of the code, but maintains the same principal numbering systems to broadly accommodate any existing standard


Building services contractor (BSC)


Advise MC of any comments.


Main contractor (MC)


Liaise and assist all parties.


Consulting engineer (CE)


Review


comments and action as appropriate.


Prepare and submit for review. Action any comments as instructed by MC.


Supervise inspection of installations, and issue reports to MC.


Receive CMO reports, and action as necessary.


Coordinate, supervise and direct/instruct as appropriate.


Review,


comment and issue directives to MC if applicable.


Coordinate, supervise, and direct/instruct as appropriate.


Review,


comment and issue directives to MC if applicable.


Procure information from BSC. Prepare programme, discuss with MC, and issue to all parties for comment.


Submit information, and liaise with CMO.


Review programme with regard to impact on construction process. Issue comments and approve.


Figure 2: Part of example responsibility matrix. (Source: CIBSE Commissioning Code M) www.cibsejournal.com Review,


comment and accept.


Pre-construction


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