Cx Services Spotlilght
Building Commissioning ( Cx ) facilitates the planning , design , construction , installation and testing verification , documentation , and operation of building systems to ensure design and construction activities align with the owner ’ s goals . The process begins in the pre-design phase of a project and follows the project ’ s lifespan through construction and even post-occupancy . Commissioning providers act as third-party owner advocates throughout the project , and it ’ s a standard practice typically done on new building and renovation projects . But there are also a range of different types of commissioning services to address specific situations and needs . We spoke to some of our Cx staff to learn more about some of these services .
Services
INTERVIEWS WITH OUR COMMISSIONING TEAM
ALI SIDUN Commissioning Studio Leader
EXISTING BUILDING COMMISSIONING What exactly is this service ?
Existing Building Commissioning ( EBCx ) not only includes existing buildings , it also includes existing systems and assemblies which may or may not have been previously commissioned . The project ’ s commissioning scope could be specified to systems and assemblies , like major energyusing equipment , but it can also include systems that affect comfort , like indoor air quality or temperature control .
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We ’ ve also seen certain facilities focus their EBCx efforts on life safety systems , building envelope assemblies , missioning critical equipment , and redundant equipment for facilities in the health care , industrial processes , and data center industries . The intent of EBCx is similar to RCx , with a focus on improving efficiency , lowering energy costs , and addressing system deficiencies that may have occurred over the life of the building . Analyzing existing building systems can be insightful since the building engineer or the facility manager role may have been turned over multiple times since the building ’ s construction or the last time it was commissioned ( if it ever was ). EBCx doesn ’ t specifically focus on replacing equipment ; it intends to find ways to improve the existing systems ’ operations and efficiencies for a better bottom line and to optimize equipment life .
What ’ s one notable project that used this service ? Can you briefly describe the project ?
We ’ ve helped a lot of clients with facility assessments and EBCx . We ’ ve provided services for tenant improvement ( TI ) projects where the building has been turned over to a new user , and they need assistance with assessing how to best use or change the space to meet their needs . A few different projects come to mind – such as working with Apple to transition new spaces to meet their office needs for various R & D facilities .
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