Setting expectations for a team of people is necessary for success in any situation. Having clear and measurable expectations of your commissioning process, and understanding the outcomes, will make the process easier for everyone involved. Without having expected outcomes, it is impossible to gain buy-in and performance from the Project Team. When the entire Project Team understands the Commissioning Provider’s (CxP) expectations and goals, their willingness to participate increases and makes the commissioning process more successful. Having experience performing commissioning services at various phases of construction, I have seen exactly what can happen when expectations are clear, and when they are not. The difference in Project Team performance is measurable.

My most difficult Cx projects were where the Installation Teams did not know there would be commissioning during the bid, and a robust Cx process was brought into the project during installation of components and systems. These difficulties stem from an unrealistic early expectation coupled with a lack of document review prior to purchasing equipment and services. When introduced in the middle of the project, commissioning process expectations for the Team can become more difficult to establish. This could lead to misinformation and lack of trust within the Team. When the Owner, CxP, and A/E/C have differing expectations, Installation and Design Teams’ costs can grow while tempers rise. Setting commissioning process expectations early can help avoid these concerns.

On the other hand, the most efficient projects I have been involved in provided a clear and concise Cx Plan from the beginning. The Cx process provides the most value by ensuring buy-in from the entire Project Team (Owner, Design, Construction, and especially the Facility and Operations Team). When these groups work together to gain a clear, early understanding of the Cx process goals, the value of the process grows for the Owner. Effective communication by the CxP ensures all requirements of the Cx process are clear in the specifications prior to bidding and contracting a project. With this done, the Installation Team can accurately estimate all project tasks to ensure successful installation and operations of the building’s systems. When A/E/C Teams have a full understanding of the expectations and outcomes of the Cx process, the Cx meetings and review information become more useful to everyone, which provides a better outcome for the Project Owner.

Setting these expectations can impact not only the installation, but also the design phases of a Cx process. When contracting your CxP and A/E Teams, it is imperative to ensure design reviews align with your A/E deliverables. If your CxP scope inclueds 50% construction plan and specifications document review, but the Architect’s contract does not include generation of these plans/specs, the opportunity for the CxP to bring value to the design documents diminishes. Coordinating the commissioning tasks early in a project ensures the Owner, A/E/C, and CxP have similar expectations of the commissioning project tasks.

Documenting the commissioning process expectations in the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) at conception of the project is beneficial to bring value to the Owner. The largest benefit occurs by having the CxP assist in defining commissioning project goals early. Having Cx goals and expectations defined ensures the Design Team clearly shows project Cx requirements in their project documents from schematic design through warranty periods and beyond. Hiring the CxP and introducing them to the Design Team early in the design process is the most efficient way to accomplish this. Getting your entire Design and Construction Team to have the same expectations with respect to your Cx process will allow for better teamwork and integration of Cx related activities in your project documents and project schedule. With commissioning required in the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) since 2012 version, the time to ensure you are getting value from commissioning services has arrived.

As an Owner or Owner’s Rep, one of the most important things you can do is to ensure commissioning process expectations are set early and communicated often. Reach out to BAM Commissioning Services if you have questions or would like to learn more about how to set your desired commissioning process expectations for your project.