Design Phase Commissioning – The Advantage of Quality Assurance Before Construction

Matthew Napolitan, P.E., CCP, CPMP, LEED AP BD+CPrincipal

Brent Weigel, Ph.D., P.E., LEED AP BD+CSenior Engineer

Presentation Learning Objectives

1. Be able to list the essential elements of design phase commissioning.

2. Be able to describe how design phase commissioning supports construction phase commissioning.

3. Be able to explain how the elements of design phase commissioning support project delivery and risk management.

4. Be able to explain how design phase commissioning can identify opportunities for improved building performance.

Elements of Design Phase Cx

• Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR)• Cx Plan and Cx Kickoff Meeting• Basis of Design (BoD)• Construction Documents - Specifications• Design Review

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Elements of Design Phase Cx

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Elements of Design Phase Cx

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Elements of Design Phase Cx

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Elements of Design Phase Cx

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Elements of Design Phase Cx

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Elements of Design Phase Cx

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Elements of Design Phase Cx

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Team Collaboration

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Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR)

• Plain English documentation of an owner’s criteria for success.

• Quantifiable criteria wherever possible

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Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR)

• If possible, include the budget.

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Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR)

• Develop the OPR with input from ALL project stakeholders.

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Basis of Design (BoD)

• Narrative description of how the design team intends on satisfying the OPR.

• Relatively little effort compared with drawings and specs

• Provides an opportunity to modify approaches without significant rework.

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Basis of Design (BoD)

EXAMPLE:OPR = Building Energy Use target of 20% better than code.

OPR = Individual HVAC control per office

BoD = Use VRF.

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Commissioning Plan

• Describes the commissioning process in non-spec language.• Roles and responsibilities

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• Documentation and communication protocols

• Description of commissioning tasks and schedule.

Design ReviewHighly Cost Effective

• Desk side review = very time efficient = very low cost

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Design ReviewHighly Cost Effective

• On nearly every project, we find savings that pay for our services.

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FEE

SAVINGS

Design Review

• Two types of design review:

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OPR compliance review

Peer review

Design Review

• Two types of design review:

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P OPR compliance review

Peer review

Design Review

• Two types of design review:

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OPR compliance review

P Peer review

Design Review• Challenges, issues, and trends in the design engineering industry

that increase the need for peer review:– Design engineers spend fewer hours in the field during and after

construction– Less design fee available for internal QC & detailed investigation

/ analysis of options.– Internal QC can be blind to internal biases / errors

• External QC (Cx peer review) allows for knowledge sharing across firms

• Cx providers see designs from numerous engineering firms (Pick the good stuff from each).

– Weakness of controls sequence of operations in design documents

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Design Review “Objectives”

• OPR compliance• First cost reduction• Energy efficiency• Systems simplification• Future proofing• Maintainability• Commissionability• Bidability• Risk Management

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Design ReviewFirst Cost Reduction

• Right-sizing equipment – size the equipment to meetthe load.

• Example – RTU ReplacementExisting = 10 Ton, 30 Ton, 40 Ton RTUsReplacement = 5 Ton, 20 Ton, 20 Ton RTUs

Savings = $33,000

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OPR compliance review

P peer review

Design ReviewFirst Cost Reduction

• Alternative manufacturers• Example – Local Hotel

Design-Build HVACProposed a ventilation unit w/o local representationFrom a service standpoint, we suggested another manufacturer.

Savings = $10,000

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OPR compliance review

P peer review

Design ReviewFirst Cost Reduction

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P OPR compliance review

P peer review

• Reducing equipment quantity

Design ReviewFirst Cost Reduction

• Alternative design approaches

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• Reducing equipment quantity

P OPR compliance review

P peer review

www.ebtron.com

Design ReviewFirst Cost Reduction

• Alternative design approaches

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• Reducing equipment quantity

P OPR compliance review

P peer review

Savings = $230 per $18,400 total

Design Review:Energy Efficiency

• Code compliance review – 2015 VT CBES

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P OPR compliance review

P peer review

Design Review:Energy Efficiency

• Code compliance review – 2015 VT CBES

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P OPR compliance review

P peer review

Design Review:Energy Efficiency

• Opportunities to exceed code compliance with proven strategies

• Primary only chilled water system.• Lighting only what you need to light• Using building indicators to reset temperatures (not outdoor

air conditions).

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P OPR compliance review

P peer review

Design Review:Future proofing

• Ensure facility planning objectives are included in project design.

• Example – Hospital RTU with room for Chilled Water Coil

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P OPR compliance review

P peer review

Design Review:Maintainability

• Equipment access

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P OPR compliance review

P peer review

Design Review:Maintainability

• Consistency with existing equipment / systems

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P OPR compliance review

P peer review

Design Review:Commissionability

• Provide a Cx specification

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Design Review:Commissionability

• Construction Documents:– Sufficient detail for installation

(construction verification)– Sufficient detail for sequence of operations

(functional performance testing)

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OPR compliance review

P peer review

Design Review:Bidability

• Minimize variance of bid estimates

• Minimize change orders during construction

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OPR compliance review

P peer review

Risk Management

• Identify where and for whom risks exist

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Risk Management

• Owner Risks:

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Risk Management

• Owner Risks:

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Risk Management

• Design Team Risks:• Errors and Omissions

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coloradononprofitinsurance.org

Risk Management

• Design Team Risks:• Reputation

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Risk Management

• Contractor Risks: All of the above and the kitchen sink!

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Thank You!

Matt Napolitan - matt@cx-assoc.comBrent Weigel – brent@cx-assoc.com

• Outline:

• Elements of design phase commissioning.– describe how design phase commissioning supports construction phase commissioning.– how the elements of design phase commissioning support project delivery and risk management.– how design phase commissioning can identify opportunities for improved building performance.

• Design review– describe how design phase commissioning supports construction phase commissioning– how the elements of design phase commissioning support project delivery and risk management.– how design phase commissioning can identify opportunities for improved building performance.– Two types of design review

• Compliance w/ OPR• Peer review

– First cost reduction– Energy efficiency– Systems simplification– Future proofing– Maintainability– Commissionability– Communication style/tone– Collaboration– “BOD review” and expectations for design documents by phase

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