Commissioning: Concepts and Applications May 6, 2011 Steven M. Patterson, PE, CEM.

Commissioning: Concepts and Applications

May 6, 2011

Steven M. Patterson, PE, CEM

2011 VEPGA Annual Meeting2

• Commissioning – A process to ensure a system works in accordance with

design intent

– Different Sub-Types

Introduction


Main Benefits

• Building / Systems Works Properly!

• Energy Savings

• Reduced Maintenance Costs

• Extend Equipment Life

• Improved Space Comfort

• Building Certification


• Commissioning – New Car (at the factory)

• Recommissioning– Vintage Car Restoration

• Retrocommissioning– First Time Doctor Visit (physical)

• Continuous Commissioning ™– OnStar™ Vehicle Diagnostics System

Types of Commissioning


American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.

National Institute of Building Sciences / Whole Bldg Design Guide

Online Cx Document Generation/Mgmt Tool by Energy Design Resource

Portland Energy Conservation, Inc.

Building Commissioning Association

California Commissioning Collaborative

Mechanical Service Contractors of America & Mechanical Contractors

Association of America

AABC Commissioning Group (ACG) a subsidiary of Associated Air Balance Council (AABC)

Association of Energy Engineers National Energy Management Institute / Testing Adjusting and Balancing Bureau

National Environmental Balancing Bureau V

Commissioning Applicability

Commissioning Type Most Applicable Scenario

Commissioning New Building / System

Recommissioning Existing Newer (<5yrs) Building / System

Retrocommissioning Older Building / System

Continuous Commissioning™ New or Existing Building / System













• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE)• Guidelines

• GL 0-2005 (Cx Process)• GL 1.1-2007 (HVAC Cx Process)

• National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) / Whole Bldg Design Guide• Guidelines

• GL 3-2006 (Exterior Enclosure)• GL 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (different building systems)

Protocols & Guidelines













1. Portland Energy Conservation, Inc. (PECI)

2. Building Commissioning Association (BCA)

3. National Energy Management Institute / Testing Adjusting and Balancing Bureau (TABB)

4. National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB)

5. California Commissioning Collaborative (CCC)

6. Mechanical Service Contractors of America & Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MSCA, MCAA)

7. American Commissioning Group (ACG) a subsidiary of Associated Air Balance Council (AABC)

8. Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)

9. Online Cx Document Generation / Mgmt Tool by Energy Design Resource (EDR)

Popular Resources


• Definition – QA Process of documentation, testing, adjusting, verification and training to ensure completed building operates in accordance with requirements and construction documents.

• Applicable – New Systems / Building

• Project Objectives– Construct a building, Performance, Timeline, LEED

• Documentation– Design docs

• The Team – Commissioning Agent is part of the TEAM

Commissioning (New Car)


Process (ASHRAE)1. Pre-Design

• Reqs, scope, budget

2. Design• BOD, Des review

3. Construction• Final plan, submittals,

procedures

4. Acceptance• O&M Manual review,

Training, Funct. Testing, Deficiencies

5. Post-Acceptance• Maint Mgmt, Off season

testing

Commissioning


• Cost – 0.5-0.75% of total Const Cost per RS Means

• How to Buy – Certified Commissioning Authority hired by Owner or GC

Commissioning

• Keys– Expertise/Experience/

Qualifications– Accurate Scope Definition– Integral to project team– Coordination among Team

members– Turnover – Docs, Training,

Equipment, Cx it !


• Definition– Systematic Process to Return Systems/Building to original design

Intent; (Intent – Retest Periodically)

• Applicable – Existing Newer Building / System

• Project Objectives

Recommissioning (Vintage Car)

• Documentation– As-builts, Utility Bills, O&M

Documents, Previous Commissioning Reports

• The Team


Recommissioning - Process


• How to Buy – – Owner hires professional firm– Can be stand-alone or part of turnkey improvement

program– Necessary to pursue prerequisites for LEED certif.

• Cost / Payback – Varies greatly; Up to $0.20/sq.ft– Payback is attractive depending on SOW!

• Keys– Same as for Commissioning– More open ended – focus on objective and plan

Recommissioning


• Definition– Systematic Process to Optimize Buildings’ Operation

• Applicable – Older Building / System

• Project Objectives - Examples– Verify that a facility and its systems meet the Current Facility

Requirements– Improve building performance by saving energy and reducing

operational costs– Identify and resolve building system operation, control and

maintenance problems

Retrocommissioning (Doctor visit)


• Documentation– As-builts, Utility Bills, O&M Documents

• Process (BCA)

Retrocommissioning


• The Team – Maint Staff, Engineering, Leader

• How to Buy – Hire a professional firm

• Cost / Payback*– Cost: $0.10 - $0.20/sq.ft.– Payback: 1-3 years

• Keys– Same as Commissioning & Recommissioning

* Source: A Retrocommissioning Guide for Building Owners by PECI

Retrocommissioning


Retrocommissioning

Source: PECI

Most Frequently Implemented

Optimize airside economizer

Reduce equipment runtime

Reduce / reset DSP setpoint

Revise control sequence

Add / optimize SAT reset

Add VFD to pump

Reduce lighting schedule

Replace/repair/calibrate sensor

Top Savings/Sq.Ft.

Tune / Upgrade controls

Add / Optimize HWST reset

Relocate / shield temp sensor

Add / optimize boiler lockout

Add small A/C unit

Add VFD to chiller

Add / optimize chiller staging

Lower / reset VAV box flow

Optimize waterside economizer


“Top 10” HVAC Opportunities

1. Verify lighting controls schedules/effectiveness2. Terminal unit tune-ups – dampers & valves3. Improve cooling tower sequencing/lower condenser

water temps4. Improve chiller sequencing5. Return VFDs to variable speed operation6. Optimize supply air static pressure set points7. Ensure proper ventilation airflow rate8. Optimize/restore economizer operation9. Implement reset schedules to eliminate simultaneous

heating and cooling10.Turn off equipment when not needed (Scheduled S/S)Source: EMC Engineers, Inc.


• Building Works Well…. TODAY!• Entropy is not our Friend

• Definition– Ongoing process to resolve oper problems, improve

comfort, reduce energy using monitoring technology– AKA: Monitoring Commissioning, On-Going

Commissioning

• Another Definition – using energy management systems + internet + computers + engineering expertise to monitor and operate the building to maintain peak performance

Continuous Commissioning™ (OnStar™)


• Process– Set up:

• Initial audit to gather, archive and analyze data.

• System Connectivity

– Manage:• Gather and archive data remotely on an continuous basis.

• Analytics are used to identify suspect building behavior.

• Advanced heuristics (using experience to learn) identify trends and deviations that humans can’t detect.

• Fieldwork to define and document suspect behavior, diagnose and correct deficiencies, and make improvements.

Continuous Commissioning™


• Complex systems require 24/7 monitoring to ensure timely detection of and response to issues.

• Alarm Management– Centralized Operations –expert source to collect and report critical alarms.– Critical alarm history is archived.– A notification service.

• Alarm Response– Diagnosis of alarms and remote resolution– Typical notification by e-mail, text message, or voice call.– Intelligent mobilization of local resources. Local resources arrive with a probable

diagnosis and recommended response – this yields lower repair costs and faster return to normal operations.

– A monitoring and digital response service combined with physical response.

• These yield energy savings in a few ways:– Alarms based on energy usage can substantially

impact demand charges– Alarms based on equipment behavior can impact

consumption charges– Reviewing alarm history can provide clues to

performance issues

Remote Monitoring


Current Model:Problem Recognition and Correction

Spring PM

Fall PM

Problem Occurrence

Intelligent Services:

Problem Occurrence

Immediate Recognition Enabling Fast Resolution

Energy Cost Avoidance

Performance Reports

Documented Value

En

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sag

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Time

Continuous Commissioning


Did you ever consider . . .

• The bulk of your energy conservation rests on four sensors:– CO2 (Demand Control Ventilation)– Enthalpy (OA temp and RH)– Photocell (light/shade control)– Rain (irrigation)

• The decisions made on the data from these sensors are then executed through switches or actuators

• Each of these components costs around $300, or about the same as 3000 kWh of electrical consumption.

• You likely bought these through a low bid process


What the pros know:

• CO2 sensors typically have one, three, or five year calibration requirements (or nowadays, replacement)

• Humidity sensors are notoriously prone to drift

• Birds think photocells were specifically designed for them to foul

• Rain sensors are a favored home for spiders and dirt

• Actuators and dampers are moving parts


Project Documentation

• Project is only as good as Project Documentation

• Request sample prior to hiring

• Request samples while working on a project

• Store the final documents carefully


Call to Action

• You have building improvement opportunities

• Technology and Processes NOW exist to help you

• Expertise to support your objectives exists

• Manage your Building Portfolio Wisely

• Set your Goals and Get Started!

Contact Information:Steve PattersonBoland Trane30 W. Watkins Mill RoadGaithersburg, MD240-306-3250 [email protected]

Commissioning: Concepts and Applications May 6, 2011 Steven M. Patterson, PE, CEM.

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Transcript of Commissioning: Concepts and Applications May 6, 2011 Steven M. Patterson, PE, CEM.