With today’s facilities becoming more technically advanced than ever before, the pressures put on a building’s mechanical, electrical, life safety, and telecommunications systems to perform at high levels has created an increased demand for commissioning and retro-commissioning services.
At Safari Engineering, we understand that every project is unique. We provide customized commissioning services to help our clients to better manage, control and ultimately reduce the cost of building construction and ownership.
NEW CONSTRUCTION COMMISSIONING
For New Construction Commissioning, we conduct a comprehensive examination of design documents to ensure design intent alignment, assess operating protocols for operator clarity, and review maintenance strategies and construction schedules to facilitate seamless commissioning integration.
Our specialized services include:
- Peer Review of Systems Design
- Functional Testing of Major Systems
- Post-Occupancy Commissioning
- Training for Owners and Facility Managers to optimize long-term operational efficiency.
RETRO-COMMISSIONING
Retro-commissioning resolves problems that occur during design or construction and addresses problems that have developed throughout the building’s life as equipment has aged or as building usage has changed.
With a unique understanding of systems design and operation, our team brings a high level of value and a proven reputation to the building retro-commissioning process.
The Safari Engineering team will conduct functional testing on every major building system, from small sensors to control sequences, to identify problem areas that need to be retrofit. Our goal is to save costs and increase comfort. Clients can expect to see significant, verifiable benefits as a direct result of our retro-commissioning services.
LEED COMMISSIONING
We collaborate with contractors, architects, LEED professionals, and all relevant stakeholders to assist in your LEED project. Our commissioning approach not only contributes to earning LEED credits but also ensures the seamless integration and effective startup of building systems, along with valuable insights to the owner regarding the building’s long-term operational performance. Through real-time system trending and performance logs, we provide the owner with a benchmark for future assessments and continuous commissioning.
NYCECC CODE COMPLIANCE
To align with international standards and the goals of New York’s reforming the Energy Vision strategy, the New York City Energy Conservation Construction (NYCECC) Code now requires a comprehensive commissioning process for new construction and substantial renovation projects with total mechanical capacity larger than 480,000 BTU/hr for COOLING, or 600,000 BTU/hr for HEATING & SERVICE HOT WATER.
Section C408 of the NYCECC indicates systems that may require commissioning include, but are not limited to:
- Mechanical Heating, Cooling, and Refrigeration Systems
- Air Handling and Distribution, Ventilation and Exhaust Systems
- Air, Water and other Energy Recovery Systems
- Manual or Automatic Controls on Energy Using Systems (i.e. temperature controls)
- Plumbing, Heating systems
- Service Water Heating Systems
- Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems
Frequently Asked Questions
Commissioning is the systematic process of ensuring that a building’s systems and components are designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the owner’s project requirements. It primarily focuses on new construction or major renovations.
Retro-commissioning, on the other hand, is the process of optimizing and improving the performance of existing buildings’ systems and equipment. It aims to identify and rectify issues that may have developed over time.
Commissioning helps ensure that all building systems work as intended, which can lead to improved energy efficiency, reduced maintenance costs, and enhanced occupant comfort and safety. It also helps avoid costly rework and construction defects.
Retro-commissioning can lead to energy savings, extended equipment life, improved indoor air quality, and increased comfort. It often results in reduced operational costs and a lower environmental impact.
Commissioning and retro-commissioning services are often provided by qualified engineering firms, energy consultants, or certified commissioning agents (CxAs) who specialize in evaluating and optimizing building systems.
The commissioning process typically involves planning, design reviews, installation verification, functional testing, and ongoing monitoring and maintenance. It aims to ensure that all systems operate efficiently from the beginning.
The duration can vary significantly depending on the size and complexity of the building. For new construction, it may take several months to complete, while retro-commissioning projects in existing buildings can range from weeks to several months.
These processes can identify and address energy inefficiencies in a building’s HVAC, lighting, and control systems. By optimizing these systems, energy consumption can be reduced, resulting in cost savings and environmental benefits.