#Commissioning #EnergyConservationCode #Mandatory #Soon #Yourprojects
Did you know: As the adoption of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is adopted by AHJ’s throughout the country, Commissioning will become mandatory on your projects?
When is commissioning required? Commissioning of lighting systems is required on all commercial projects that include automatic lighting controls. Commissioning of mechanical and service water heating systems is required for all commercial projects with a cooling capacity greater than or equal to 40 Tons or a heating capacity (including service water heating) greater than or equal to 600 Mbh. Excluded are packaged single zone HVAC systems serving dwelling or sleeping units. This means most commercial projects will be required to include some level of commissioning.
Is a design review required as part of the commissioning requirements? No. Unlike the USGBC LEED credit for Enhanced Commissioning, the 2012 and 2015 IECC do not require a formal review comment process of the design documents. The commissioning requirements in the IECC focus primarily on equipment adjustment and functionality prior to occupancy. However, in order to develop a commissioning plan, it will be necessary for the commissioning agent to become familiar with the design documents and understand the design intent. Development of a commissioning plan is required and must include all details of the anticipated commissioning process.
What must be commissioned? The commissioning requirements in the 2012 and 2015 IECC are very similar and include many of the same requirements. The primary difference between the two versions of the standard pertain to functional testing of lighting. In general, the requirements in the 2015 IECC are not necessarily more stringent but are more specific.
Mechanical commissioning must include:
- Review of balancing reports (air and hydronic balancing)
- Functional performance testing review of:
- mechanical equipment including service water heating
- mechanical controls
- HVAC economizers
Lighting commissioning must include:
- Functional testing review of the lighting control system components:
- occupant sensor controls
- time-switch controls
- daylight responsive controls
The commissioning authority must also confirm that the operation and maintenance (O&M) manual has been provided and includes all relevant equipment data required by the IECC commissioning section. In general the O&M manual must include submittal data, mfr. O&M manuals, maintenance schedules, and narratives describing the operation of each piece of equipment. These O&Ms must be delivered to the owner within 90 days of the certificate of occupancy.
Can the building be commissioned after occupancy? No. The final inspection of the project or portions of the project cannot occur until the code official has been notified by the building owner that they have received the preliminary commissioning report. The preliminary commissioning report includes test procedures and results required as part of the commissioning process. However, it may be possible for the final inspection to occur prior to completion of the commissioning process.
Although the commissioning activities required by the IECC take place during the construction phase of a project, it is important to understand during the design phase that these services will be required. As part of the design process, the design team will need to include commissioning requirements in the drawings and specifications. This will convey to the construction team the effort required to assist in the commissioning process. Additionally, building owners will need to understand the commissioning requirements early in design to budget for commissioning and select a commissioning authority.
Many of the energy conservations measures included in the 2012 and 2015 IECC place increased emphasis on complex control logic. If this logic is not implemented correctly, energy consumption can increase or reduce occupant comfort. Commissioning will help validate successful equipment and controls installation and improve the effectiveness of required energy conservation measures while satisfying occupant comfort.
Prior to the 2012 version, the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) was silent on the topic of commissioning. In the 2012 version Section R408 Commissioning was added1.. This section was retained for the 2015 version2. and included additional commissioning requirements. Some jurisdictions within the State of Colorado have already adopted the 2012 IECC. Many other jurisdictions, such as the City and County of Denver3. will skip adoption of the 2012 IECC and jump straight to the 2015 IECC. As enforcement of IECC 2009 and older is phased out commissioning will soon be required on most projects. As such, it is important to understand the commissioning requirements of the IECC. Currently commissioning is required for commercial mechanical and lighting systems.
- 2012 International Energy Conservation Code, International Code Council, http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/iecc/2012/index.htm
- 2015 International Energy Conservation Code, International Code Council, http://codes.iccsafe.org/app/book/toc/2015/I-Codes/2015%20IECC%20HTML/index.html
- Starting on September 12, 2016 all projects applying for permit in the City and County of Denver will be required to comply with the 2015 International Code Council suite of code publications. https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/denver-development-services/help-me-find-/building-codes-and-policies.html