Commissioning is a "process that will ensure fire protection and life safety systems perform in conformity with the design intent". NFPA 3, Recommended Practice for the Commissioning of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems, creates a 4-phase plan to commission new structures. Each phase has several items that must be completed in order to move on to the next phase. Annex A of NFPA 3 provides a workflow diagram of what must take place in each phase of the project. This is helpful to the commissioning team to ensure that all items are completed.
For an introduction to commissioning read, Commissioning New Occupancies.
If you are new to commissioning, or a building owner that is thinking about commissioning, what can you expect? What does the commissioning look like? What is involved in each phase? The below layout provides a proposed commissioning schedule and agenda to help understand the time commitment and team involvement that will be required.
For an overview of the documents listed here read, The 5 Documents Commissioning Requires.
Planning Phase
- Planning meeting to establish OPR (owners project requirements)
- Cx team meeting to assemble, establish, and introduce team members
- Commissioning plan is developed and reviewed
Design Phase
- Develop the BOD (basis of design)
- Operation and maintenance manuals provided and reviewed
- Training program content, duration, and objectives are developed
Construction Phase
- Pre-construction meetings
- Rough-in inspections
- Final/finish inspections
- Acceptance testing/completions
- Owner training
- Closeout documents delivered
Occupancy Phase
- Deferred testing completed
- Inspection, testing, maintenance is conducted
- Training of occupants and managers
Related Posts:
- How to Commission New Hangars
- Why You're Stuck in Permitting (and how to get out!)
- How to Obtain Building Occupancy
- Top 5 Benefits of Third-Party Plan Review
- Testing Integrated Fire Systems
