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CommissioningLifeSafetySystems
Roles,responsibilities,andphasesofthiscriticalpathevent
ByMARKA.LEAFSTEDT,PE,CCP,CxA,TestMarcxCommissioningSolutions,LasVegas,
Nev.
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Nov1,2008
COMMENTS 0
Theprocessofcommissioningalifesafetysystemisverysimilartothatofcommissioning
aHVACsystemhowever,thestakesessentially,deathvs.discomfortarealothigher.
Thisarticledescribestheprocessofcommissioninglifesafetysystemsandexplainsthe
rolesandresponsibilitiesoftheindividualsinvolved.
ROLESANDRESPONSIBILITIES
http://hpac.com/firesmoke/commissioning_lifesafety_systems
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CommissioningLifeSafetySystems
Rolesandresponsibilitiesrelatedtotheconstructionphasecommissioningofalifesafety
systemareverysimilartothoseofanHVACsystem,withafewnonnegotiable
differences.
WHITE
Primecontractor.Theprime
contractor'sroleisoneofnotonly
constructingtheenvelope,but
coordinatingandscheduling.Itis
imperativethattheprimecontractor
knownotonlyhowtogetfromPointA
toPointZ,butwhen.
OCT30,2015
PAPER
DiamondControls
SolutionsEmpowering
InnovativeBuilding
Management
WHITE
MAR19,2014
PAPER
EvolvingEnergy
Efficiency
Regulationsfor
HVACR
Aprimecontractorshould:
Providedetailedanduptodate
projectschedules.
LatestWhitePapers
Afirecommandcenterunderconstruction.
Employamechanical,electrical,
andplumbingcoordinator,
avoidingrelianceon
subcontractorscoordinatingand
sequencingthemselves.
Promotespeedyresolutionof
issuesamongsubcontractors.
Manageandcommunicatetothe
ownertheconsequences(i.e.,
delays)ofmidconstruction
designchanges.
Subcontractor.Thesubcontractor's
Webinars
Testingofaductsmokedetector.
SEP15,2015
http://hpac.com/firesmoke/commissioning_lifesafety_systems
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CommissioningLifeSafetySystems
roleprimarilyisoneof
constructing/installingthesystem(s)he
orsheiscontractedtoconstruct/installandaidingcommissioning.
WEBINAR
ANewEraof
Efficiency:Advances
inWaterSourceVRF
Technology
Asubcontractorshould:
AUG11,2015
Provideinputfortheprimecontractor'sprojectschedule.
WEBINAR
ImprovingHVAC
EnergyEfficiency
ThroughAccurate
Humidity
Avoiddefensiveposturing,respondingpositivelytocommissioningissues.
Notdependonwordofmouth,journeyingtoajobsiteforavisualinspection.
Measurement
Provideanyproprietaryequipmentrequiredtoverifyfunctionality.
JUL22,2015
WEBINAR
Designer.Thedesigner'sroleisoneofrespondingtoquestionsanddesignrelatedissues
inthefield.Indoingso,thedesignermustbeswiftandthoroughtoavoidtheperception
ofbeingresponsibleforanymissedcompletiondates.
Itisimportanttonotethatthe2006InternationalBuildingCode(Section909.18.8.3)
requiresengineersofrecordtosign,seal,anddatefinalcommissioning(orspecial
inspection)reports,confirmingthat,basedontestresults,designintenthasbeen
achieved.
Owner.Theowner'sroleprimarilyisoneofremainingcalmamidthestormof
construction.Inmanyjurisdictions,theownerisrequiredtohirethecommissioning
provider(CxP),whicheliminatesanyrealorperceivedconflictsofinterest.
Commissioningprovider.ACxPispartcoach,parttaskmaster,partexpert,part
judge,andpartmediator.Itisimportanttoestablishattheoutsetofcommissioningthat
theCxPhasnoauthoritytoenforcecomplianceandnoresponsibilitywithrespectto
design,designmodification,constructioncompletion,resolutionofdeficiencies,warranty,
oracceptancebytheauthorityhavingjurisdiction(AHJ).However,implementationof
theCxP'ssuggestionsshouldbeseenasincreasingthelikelihoodofsuccess.
http://hpac.com/firesmoke/commissioning_lifesafety_systems
HowtoGettheMost
OutofYourBuilding
AutomationSystem
withService
ViewAll
Blogs&Opinions
Blogs
Columns
FundingHVACREnergyEfficiency
ResearchandDevelopment
byLawrence(Larry)Clark,
QCxP,GGP,LEEDAP+
Posted6daysago
inClark'sRemarks
GivingThanks
3/8
12/14/2015
CommissioningLifeSafetySystems
Inateamenvironment,identifyingandcommunicatingdeficienciesandissuesina
factual,professional,blameless,and,attimes,accommodatingmanneriscritical.Taking
intoaccountegoandprideofworkmanshipandassumingthateachteammemberis
doinghisorherbestfostersanenvironmentinwhichteammembersacceptdeficiencies
andissueswithoutimmediatelytakingadefensiveposture.
byLawrence(Larry)Clark,
LIFESAFETYCOMMISSIONINGPHASES
byLawrence(Larry)Clark,
Design/constructiondocumentationreview.Oneofthemostimportantpartsof
thecommissioningprocess,design/constructiondocumentationreviewisthefirst
opportunitytoidentifyissuesthatcouldimpacttheacceptancetestingscheduleand
essentialtodevelopingfunctionaltestingscenarios.Itentails:
QCxP,GGP,LEEDAP+
Posted2weeksago
inClark'sRemarks
AcceleratingEnergyProductivity
QCxP,GGP,LEEDAP+
Posted4weeksago
inClark'sRemarks
Verificationthatfireprotectionsprinklerzonesmatchsmokebarrierboundaries.
Verificationthatallrequiredfire/smokedampersareshownonmechanical
drawings.
Verificationthatcontroldrawingsarefullydeveloped.
Verificationthatthefirealarmcontractorprovidedallinitiation,input,andoutput
devicesandcoordinatedwiththetemperaturecontrolscontractor.
Verificationthatequipmentutilizedforsmokecontrolpurposesisincompliance
withcodesandlocalamendments.
Verificationthatthefirefighter'ssmokecontrolpanelisincompliancewithcodes
andlocalamendments.
Developmentofmethodstotestpressuredifferentialsinverylargepassivezones.
Developmentoffunctionaltestingscenarios.
Prefunctionaltesting.Prefunctionaltestingrunsconcurrentlywithconstructionand
http://hpac.com/firesmoke/commissioning_lifesafety_systems
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CommissioningLifeSafetySystems
allowstheCxPtobetterunderstandtheproject,bondwithsubcontractors,andnip
problemsinthebud.
Functionaltesting.Lifesafetysystemcommissioningisacriticalpathevent,meaning
abuildingcannotopenuntilitiscomplete.OntheLasVegasStrip,itisofintensepriority,
asthemonetaryvalueofatypicalbuildingbeingopencanbe$10millionaday.
Inmany,ifnotmost,constructionenvironments,aCxPcannotaffordtowaitfor
constructiontobecompletedtobeginfunctionallytestinglifesafetysystems.Thus,testing
mustbephasedin.Thelargertheproject,themorecriticalthisis.Phasingfunctional
testinggenerallymeansportionsofasystemaretestedwhileothersareincomplete.For
example,asmokedamperisfunctionallytestedforoperationandstatusfeedback
withouttheentiresmokezonebeingprogrammed.Thesecretistoconstructtesting
scenariostobuildononeanothersothatperformanceconfidenceisestablishedastesting
proceedsfromcomponentleveltestingtosubsystem,system,andallsystemslevel
testing.
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Commissioningcompletion.Duringthecommissioningcompletionphase,afinal
reportissubmittedtotheAHJ.AfterthereportisreviewedandapprovedbytheAHJ,
acceptancetestingisperformed.TheCxPisresponsiblefororganizingthetestingteams.
Thisincludesprovidinglistingsofpersonnel,copiesoftestscenarios,setsofplans,radios,
andladderscommunicatingexpectationsandhavingrepairteamsonstandby.
CONCLUSION
Lifesafetyisacriticalcomponentofbuildings.Withgoodreason,thereisahealthyfear
oftheliabilityassociatedwithtestinglifesafetysystems.Systematicverificationand
documentationofthefunctionalityoflifesafetysystems,however,reducesliabilityfor
everyoneinvolvedandleadstosaferindoorenvironments.
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MarkA.Leafstedt,PE,CCP,CxA,ischiefexecutiveofficer/presidentofTestMarcx
CommissioningSolutions(www.testmarcx.com),afirmspecializinginindependent,
http://hpac.com/firesmoke/commissioning_lifesafety_systems
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thirdpartytestingandcommissioningofmechanical,electrical,climatecontrol,
security,andsmokecontrolsystems.
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