Page 6 - CSA INDEX - Spring Summer 2021

FEATURE COMMISSIONING FEATURE COMMISSIONING

COMMISSIONING

Commissioning Management – So where is commissioning interfaced and controlled in an ever stringent targets – are carbon with interfaces between systems.
management now?
These often do not generate off
neutral commercial buildings a
more sophisticated manner that is
changed and the commissioning
realistic target?
Pretty much every major project
the shelf test sheets so require
Where is it now and where is it going? (and quite a few smaller ones) now management role is perfectly placed So, tomorrow’s commissioning the production of bespoke check
sheets that again need to be
to identify and deal with any gaps in
has a commissioning management
function involved, usually bolted on
a) Have a holistic view of the different
to the main contractor’s organisation. the way those systems interact. manager must: compiled into a proper report.
Perhaps the real skill at this point is
OK, so sometimes this is only because Accepting all of that, where is systems and be fully aware of the making sure the report audit trails
Keith Barker, Director of CSA Member Tectonic Techniques and Chair it gets the developer another commissioning management ways in which they interface. Yes, it pass muster. An interface between
of the CSA Marketing Committee, offers his appraisal. BREEAM point, but it is more often heading? does mean taking time to identify systems has two ends. Make sure
because the project team recognise
those interfaces, being aware
The contention is that the following
the reports cover both ends!
that the wide range of systems in a influences will affect the role over of their importance in proving
building needs a particular skill set to the next few years: systems and acting as a co- Of course, none of the above
ommissioning soon found that they could • Still very much mechanical • The major effect of this was the pull them all together to provide the 1. Breadth of Focus – more and more ordinator between the narrowly mentions the programme aspect;
Management appeared not afford to carry the staff system / BMS based until early reduction in size of things like client with a properly co-ordinated people in the building services focussed package managers so and that is deliberate. It has always
about forty years through the peaks and troughs of 90’s, albeit with ‘bolt-ons’ like variable speed drives (VSDs), building. The fact that the function industry are in roles where they that the right bits of the systems been an issue and will continue to
Cago and pretty much workload and so came the growth fire alarm cause & effect tests. shrinking from wardrobe size to does have a particular skill set not have a very narrow view of the come together at the right time be so, but that is another story.
paralleled the significant of commissioning management Black-building tests were also briefcase size found across the building industry world. They have a specific work to meet the project requirements, Are there distinct project
increase in specialist mechanical, sub-contractors, coming on board introduced, especially where • BREEAM / energy conservation to in general is underlined by the package to look after, and they but no one else is going to do it. management aspects to where
electrical, and public health part way through a job to plan, standby generators were involved the fore from say 2008 popularity of the Commissioning must devote all their energy to b) Have an appreciation of the the commissioning manager role
sub-contractors. Main contractors co-ordinate and manage the • I seem to recall starting to use • Mechanical plant VSDs Specialists Association’s (CSA) getting those works completed commercial aspects of the work might be going? Is that a natural
realised that, with separate commissioning activities across PCs (anyone remember Amstrad everywhere from 2010 on - the “Introduction to Commissioning on time and on budget – or as packages, but not necessarily to progression resulting from the
companies providing the electrical the project. 1640s) around 1990 death of the belt & pulley change! Management” training course that near as they can get! be concerned with the last couple developments in the construction
installation, the drainage and Initially the service was often • Beginning to involve UPS systems • The growth in further software has been running for the last few 2. Commercial Emphasis – it does of pounds. It is more to do with industry? The CSA feels that it is
domestic water, the heating and provided by new divisions within and the CCTV / intruder detection driven systems such as lighting years. This draws interest from many not matter what form of contract convincing people that spending a distinct possibility. That is why
cooling pipework systems and established commissioning / access control elements from control facets of the construction industry, is in place, be it JCT, NEC, etc., the a few extra pounds now to get they are looking at extending and
the ventilation installation, their companies. These drew on their late 90s / early 2000s • Full integration of all building not just the commissioning industry. importance of getting the money the systems dovetailing correct developing their training efforts into
staff were becoming more and more experienced commissioning • Further developments of these services and use of PLCs to run Today’s commissioning manager right will not diminish – see 1 above. saves money in the long term. the project management sphere.
more focussed on a particular engineers to fulfil the role. systems and interactions everything more common from needs an appreciation of many 3. Bureaucracy – everyone hates c) Be on top of the paperwork! The
package and there was nobody Soon, however, newer companies between them so that opening 2015 on different types of equipment paperwork, right? Correct. The adage that ‘if it isn’t written down it
charged with co-ordinating appeared that provided the a restricted door resulted in • Control systems run across a and systems – remember, the drawback is that it is not going to never happened’ is truer than ever For further
the testing and commissioning commissioning management the nearest CCTV camera view common fibre network with each basic building environment is go away. And it is not just that, it before. The basic commissioning information on the
of all these elements to services exclusively. The role coming to the fore on monitors system having its own Virtual still provided by fans and pumps is the complexity of it. Plonking a of a system generates a test sheet training programmes and other
ensure that the services in a encompassed more systems as • Remote SCADA reporting and Private Network (VPN) from 2015 pushing air, chilled water and stack of test sheets on the desk pack. But it needs to be presented services offered by the CSA,
completed building worked as a time went on: control of electrical switchgear heating water around the building will not cut it anymore. as a proper report to identify the please contact Secretary,
comprehensive system. • My first experience of working around the same time The adoption of these technologies which is all operated by electricity 4. Building sustainability and scope, summarise the results Julie Parker, on 01403 754133,
As with the development of air with commissioning management • Digitisation of everything from has recently been driven by the running along cables to feed energy efficiency will be ever and provide conclusions about by email at office@csa.org.uk or
and water system commissioning was on the Lloyds Building project around 2005 onwards, but pace of ever-increasing importance of control panels and lighting. It is more important, especially as the success (or otherwise) of the via the website www.csa.org.uk
companies, the main contractors around 1984 change picking up 2010 onwards energy efficiency and conservation. the way those basic systems are governments introduce more exercise. The next step is dealing

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