ASHRAE issues first standard on commissioning buildings

ASHRAE, the American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, has published its first standard focused on the commissioning process.

ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202, Commissioning Process for Buildings and Systems, applies to all construction projects and systems.

ASHRAE has several guidelines on different aspects of commissioning, but this is its first standard. Its procedures reflect those in ASHRAE’s Guideline 0-2005 and covers specific tasks related to design, construction, testing, documentation and training.

Gerald Kettler, P.E., chair of the committee that wrote the standard, points out the importance of having different building systems work together: “Given the integration and interdependency of facility systems, a performance deficiency in one system can result in less than optimal performance by other systems.”

He adds: “Implementing the Commissioning Process is intended to reduce the project capital cost through the warranty period and also reduce the life-cycle cost of the facility…. Using this integrated process results in a fully functional, fine-tuned facility, with complete documentation of its systems and assemblies, and trained operations and maintenance personnel.”

For more information, or to order the standard, click here.