Guideline Project Committee 1-1996R has drafted a new guideline under the title "The Commissioning Process Requirements for HVAC&R." A 30-day public review occurred from July 26, 2002 to August 25, 2002.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this guideline is to describe the commissioning process requirements specifically related to heating, ventilating, refrigerating and air-conditioning systems (HVAC&R) and related energy systems that will ensure they perform according to the owner’s program and design intent, in support of the Total Building Commissioning Process.

SCOPE

The procedures, methods, tools, checklists, tests, and documentation requirements in this guideline relate to each phase of the commissioning process, from pre-design through final acceptance and post-occupancy, including changes in building or process and occupancy or use requirements after initial completion of the project, that relate specifically to needs of all types and sizes of HVAC&R systems.

This guideline provides and describes procedures for the preparation of documentation related to the specific needs of HVAC&R systems for the following commissioning process requirements:

1. owner’s assumptions and requirements;
2. design intent, project intent, basis of design, and expected performance;
3. commissioning requirements in construction documents;
4. verification, functional testing, and performance testing; and
5. operation and maintenance needs.

This guideline specifically details the process for:

1. achieving full commissioning process implementation of HVAC&R systems and components;
2. conducting verification, functional testing, and performance testing;
3. specific needs of HVAC&R systems and components;
4. specific and special training;
5. operations and maintenance systems manuals;
6. control requirements; and
7. maintaining system performance to meet the current design intent after initial occupancy.

This guideline includes methods of developing and a program for training of operations and maintenance personnel.

This guideline includes methods for re-commissioning, retro-commissioning and continuous commissioning.

GPC 1-1996R continues to meet regularly. In Chicago (January 2003) the committee met for four days, beginning the Wednesday before the ASHRAE Winter Meeting and ending on the Saturday.

A new guideline is proposed under the title "The Commissioning Process." A 30-day public review occurred from July 26, 2002 to August 25, 2002.

PURPOSE

1.1 The purpose of this guideline is to describe the Commissioning Process that will verify that the facility and its systems meet the Owner’s Project Requirements.

SCOPE

2.1 The procedures, methods, and documentation requirements in this guideline describe each phrase of the project delivery and the associated Commissioning Processes from pre-design through occupancy and operation without regard to specific elements, assemblies, or systems, and provides the following:

1. overview of Commissioning Process activities,
2. description of each phase’s processes,
3. requirements for acceptance of each phase,
4. requirements for documentation of each phase, and
5. requirements for training of operation and maintenance personnel.

2.2 These Commissioning Process Guideline Procedures include the Total Building Commissioning Process (TBCxP) as defined by National Institute of Building Science (NIBS) in their Commissioning Process Guideline 0.

TC 7.9 also follows a number of other standards closely. In 1999, Elia Sterling, the TC's liaison to SSPC 62.1, wrote a letter to the President of ASHRAE concerning the activities of that committee. The text of that letter is on-line.