Consulting-Specifying Engineer - September 2008 - (Page 50)

for the commissioning prerequisite credit. Plan to do additional research if you want to use this delivery method to help attain USGBC LEED certification. MEP subcontractor: MEP subcontractors are the most skilled at operating and testing the equipment they install, and it is efficient for them to commission equipment during their checkout procedure. They are also close to other subcontractors and tend to understand their work well. But this “hands-on” efficiency may be offset by an aversion to report writing and organized databases. Further, subcontractors are unlikely to be brought on board during the design stage (especially early in the design stage). They may lack knowledge about systems integration and direct digital control programming, while there is also a high chance of a conflict of interest when one contractor is responsible for both installing and verifying proper installation and operation. As discussed above regarding the use of the GC for the CxA, this manner of procurement is not acceptable for the USGBC LEED program Credit 3 (enhanced commissioning), although it may be acceptable for the commissioning prerequisite credit. Again, plan to do additional research if you want to use this delivery method to help attain USGBC LEED certification. Construction manager: The construction manager (CM) is a good choice for or to subcontract for the CxA if the CM is on-site daily, contracted directly to the owner, and does not have a financial stake in installing subcontractor contracts or schedule. This arrangement frees the owner from an additional contract while keeping the CxA near the top of the contract hierarchy. CMs frequently are hired before bidding, but if they are not hired early in design, their ability as the CxA to check plans and contribute to a better design will be greatly reduced. The CM staff is likely to have a good combination of “real-world” construction experience and “big-picture” outlook as well. However, traditional CMs are “sticks and bricks” oriented and are not experts in MEP systems. If the CM has schedule- or job cost-related incentives, this can lead to LEARN ABOUT CORROSION protection http://www.steelconduit.org …It’s Just a Click Away. Galvanized and other coatings on Steel Conduit and EMT provide excellent protection. Learn about the NEC® and UL® requirements for corrosion protection and when supplementary corrosion protection may be required. Visit us at the website above, then click on “Technical Papers.” conflicts with fixing last-minute problems identified by Cx. The USGBC LEED program accepts contracting through the CM for the prerequisite commissioning credit, but only for the enhanced credit if the CM does not hold construction contracts. Owner’s representative: If an owner’s representative (OR) provides Cx, it is almost certain that the CxA will be on-board early in the project. The OR is free from conflicts with contractors, so the CxA likely is free to make unbiased judgments leading to quality-based decisions for the owner. The disadvantage of Cx through the OR is that ORs typically are not professional engineers or architects. Although ORs are usually very good communicators, they have writing and speaking skills seemingly at the expense of hands-on field skills and the “systems” outlook of the design team. Although they are close to the owner’s design intent, they are the most removed from the actual field installation. Enlist a CxA with the right qualifications, including technical knowledge, test skills, relevant experience, availability, communication skills, accreditation, and objectivity, to match your project requirements. Consider if you, as the owner, have the staff to mange an additional contract and/or the oversight capacity to make sure that conflicts are not allowed to negatively affect the commissioning process. If an additional contract is not an option, consider which of the existing players has the in-house staff to do the job and/or which one is best suited to subcontract those services. Finally, cast the commissioning delivery method and contractual arrangement that best fits with your available resources and project objectives. Wilkinson is commissioning project manager at New York-based AKF Group LLC, and author of the original USGBC LEED Cx training program. He is an ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer, an AIA Continuing Education Provider, and recording secretary of both ASHRAE GPC 1.2 and 0.2 working to develop a Cx guideline for existing building systems. Wilkinson is chair of the AIA Building Science and Performance Cx advisory committee as well as a member of the Building Commissioning Assn. (BCA). 2000 Ponce de Leon, Suite 600, Coral Gables, Florida 33134, (305) 443-1603 • www.steeltubeinstitute.org Input #227 at csemag.com/quickResponse http://www.steelconduit.org http://www.steeltubeinstitute.org http://www.steeltubeinstitute.org http://www.csemag.com/quickResponse

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Consulting-Specifying Engineer - September 2008

Consulting-Specifying Engineer - September 2008 Contents Viewpoint Letters News M/E�Roundtable Selecting Appropriate Egress Strategies Commissioning On-Site Electrical Systems Mentoring Control Engineers and Technicians Casting Call for Cx Case Study New Products Equipment Lifecycles Advertiser Index Green Space

Consulting-Specifying Engineer - September 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.