Commissioning Strategies for Reliable and Efficient Buildings

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Apply the full building commissioning process across design, construction, acceptance, and operations phases
• Develop, manage, and update commissioning plans, documentation, and verification activities
• Execute functional performance verification and resolve deficiencies across major building systems
• Integrate commissioning practices into energy management, sustainability, and LEED compliance efforts
• Plan and evaluate recommissioning and retro‑commissioning initiatives for existing buildings

Description

Delivering buildings that perform as intended, efficiently, reliably, and sustainably, requires more than good design and construction. Without a structured commissioning process, owners face increased operational risk, higher energy costs, and systems that fail to meet performance expectations over time.

This course provides a practical, end‑to‑end view of the total building commissioning process, from pre‑design through acceptance and ongoing operation. You will examine how commissioning supports quality control, risk management, energy performance, and compliance, while clarifying the roles, responsibilities, and documentation required at each phase of a project.

Through real-world commissioning activities, system-level examples, and best-practice frameworks, this course equips you with the tools to plan, execute, and manage commissioning, recommissioning, and retro-commissioning efforts that drive measurable performance outcomes across building systems and life cycles.

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for:

• Engineers and engineering technologists involved in building design, construction, or operations
• Commissioning authorities, facility managers, and building performance professionals
• Energy managers and sustainability professionals supporting LEED or performance‑based initiatives
• Technical professionals responsible for system verification, acceptance testing, or operational optimization

Day I

Real Life Assessment

• Defining the issues
• Case Studies

Planning Process for Increasing the Value of Your Asset (Part 1)

• Asset evaluation/Life cycle costs/Reserve funding
• Budgeting for maintenance, refurbishment and replacement to enhance the value of the asset
• The role of maintenance
• Preventative and predictive maintenance

Planning Process for Increasing Value of Your Asset (Part 2)

• Reliability Centered Maintenance (Preventative & Predictive Maintenance)
• Total Productive Maintenance
• Building The Maintenance Plan

Building Envelope Performance (Part 1)

• CSA Standards Compilation
• Maintaining and Repairing Concrete In Buildings
• Parking Lot and Asphalt Maintenance
• Diagnosis of Air Quality Problems in a Building
• Site Environmental Issues

Building Envelope Performance (Part 2)

• Diagnosis of Air Quality Problems in a Building
• Site Environmental Issues

Adjournment

Day II

Roofing Systems

• Types of roofing
• Causes of failure with various types of roofing
• Potential problem areas
• Repairs
• Preventive Maintenance

Maintenance of HVAC Systems

• Review of preventive maintenance of various types of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems
• Packaged terminal units, heat pumps, rooftop heating/cooling, fan coil units
• Boilers, chillers and cooling towers
• Air distribution systems
• Contract options for equipment maintenance and retrofits

CMMS - Computer Maintenance Management Systems

• Specifying the systems, what needs to be included
• Setting up the database
• Preventative maintenance scheduling
• Work orders
• Equipment records
• Inventory control and purchasing
• Reports

Energy Management and Auditing

• The purpose of auditing
• Conducting a successful audit
• Lighting audits
• Water and waste audits
• Case studies

Outsourcing and Contracting Out

• Outsourcing trends
• The need for specifications
• Contract administration
• Warranty administration

Open Forum Discussion
“How to achieve your objective of implementing an effective preventive maintenance program.”

Questions and Answers and Feedback to Participants on Achievement of Learning Outcomes

Concluding Remarks and Final Adjournment