Much like a relay race, bringing a new or renovated laboratory facility on line requires the same level of teamwork. Commissioning is a process that makes this team concept a reality. This article will focus on laboratory commissioning and why it is an integral part of so many building projects.

What is Commissioning?
Building commissioning is the organized process of ensuring that building systems are designed, installed, functionally tested, and capable of being operated and maintained to perform in conformity with the design intent. The process begins at project inception with the establishment of project requirements,and concludes with owner acceptance and occupancy.

The process is executed by a commissioning team which includes the owner, architect/engineer, building contractor (and select subcontractors), and the commissioning authority (commissioning team leader). According to a recent report by Portland Energy Conservation, Inc., the most effective commissioning occurs when the owner hires an experienced, independent commissioning authority to represent them throughout the project.

Commissioning the open lab below with walk-in refrigerator will validate that minimum ventilation rates are maintained, that utility distribution systems operate in a reliable and safe manner, and that the refrigerator is properly functioning and is monitored for unexpected failure.

This open lab contains chemical fume hoods and a highly flexible overhead utility distribution system. It is an ideal candidate for commissioning because of the wide range of activities that occur in the space, the room pressurization requirements that must be maintained for safety, and the necessary reliability of the lab services network.

Why is Commissioning Important?
In general, the motivation to pursue building commissioning has been energy efficiency, environmental comfort, and system maintainability. Laboratory facilities are in a class by themselves, though. Of course, they seek these attributes as well. Not surprisingly, though, they consider safety to betheir driving force for commissioning.