Helping You Achieve Project Success through CxA Selection

John Riley (left) and Pat Prendergast

We're always trying to get the word out about commissioning, just what it is and why it’s important to your project. In an article that appeared in latest issue of "The Checklist," the quarterly newsletter of the Building Commissioning Association, GBA/ViroCon commissioning agents Pat Prendergast, P.E., and John Riley, P.E., talk about how to select a commissioning agent and why he, or she, holds the key to a successful project.

According to our authors, lots of people can perform commissioning tasks, from third-party commissioning agents (CxA) like GBA/ViroCon to construction managers, contractors, equipment suppliers, designers, and owners. Whoever performs commissioning, however, must have the appropriate expertise to ensure desired system performance.

Pat and John suggest that stakeholders determine the “depth and rigor” of commissioning required to achieve the desired goals for the project, then select the CxA with the necessary qualifications. Together they can develop and document specific commissioning goals to ensure that tests are written and executed by qualified personnel.

This leads to the fact that, at least for more complex or “critical” facilities, commissioning staff should be diverse and include system specialists, system engineers, and technicians who can be assigned appropriate tasks to maximize effectiveness and cost-efficiency. The CxA manages the overall commissioning process.

More information about the discipline-specific approach to commissioning, its total cost, the staffing approach and cost, and selecting a commissioning agent is available here.