The challenge
A very large and highly serviced project with an extremely high environmental performance criteria including reliability and redundancy which have to been demonstrated and recorded for building operation certification.
Crown House Technologies was required to to design a commissioning and performance testing strategy that delivers fully tested & integrated MEP systems, working with the building fabric to provide the correct environment conditions in a reliable and safe manner.
Our approach
We started by reviewing the design and holding a series of commissioning workshops with all of the interested parties (client users, project managers, the validation team and MEP Consultants).
The planning of the testing and commissioning and the final system and building performance tests was started at the earliest opportunity.
We identified all of the key client outcomes and the requirements of the statutory authorities in order to gain operational certification of the building.
Using these, we then identified and specified all the integrated and performance testing needed to carry out in order to provide test results and demonstrations, including continuous running , environmental control and resilience tests, all required as evidence for building certification.
We then worked back, identifying any further individual system tests necessary before the integrated tests could be carried out. We also described the installation completion required for each system test.
With the testing regime identified, we then developed an “ideal” commissioning programme based on our commissioning system network logic diagrams.
This was then integrated into the early drafts of the overall project timeline. At this stage we identified our “pinch” points with the construction and procurement programmes. These were resolved by either adjusting construction or commissioning activities or increasing resources.
Using a risk based review process, we identified all the off-site testing that we needed to carry out either for technical surety or to save time on site.
The design and the selection of equipment was reviewed to make the commissioning process as efficient as possible.
Early and continuous engagement with the design and software testing of the BMS and Fire Alarm controls was critical to the success of the project.
The engineering behind our delivery
- Design commissionability reviews.
- Early ideal commissioning programme.
- Risk based identification of Factory and Off-site testing.
- Commissioning Activity Schedule.
- Factory Testing of all critical equipment.
- Factory testing of all BMS controls.