Commissioning Under the Influence

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Elinor Chambers
6 years ago
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of the Building Envelope National Conference on Building

1 Commissioning Under the Influence Redefining the Traditional Role of the Commissioning Agent in the Design and Construction of the Building Envelope National Conference on Building Commissioning: May 2-4, 2007 Presented by: Fiona Aldous Daniel J. Lemieux, AIA

2 Defining the Building Envelope any enclosing covering, membrane, or structure. "The envelope has to respond both to natural forces and human values. The natural forces include rain, snow, wind and sun. Human concerns include safety, security, and task success. The envelope provides protection by enclosure and by balancing internal and external environmental forces. To achieve protection it allows for careful control of penetrations. A symbol of the envelope might be a large bubble that would keep the weather out and the interior climate in." Richard Rush, The Building Systems Integration Handbook

and salt) - Temperature impact on expansion and contraction of materials -Radiation

3 Influences on Building Envelope: Geography and Climate -Regional geography including orientation, slope, adjacent buildings, proximity to large bodies of water (fresh and salt) - Temperature impact on expansion and contraction of materials -Radiation and UV light impact varies with elevation - Biological attack resulting from local pests

Wind Loads and Precipitation roof -Water -Ice/ Snow - Vapor (in the form of moist air and vapor diffusion) impacting the manner of moisture entry to interior: - Penetration of liquid moisture,

4 Wind Loads and Precipitation roof -Water -Ice/ Snow - Vapor (in the form of moist air and vapor diffusion) impacting the manner of moisture entry to interior: - Penetration of liquid moisture, typically rain wall -Migration of moisture through capillary action wp - Air movement and wind results in pressure differentials: bgwp -wind effect -stack effect -HVAC effects -Combined effects

5 Moisture-Laden Airflow and Vapor Drive -Condensation resulting from vapor in air, relative humidity and surface temperature differentials. HVAC & IAQ - Vapor diffusion - the movement of vapor from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure through materials independent of air flow. Building envelopes are complex systems.. subjected to numerous influences and risk Exterior envelope interface areas prone to failure how commissioning can help.

envelope. Together, they represent up to 80% of all construction-related claims in the United States.

6 Why Commission Under the Influence? Uncontrolled rainwater penetration and moisture ingress are two of the most common threats to the structural integrity and performance of the building envelope. Together, they represent up to 80% of all construction-related claims in the United States. 80% Errors and omissions in the design and installation of the façade interfaces, rather than in the façade materials, components and systems themselves, are the primary (and most frequently overlooked) sources of uncontrolled rainwater penetration through the building envelope. It starts with technical competence and good design

7 Conveying Proper Design Intent From Architect To GC / Subcontractor To Dispute $6M Lawsuit on a $12.5M project

8 Design Intent Lost Misdiagnosis Rush to Judgment Missing end-dam at masonry wall beyond

9 The Rescue Bulk Rainwater Penetration As-Built Construction Repair

10 The Rescue Bulk Rainwater Penetration As-Built Construction Repair

11 The Rescue Bulk Rainwater Penetration As-Built Construction Repair

12 The Rescue Bulk Rainwater Penetration As-Built Construction Repair

13 The Rescue Bulk Rainwater Penetration Repair As-Built Construction

14 Substantially Complete? 06_ RCI

15 Failing (by Design) From Architect To Subcontractor 06_ RCI To Rescue

16 The Rescue...

17 Veterinary Exterior Wall Permeability Problems... High moisture storing masonry cladding materials and un-vented sheet metal roof in combination with interior high levels of RH and vinyl wall coverings, combined to result in a wall and roof assembly that could not breathe, the development of microbial growth and deterioration of exterior wall components.

18 Natatorium Air Barrier Deficiencies igh interior moisture conditions and lack of ontinuous air barrier combined to allow arm, moisture-laden air to migrate into the xterior envelope, resulting in condensation nd deterioration of exterior envelope aterials

19 NIBS Guideline 3 3 A Call for Change "We cannot solve the problems that we have created with the same thinking that created them." -Albert Einstein

20 Commissioning Begins with Good Design The pre and design development phase has the greatest possibilities for creating coordinated and detailed envelope assemblies to facilitate a quality installation. If left to the field installation phase, the building envelope commissioning process will serve only to document, rather than complement the overall design development and commissioning processes. NIBS Guideline 3 provides an overview for the Building Envelope Commissioning Process and implementation, however it must be adapted to suit the specific project and goals

21 NIBS Guideline 3 Exterior Enclosure Technical Requirements for the Commissioning Process From Design Phase: Design Development Project Objectives Meeting Design Phase: Construction Documents Participate in Project Review Meeting ( ) Update Cx Team ( 6.2.1) Identify Outstanding Enclosure Issues Prepare Construction Documents Cx Reviews of Design Docs. ( 6.2.8) Update OPR ( ) Update Basis of Design (BOD) ( ) Update Cx Plan ( (b )) Develop Cx Process Requirements for Construction Documents Phase ( 6.2.4) Constructi on Checklists ( 6.2.5) Update Systems Manual ( 6.2.6) 20% of systems re BOD ( ) Develop Cx Requirements for Construction Documents ( 6.4) Acceptance Requiremen ts ( 6.3) Training Requirement s ( 6.2.7) & ( 6.5) Project Objectives Meeting Owner Acceptance of Constr. Documents Products Final Objectives Meeting for Phase ( ) Owner Acceptance of Cx Products ( 6.3) To Construction Phase ( 7)

Project Design Phases and Commissioning Design Phases: Commissioning Process: Pre-Design Phase: Pre-Design is a preparatory phase of the project delivery process in which the Owner s Project

22 Project Design Phases and Commissioning Design Phases: Commissioning Process: Pre-Design Phase: Pre-Design is a preparatory phase of the project delivery process in which the Owner s Project Requirements are developed and defined. See Part 5 of this Guideline. Design Phase: During the Design Phase of the project delivery process the Owner s Project Requirements are translated into construction documents. 1. Establish Performance requirements 2. Develop Commissioning plan 3. Validation and documentation Design Sub-Phases: The Design Phase is typically broken into three subphases; with each being about 1/3 of the total design phase. These subphases have a variety of names but for this document the following terms will be used. Schematic Design, Design Development and Construction Documentation. Schematic Design: (Also referred to as 35% Design ). A phase of building design that produces documents that establish the conceptual design of a project, illustrating the scale and relationship of the Project components including preliminary selections of major building systems and construction materials. Design Development: (Also referred to as 65% Design ). A phase of building design that produces documents that illustrate and describe the refinement of the design of a Project, establishing the scope, relationships, forms, size and appearance of the Project and identifying major materials and systems and establishing their quality levels. Construction Documentation: (Also referred to as 100% Design ) A phase of building design that produces documents that (1) set forth in detail the requirements for the construction of a Project and (2) establish in detail the quality of materials and systems required for the Project. Final Construction Documents are prepared as required to solicit, procure and construct the project and include drawings, specifications, contract forms and conditions, bidding requirements and resource documents. NIBS Commissioning Guideline 3, 2006

23 NIBS Guideline 3 Commissioning-Focused Review of Design Documents (c) Building Exterior Enclosure System-Specific Review. The Commissioning Authority should verify that, within the areas selected for review, the design complies with the Owner s Project Requirements. The intent of this review is to determine if there are systematic errors for exterior enclosure materials and interface coordination, not to fully check the drawings. The responsibility for complete checking of the drawings for coordination, appropriateness, and accuracy remains with the Design Team (d) Building Exterior Enclosure Specification Review. The Commissioning Authority should ensure that a review of the specifications is performed to determine completeness and applicability to the project. A review of 10-20% of the building exterior enclosure specification is performed in detail for verification of compliance with the Owner s Project Requirements. Items checked include applicability of the section to the project, Commissioning Process requirements, submittal requirements, applicability of sub-systems and materials, training requirements, coordination with other sections, and coordination with the drawings.

Testing and Validation Lab Testing (ASTM E2099)

Infiltration/Static) Water Infiltration: ASTM E

E330 (Uniform Static) ASTM E1233 (Cyclic Static)

5 Field Testing Air Infiltration: AAMA 503-03

24 Testing and Validation Lab Testing (ASTM E2099) Air Infiltration: ASTM E283 (Air Infiltration/Static) Water Infiltration: ASTM E 331 (Water Penetration/Static) ASTM E 547 (Water Penetration/Cyclic) AAMA E (Water Penetration/Dynamic) Structural: ASTM E330 (Uniform Static) ASTM E1233 (Cyclic Static) Thermal: AAMA 1503 and Field Testing Air Infiltration: AAMA Ref: ASTM E 783 (Chamber) Water Infiltration: AAMA Ref: ASTM E 1105 (Chamber) Ref: AAMA (Nozzle Test)

Field Certification Testing Air Infiltration

through Installed Exterior Windows and Doors

Standard Test Method for Field Determination of

Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors by Uniform or

501.2-03: Quality Assurance and Diagnostic

Storefronts, Curtain Walls, and Sloped Glazing

Standards Define Performance Standards (ASCE 7)

25 Field Certification Testing Air Infiltration ASTM E-783: Field Measurement of Air Leakage through Installed Exterior Windows and Doors Water Penetration Resistance ASTM E-1105: Standard Test Method for Field Determination of Water Penetration of Installed Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors by Uniform or Cyclic Static Air Pressure Differential AAMA : Quality Assurance and Diagnostic Water Leakage Field Check of Installed Storefronts, Curtain Walls, and Sloped Glazing Systems Understand and Properly Apply the Standards Define Performance Standards (ASCE 7) AAMA Performance Class and the 2/3 Rule Define Scope of Testing and Failure (ASTM v. AAMA)

26 A Case Study in Commissioning (1998) Phase I: Phase II: Phase III: Phase IV: Design Period Services Schematic Design Design Development Construction Documents Pre-Construction Services Value Engineering Shop Drawing Review (Design Refinement ) Laboratory Mock-Up and Performance Testing Plant Visits Construction Period Services QA/QC Coordination Meeting (GC/CM and All Trades) Pre-Installation Meetings (Individual Trades) Bi-Monthly Skin Meetings Bi-Weekly Construction Observation (Field Sketches/Design Refinement ) Field Air and Water Penetration Resistance Testing Project Close-Out Final Open/Closed Issue Log Copies of All Field Reports, Photos, and Sketches Building Envelope Maintenance Manual

27 A Case Study In Commissioning (1998) Detailing Fig. 1: typical generic sill detail Fig. 2: revised baseline sill detail for CDs Fig. 3: development of an as-built detail Fig. 4: final interface detail at sill

28 Design Intent Realized Detailing

29 Looking Ahead The complexities that initiate the development of the building envelope commissioning plan are varied; the changing roles of the architect and contractor in the traditional design and construction process; or the management of risk; or the overriding concern for quality and performance. Yet without question; the result of a commissioning plan is to provide a documented, quality performing, reliably operating and efficient built resource for the shelter of the inhabitants needs and activities. The building envelope commissioning agent and the building envelope specialist are the opportunities for the future; to partner and produce a comprehensive, fully-documented, technically sound and verifiable building envelope commissioning plan that is both cost-effective in the near term and beneficial to the long-term durability and performance of the project.

30 Questions? Reconciliation of contractual requirements between the architect and the commissioning agent? Defining the role of building envelope consultant and building envelope commissioning agent? Joining the traditional building envelope commissioning team?

Performance Testing for Quality Assurance and Commissioning

BEST 4 Conference: April 13, 2015, Kansas City, MO Performance Testing for Quality Assurance and Commissioning Fiona Aldous Principal The most benefit to a project is obtained during the Design Phase -