Life Cycle Sustainability: Commissioning, CIBSE and the US International Green C

Life Cycle Sustainability: Commissioning, CIBSE and the US International Green Construction Code

CIBSE Technical Symposium, DeMontfort University, Leicester, UK
6th and 7th September, 2011

This paper compares the commissioning procedures and requirements of the CIBSE Commissioning Codes with those of the new International Green Construction Code (IGCC). The IGCC second public review is complete and the ICC has scheduled the release of the final version in mid-2011. Even before its release, one US state and one US city have adopted the code. It contains a comprehensive and detailed treatment of high performance building strategies including energy conservation and commissioning (Cx). The overall goal is to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment and reduce the US dependence on foreign oil.
Although the quality assurance process known as commissioning is integral to creating high performance buildings, it is a relatively new concept to many design firms. Through the lens of the IGCC, the presentation will review the basic and more advanced facets of total building commissioning. One day, law throughout the US may require it. While comparing the broad commissioning management details of the CIBSE codes the program will explore the details of commissioning. This includes owner involvement, plans, current designer resources and guidelines and predicted changes to the practice of architecture coming about because of Cx. The presentation will also highlight not only the performance based benefits of commissioning but also how to educate owners on those benefits based on return on investment.