In today’s fast-paced construction environment, ensuring that building systems perform as intended isn’t just good practice—it’s essential. Commissioning (Cx) provides peace of mind, improves project outcomes, and can even reduce long-term operational costs. Whether you’re managing new construction or retrofitting an existing building, commissioning plays a critical role in delivering successful, sustainable projects.
What Is Building Commissioning (Cx)?
The word “commissioning” has two common definitions: (1) to authorize the production, and (2) to bring into working condition. The Building commissioning process puts both of those definitions into practice. Cx is an independent review of drawings, submittals, and field installations performed by an industry professional.
Projects that are commissioned are more likely to be finished on time, on budget, have shorter punch lists, and fewer post-construction warranty calls than projects that are not. This benefits the owner, engineer(s), contractors, and building operators by being the extra pair of eyes confirming the product fulfills requirements and that it works. Operational issues involving control sequences or maintenance are often identified and corrected during construction so that the owner receives a building that meets their requirements and operates as needed when the building is turned over.
Learn more on our Building Commissioning Services page.
Types of Commissioning
Those in real estate development space have likely heard of Cx for new projects, which is known as New Construction Commissioning. It starts from the early design process through post-occupancy to ensure systems operate as intended.
The Building Cx Process for New Construction: Phase-by-Phase:
- Pre-Design: Define Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) and Basis of Design (BOD).
- Design Phase: Review drawings and submittals to ensure systems are specified correctly.
- Construction Phase: Verify installation aligns with design intent.
- Acceptance Phase: Functional testing to confirm performance.
- Post-Occupancy: Seasonal testing to assess long-term reliability.
For owners of existing buildings, there are two other commissioning types they can leverage to reap similar benefits:
- Retro-Commissioning: Applies to existing buildings to improve performance, reduce energy waste, and resolve long-standing issues.
- Re-Commissioning: Periodic reassessment of building systems to confirm they still meet operational goals.
Who Is a Commissioning Authority (CxA)?
A CxA is an industry professional that has met a combination of education and experience requirements and passed a written exam.
There are several organizations that offer CxA certification/licensing. The following have more stringent requirements and are considered more prestigious:
VERTEX is registered as a Commissioning Firm through ACG, reflecting the credentialing of our experts.
Why Is Commissioning Important?
Developers and owners that are focused on controlling costs may find it counterintuitive to hiring a CxA to the project team on top of other licensed professionals. But when an owner includes building commissioning consultants in the process, their guidance can provide a slew of benefits:
- The project requirements are well-defined and are being met
- Strict quality controls are in place
- MEP system design intent is verified in the field
- Equipment and controls are documented to function as expected
Re-commissioning and retro-commissioning can yield substantial savings by optimizing existing systems and improving occupant comfort.
Read our blog: Building Commissioning: Why It Adds Value
Real-World Example of financial benefits of Cx
In a recent multi-tenant commercial project, VERTEX’s Cx team was brought in to evaluate newly installed systems. During the investigation they identified a mismatch between HVAC control sequences and occupancy schedules. While a proactive building operations professional might discover and eventually fix it, this error would have affected the initial building performance data and thermal comfort of the occupants.
By adjusting the system programming before turnover, the client avoided long-term energy waste and received a rebate from the local utility—delivering both cost and performance benefits from day one.
How VERTEX Can Help with Your Cx Needs
VERTEX is staffed with leading professionals in the industry who bring extensive experience across HVAC, steam, compressed air, domestic water, and BAS systems. Our team works from pre-construction through occupancy to optimize building performance, reduce risks, and deliver sustainable results tailored to your specific project.
Explore all of our Commissioning & Property Services.
Need expert commissioning support? Contact VERTEX to connect with our certified Cx team and ensure your systems perform as designed.
