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Description / Abstract:
INTRODUCTION
The lighting design intent should be monitored throughout the
entire construction process, particularly in the final
installation. The correct luminaires, lamps, ballasts and controls
should be properly installed and perform according to criteria that
achieve user acceptance and satisfies the owner's operational
needs.
Commissioning describes a process undertaken to achieve this
goal for buildings and their systems, including lighting. It is a
quality assurance process used to verify that buildings and their
installed systems satisfy owner and designer performance criteria
initially and throughout the life of the building.
To be more specific, the term "commissioning" in this design
guide is defined as the Commissioning Process for buildings and
systems as described within Guideline 0-2005, The Commissioning
Process, published by the American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).1 The
guideline was also published by the National Institute of Building
Sciences (NIBS) as Guideline 0, The Total Building
Commissioning Process.
This overall building commissioning process is illustrated in
Figure 1. As shown, commissioning occurs throughout the delivery of
the project. It begins at project inception (during the pre-design
phase), proceeds through design and construction, and subsequently
continues for the life of the facility (through the occupancy and
operations phase). Emphasis is placed upon documentation of the
owner's performance criteria at the inception of the project and
proper transfer of this information from one party to the next
throughout the life of the project.
Note that while the process interacts within the design and
construction process to increase quality, it does not interfere
with the competency, authority or responsibility of licensed
professionals nor upon the obligations between owners, designers or
contractors contained in contract forms or project-specific
contracts.