There are a lot of reasons why facility owners believe commissioning is important. Different owners have different reasons, but near the top of many lists has been the need for positive verification and documentation of the proper startup and operation of IAQ control features for their buildings.
After a number of bad situations involving IAQ problems in new and existing K-12 school buildings, the state of Minnesota has legislated commissioning for all major K-12 HVAC projects. The primary focus of the commissioning process, as defined by Minnesota, is on confirming that ASHRAE 62 ventilation rates are achieved in all occupied spaces and that the ongoing operation can maintain and document those levels throughout the life of the system.