Top 10 Elements of Commissioning — No. 7: Systems Documentation
Systems documentation is critical, because each building’s systems are unique and designed by different engineers for different purposes in different climates in different architectural enclosures in different code jurisdictions.
Last month, I wrote that No. 8 in my top 10 elements of commissioning is training of future building operators. This month, No. 7 is systems documentation. These are both critical elements that can be combined to enhance the long-term sustainability of a commissioned system’s performance and efficiency. Systems documentation is ahead of training in my list, because if you had to choose between one or the other, systems documentation would be my recommendation.
Systems documentation should be everything a building owner/operator needs to know about the building systems, not just the operations and maintenance (O&M) manuals for individual pieces of equipment. Although O&M manuals are an important part of the systems documentation, they are not a key focus of this column because they are not particularly challenging to collect and compile. Equipment O&M manuals are an industry-standard deliverable for design and construction projects that most installation contractors will produce when requested by the building owner.