By far, the largest category of new construction commissioning issues is related to control system implementation and integration. As such, No. 2 on my Top 10 Elements of Commissioning list is controls integration.
The more automated and complex a building is, the more important it is to clarify, in detail, control system technical requirements (sequences of operation, computer graphics, alarms, trending, etc.) early and facilitate communication and coordination between the controls contractor and the manufacturer representatives for the equipment to be controlled. On top of that, most buildings’ building automation systems (BAS) require some integration between the BAS and non-HVAC systems, such as fire alarm, lighting, access control, etc.