One of the most frequently asked questions by facility owners considering the commissioning process for their construction projects is, "Aren't I paying for this already?" The answer to this question, based on standard American Institute of Architects (AIA) contracts, is "No." However, the issue to be addressed is the perception by owners that the answer should be "Yes."
I dealt with this issue in general terms in my April 1999 column and want to delve deeper into one of the more frequently discussed topics of what is the difference between a punchlist walk-through by the designers and a verification test directed by the commissioning consultant.