The concept of having commissioning reduce the cost of a project is based on the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” By spending more money on the design and commissioning of a project, hard construction costs can be reduced.
Contractors’ bids can be reduced by the inclusion of clear and unambiguous bid documents, (e.g., drawings and specifications,) which define all aspects of a project from hardware requirements to schematic diagrams to detailed sequences of operation. The contractors do not have to include a “design fudge factor” based on their perception that the design may not be as comprehensive as it should be. This type of documentation leaves little up to the “discretion” of the contractors and vendors and allows very little room for changeorders.