The design intent document (DID), as noted in previous columns, is the backbone of the commissioning process. The DID is the definition of how the owner expects the building systems (hvac, for example) to perform upon completion of the project. It represents the objectives of the project from a systems performance standpoint and is intended to improve communication and keep everyone on the team, (designers, owner, contractors, commissioning consultant, operations and maintenance staff, et al.) working towards a common goal.

Without such measurable goals, there will inevitably be disagreements at the end of the job about whether a space is comfortable and safe, since there are as many opinions about these topics as there are people in a building. Commissioning testing is designed to prove that the design and construction team has achieved each and every goal defined in the DID. If it can’t be tested and unequivocally verified, it has no place in the DID.