When people talk to me about commissioning, it is not unusual that I will hear the question, "How do you sell building system commissioning services?" My response is simple: "I don't ... I can't." How do you tell a client who has just selected the optimum design team and the optimum construction management firm for their project that now they need to hire a commissioning firm to make sure the building systems functions effectively and efficiently? The comment often made by building owners is, "Didn't I buy that when I hired this design and construction management team?" Tough questions, so how do I answer?
At the other end of the spectrum is the building owner who builds and/or renovates facilities on an annual basis. These individuals recognize that there is a need to fill a void that exists in the building process and that building commissioning is probably the answer. As a result, these building-savvy individuals request the commissioning quality control process. No sales pitch needed here!