With owners, engineers, and builders recognizing the importance of commissioning, it is now time to finally appreciating the importance of the TAB professional. We continue to read the TAB work in Division 15 of the specification as a subcontractor to the HVAC contractor, and this is just wrong. How can a TAB firm do its job if their performance and payment-for-services is dependent on their boss, the HVAC contractor? It's truly a conflict of interest that even the HVAC contractor will usually prefer not to be associated with, yet design engineers have specified the project to be completed in this manner.
All too often, TAB selection is based on low price rather than best value. I have seen this in reviewing TAB bids for various projects. Often, the TAB proposal will state that the price is based on the contract specification and associated addendums. If you read on, the fine print will state the TAB contractor shall require contract drawings and submittals at least four weeks prior to arriving on-site to do the TAB work. This fine print on the quote is most likely in direct conflict with the specification, and it demonstrates the dilemma that exists with the TAB process today. When price drives the selection, we miss the opportunity to take advantage of the full scope of services a TAB professional brings to a project.