Ongoing commissioning: Tapping into significant cost-saving opportunities for building maintenance

In our previous post on ongoing commissioning, we explored how this proactive maintenance strategy can revolutionize building management by improving efficiency, reducing equipment downtime, and enhancing tenant satisfaction. Now, let’s delve deeper into the potential real-world impact of ongoing commissioning. To illustrate the benefits, we’ll explore a conceptual scenario based on real data from an analysis of KODE users’ buildings: the impact of ongoing commissioning over a one-year period in a 300,000 square-foot commercial building with 600 VAV boxes. This example will shed light on how consistent monitoring and maintenance can translate into significant operational and financial savings.

Weekly testing

In the case of our 300,000 square-foot building, the operations team strategically schedules ongoing commissioning tests to occur weekly, specifically on Fridays at 3 PM. With Fridays generally seeing lower levels of occupancy, particularly in the afternoon, this timing allows for streamlined testing and maintenance activities, ensuring that regular building operations continue efficiently. 

The testing process itself is automated and designed to gradually test individual HVAC components, such as the VAV boxes, over a one-to-two-hour period. This approach ensures that the building’s systems are not overburdened, and energy usage remains consistent. Operators receive email or mobile app notifications once the testing is complete, ensuring they are informed in real-time without needing to actively monitor the process.

Reviewing results and planning next steps

The following Monday, the operations team begins their week with a concise report summarising the results from the previous Friday’s tests. This report, delivered directly to their inboxes, highlights specific VAV boxes that have alerts, providing context to the root cause of each issue while also scoring the overall performance level of each piece of equipment tested. With this information at hand, the team can prioritise their tasks, dedicating the week to investigating and resolving the identified issues.

This weekly cadence ensures that every piece of equipment in the building is tested for its heating and cooling capabilities over a 12-month period. By focusing on one floor at a time, the operations team can thoroughly review results and efficiently address any problems. This systematic approach prevents the team from being overwhelmed with reactive tasks, enabling them to maintain high operational standards without sacrificing efficiency. 

By following this cadence, operators and site teams gain peace of mind knowing that all equipment on a specific floor has been properly commissioned. This leads to lesser likelihood of HVAC equipment failing, ultimately enhancing the overall tenant experience.

Clear and actionable findings

The findings from ongoing commissioning are both clear and actionable. The testing process directly identifies the location and nature of any problems, with the most common issues being the likes of stuck dampers, stuck heating and cooling valves, and broken actuators. These issues can be proactively addressed by the operations team, returning equipment to normal function before tenants even notice a problem, while also extending the life of equipment.

The strategic advantage of ongoing commissioning

Ongoing commissioning is essential for maintaining optimal performance, energy efficiency, and tenant comfort in commercial real estate. By continuously monitoring and automating HVAC system testing, issues can be identified and resolved before they escalate, enabling efficient maintenance planning, extending equipment lifespan, and significantly reducing energy costs. This approach not only enhances tenant experience and operational efficiency, but has also led to annual maintenance savings of up to  30% and operational savings between 20-50% with a payback period on ROI of less than 12 months, making it a crucial strategy for long-term success in competitive real estate markets.

Want to explore how Ongoing Commissioning can impact your portfolio operations? Book a demo today.