Testing and Commissioning for MEP

Purpose of the Commissioning Plan

The purpose of the commissioning plan is to provide direction for the commissioning process
during construction, providing resolution for issues such as scheduling, roles and
responsibilities, lines of communication and reporting, approvals, and coordination.
Commissioning is a systematic process of ensuring that the building systems perform
according to the design intent and the owner’s operational requirements.

Commissioning Goals and Objectives

All equipment and systems should be installed according to manufacturer’s recommendations
and the best practices and standards of the industry. Commissioning will include documenting
the design intent, followed by activities in the construction, acceptance, and warranty phases
of the project. The participation of the contractors in commissioning activities will follow the
requirements defined in the specifications. The three main goals of the commissioning
process are:

1. Facilitate the final acceptance of the project at the earliest possible date.
2. Facilitate the transfer of the project to the owner’s maintenance staff.
3. Ensure that the comfort systems meet the requirements of the occupants.
Testing and Commissioning for MEP
Commissioning is also intended to achieve the
following specific objectives:
1. Document that equipment is installed and started
per manufacturer’s recommendations.
2. Document that equipment and systems receive
complete operational checkout by installing
contractors.
3. Document system performance with thorough
functional performance testing and monitoring.
4. Verify the completeness of operations and
maintenance materials.
5. Ensure that the owner’s operating personnel are
adequate
Testing and Commissioning for MEP
Testing and Commissioning for MEP
The Pressure Test
Pressure testing of pipelines should normally be carried out using water.
Only in exceptional circumstances should pneumatic pressure testing
using compressed inert gas or air be used, and then only under
carefully controlled conditions. The reason for this is because water is
virtually incompressible (as are other liquids) and only a small quantity
of energy needs to be introduced to increase the pressure significantly.
Air, however, (like all gases) is compressible and, as a result, much
more energy has to be put into the gas to raise its pressure.

In fact, at the pressure ranges normally used for testing water-piping

systems 200 times more energy is stored in compressed gas compared
to water at the same pressure and volume.

So, for a water piping system that will operate at 3-bar the test
pressure will be 3 x 1.5 = 4.5bar.
Testing and Commissioning for MEP

Fire Fighting Pipe / Chilled Water Pipe / Water Supply

Testing and Commissioning for MEP

 Air Balancing
Testing and Commissioning for MEP
Sample of Test
Testing and Commissioning for MEP

 Pump Test