Alpharetta’s Commercial HVAC Experts Discuss the Importance of Unit Commissioning, Retro-Commissioning and Recommissioning

If you’re in the commercial property business, you know that today’s buildings aren’t just shells for the activities that happen within; they’re dynamic spaces supported by intricate and highly sophisticated systems. One of those biggest systems is the heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

Not only are commercial HVAC systems a major cost during construction, they are also a large operating cost as the building comes to life. While today’s HVAC systems are equipped with advanced controls and highly efficient components to aid in reducing a building’s energy efficiency, they require fine-tuning to operate at their highest level of efficiency while providing optimal climate conditions for occupants and contents of commercial spaces.

Commissioning

If you want to ensure that your commercial building’s HVAC system operates to the highest caliber, it’s important to ensure that the system is properly commissioned.  HVAC commissioning is the process in which an HVAC contractor (preferably the one who installed the system) checks to make sure that the newly installed equipment is operating properly – all controls and sensors are effective, all ductwork output and intakes are working well, and that desired temperatures are being achieved with the HVAC system.

It is only through commissioning that commercial property owners can ensure that the investment they’ve made into an advanced HVAC system works properly from the start.

Retro-Commissioning

If your building’s HVAC system was not, to your knowledge, properly installed, it’s important to have a contractor come in to fine-tune the system and ensure that it’s functioning to the best of it’s ability. This process is called retro-commissioning, since it’s occurring after the initial installment of an HVAC system. Besides improving the overall performance of your system, retro-commissioning is also a relatively inexpensive way to increase a system’s energy efficiency without having to invest in a totally brand new system.

Recommissioning

Likewise, even buildings that were initially commissioned will likely find that an HVAC system becomes “touchier” as time goes on; it may run more than it did initially (leading to higher energy bills) or may not be properly maintaining desired climatic conditions in certain parts of the building. This drop in performance is called “drifting” and it occurs with all commercial HVAC system over time. That’s why it’s important for all commissioned and retro-commissioned buildings to undergo recommissioning every three to five years.

Again, recommissioning is a relatively low cost way to improve energy efficiency. Like providing routine maintenance for your HVAC system, recommissioning is an important part of ensuring that your equipment lasts as long as it can.

Gagne Heating & Air Conditioning is happy to answer your questions about commercial HVAC commissioning, retro-commissioning and recommissioning.  If you’re in the greater Atlanta area of Alpharetta, Buckhead, Dunwoody or beyond, contact us today to learn more about proper maintenance and commissioning needs of commercial HVAC. Or, continue reading to learn more other commercial HVAC tips.

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