Pushing the Envelope with LEED v4 Positive Changes Underway for Commissioning From my perspective, no matter the
With LEED v4 slowly emerging, though
aesthetic design, the building’s location,
most of Fundamental & Enhanced
efficiencies, or access to daylight & views,
Commissioning requirements effectively
if the built HVAC systems don’t function
remain the same, there are two significant
correctly, not much else matters. Of course
and impactful differences which stand out
the aforementioned elements are significant
in particular. These additions are
considerations and have a major impact
positioned, and absolutely necessary, to
on the occupants’ well-being, but short-
ensure that building systems function
comings with the HVAC systems are adverse and the impacts
and perform correctly.
far greater.
First: Seasonal Performance Testing. Though a 10-month warranty review is prudent and sound practice, it is hardly an effective tool with material benefit. Rather, the introduction of Seasonal Performance Testing (now in line with the CSA Z320 Standard) is an incredibly more robust approach to ensure that (specifically) max heating/cooling loads can be satisfied without causing discomfort or undue stress on HVAC equipment.
Second: Envelope Commissioning. The air-tightness, insulation, material installation and assembly, all have a tremendous impact on a building’s systems. Air leaks/drafts, thermal breaks, moisture penetration, and poor envelope installation all require additional capacity and effort from the systems. This new requirement will look to put the much overlooked envelope aspects into check.
1 [1] Commissioning an Actuated Valve. Reproduced with permission, Fluke Corporation. [2] Thermographic scan illustrating thermal variations and losses. This thermogram is of a traditional building in the background and a passivhaus in foreground. Credit: Passivhaus Institut.
2
Given these additions, I foresee challenges with the requisite broader undertanding, added significance, importance, and effort (with corresponding fee) that will now be placed in commissioning activities. That is, despite the importance or benefit of commissioning, it has typically been a secondary consideration whose effort is largely overlooked and undervalued. With the changes introduced in LEED v4, I am hopeful that Commissioning will come to the forefront of consideration with greater impact on multiple levels. 20
FALL 2016 Toronto FOCUS
By Adrian Sluga, Senior Vice President of the Commissioning & Building Analytics division at Jones Lang Lasalle.