Zero/Six struggles every day with (potential) new clients that are soliciting Building Envelope Commissioning but then proceed to describe a scope of work that is grossly inadequate to commission the building envelope. We have a few canned responses that have been crafted in a politically correct manner (as to not offend anyone), but the short story is that if you want any company to stand behind the performance of your building, then they will want to follow traditional commissioning procedures, if they are a commissioning expert.

(Building Envelope) Commissioning is a comprehensive process that involves program verification, multiple peer reviews of construction documents, extensive quality assurance/quality control/testing, and acceptance phase activities (including warranty walks). If you are being sold a BECx plan that does not touch on each of these issues, then you are getting “consulting” not “commissioning”. As an industry, it is amazing (alarming) how misunderstood the BECx process is and how everyone seems to have a different strategy for commissioning the exterior building envelope. The Commissioning process is the same no matter what you are commissioning, so there is not a need for any creativity. It is a process that dates to 1775. Seriously (Google the HMS Alfred pka Black Prince).

From my viewpoint, it appears that BECx plans are being developed based on the talent in the wheelhouse of the developer (the building envelope consultant) proposing the plan…and that is a bad way to develop BECx plans. There is a variety of talent required to commission the exterior building envelope. Just because a firm does not have a particular talent in their wheelhouse, does not mean that part of the commissioning process can be eliminated. It just means that portion may have to be sub-contracted to another firm. We do it all the time. Insert HUGE opportunity here!

Very few firms (even the big boys…maybe especially the big boys) have the capacity to provide all the services required to commission the exterior building envelope. Instead of cutting the process short, we should be looking for opportunities where two to three sub-consultants team with a prime consultant to execute the BECx process. These sub-consultants could include (among others) an envelope savvy AE for peer reviews, an inspection company for QA/QC services, an envelope testing company, a façade access specialist, and numerous others. Now you have a team that is cross marketing each other across their own networks, a team that is cross training each in their areas of expertise, and a team that is supporting a common process thus helping to eliminate confusion in the industry…and delivering better buildings!

The key is that we all need to follow the same plan, and the only way that will happen is for the governing codes or project specifications to require it. Anyone got Mr. MasterSpec's contact info?

Zero/Six has a great BECx plan that has been developed alongside some large clients (over decades) that we will share for free. All we ask is that you register with us so we can track everywhere it is (officially) going. Feedback welcome and appreciated. Just email ebrown@whcoltzer.com and she will get your info.