The Art and Science of Commissioning a Building

Feb 21

Today we’re talking to Jeffrey Michael and Darren Draper, two commissioning agents. If you’re not sure what that means, then you’ve come to the right episode.

00:00 - Superbowl reflections?
We’re not sure what we were thinking to schedule a recording session the day after the Superbowl. Also, we’re sorry that you’re listening to more info about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce just so we can get some SEO juice.

03:21 - Introductions
Jeffrey Michael has been in the design and construction world for about 15 years, the last several of those years of that in commissioning. He discusses his earlier experience with manufacturing controls–working with automated guiding vehicles, assembly lines, welding robots, and the like. In the commercial sector, his controls expertise means that he deals with HVAC, lighting, security.

Darren Draper is Principal at the Epsten Group. He has been working in commissioning since he left college. Before that, he did summer work with his dad in HVAC work. He shares about how little he expected to end up in the world of controls.

06:56 - Commissioning - the what and the how
We ask Jeffrey and Darren to explain commissioning. Darren explains that a commissioner is there to make sure the building operates the way the owner wants it to operate. They make sure the HVAC units and anything else mechanical is operating the way it should.

Jeffrey and Darren share a bit about how they do the testing they do. The documentation and protocols involved are numerous. All of this is to ensure that the outputs within an actual building are what the design engineers intended them to be.

Darren explains that commissioners want to be hired by the owner so there’s a solid third-party objectivity. We discuss what market/industry forces led to the creation and growth of this position. As building components became increasingly complex, more buildings were reaching the end of the construction process without functioning the way they should.

18:30 - Equipping, informing, and training owners and support crews
Darren and Jeffrey explain that part of a commissioner’s function is training the owner’s repair and maintenance specialists on the nuances of their building’s systems. Many of the elements these crews will need to maintain are concealed once construction is complete.

The guys share about a recent poultry building they completed and then discuss mission-critical elements. We discuss the importance of functional redundancies that are central to the safety of those who will be using a building.

We discuss the importance of effective communication in this process–the need for people to be able to approach training with a teamwork/partnership dynamic.

32:42 - Dealing with conflict
Tyler asks the guys to share about how they deal with conflict. They share that tact is incredibly important in their work. Jeffrey talks about tactics for diffusing tension and keeping everyone focused on solutions and a building’s long-term functionality.

We discuss how the landscape of engineering, design, and construction have shifted over the years. A few decades ago, most engineers and designers contributing to a project would likely have had at least a little more boots-on-the-jobsite familiarity with the actual construction process.

Add to this the product manufacturers who sell a product that can do what it is designed to do only if it is installed properly in the proper environment and surrounded by the proper components. We also touch on outsourcing of isolated parts of the design or engineering process.

45:58 - Designing and building with the end in mind
Darren and Jeffrey discuss the importance of designing buildings with controls in mind so that the operational intent of the building is the focus. Jeffrey shares some thoughts about why this is not the way things are done.

We explore some thoughts about how disconnects in the industry could be reduced.

01:04:09 - Megaphone Message
Jeffrey: Know your worth. Also, in order to know what you do want to do, explore things so you can know what you don’t want to do.
Darren: Take pride in what you do. If you don’t like what you do, find something you do like to do and take pride in that.

Find Jeffrey on LinkedIn
Find Darren on LinkedIn