TABLES:

• Comparison of fundamental-commissioning requirements for eight LEED programs.
• Comparison of enhanced-commissioning requirements.
• Comparison of enhanced-commissioning requirements. (Continued)
• Systems to be included in the commissioning scope.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) operates 10 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating Systems. Eight of those systems--LEED for New Construction (LEED-NC), LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB), LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI), LEED for Core & Shell (LEED-CS), LEED for Schools, LEED for Retail--New Construction, LEED for Retail--Commercial Interiors, and LEED for Healthcare--require commissioning. The other two--LEED for Homes and LEED for Neighborhood Development--do not. This article will compare and contrast the eight that do.

With the exception of LEED-EB, which differs substantially from the other programs in its commissioning requirements and, thus, will be discussed separately, seven of the eight programs are based on the original LEED-NC program.

LEED Commissioning Requirements

For LEED-NC, fundamental commissioning is a prerequisite, and an additional point can be obtained for enhanced commissioning. Fundamental-commissioning requirements. The fundamental-commissioning requirements for the LEED-NC, LEED-CI, LEED-CS, LEED for Schools, LEED for Healthcare, LEED for Retail--New Construction, and LEED for Retail--
Commercial Interiors are:

• Designate a commissioning authority (CxA) who is independent of the project's design and construction management to lead the commissioning process.
• Develop and implement a commissioning plan that describes the equipment, team members, schedule, and commissioning tasks involved in the project.
• Document the owner's project requirements (OPRs), and develop a basis of design (BOD). The CxA will review these documents and, if needed, facilitate changes.
• Develop commissioning specifications that inform the contractors of their responsibilities, and incorporate those specifications into bid documents.
• Verify the installation and performance of the equipment included in the commissioning scope.
• Complete a summary commissioning report that includes an issues list, test sheets, and an executive summary.

Enhanced-commissioning requirements. The requirements for enhanced commissioning are:

• Hire a CxA who is not an employee of the design or construction firms.
• Review design documents as well as the OPRs and BOD.
• Review contractor submittals for compliance with the OPRs and BOD.
• Develop a systems manual that contains the information required to recommission the building.
• Verify training of operation-and-maintenance (O&M) personnel and tenant-space occupants.
• Return to the site 10 months after project completion, meet with the O&M staff, and conduct a post-occupancy review and plan.

Program differences. There are a few differences among the commissioning requirements of LEED-NC, LEED-CI, LEED-CS, LEED for Schools, LEED for Healthcare, LEED for Retail--New Construction, and LEED for Retail--Commercial Interiors. The fact that the programs are virtually identical is probably the most important thing to remember, although LEED reference guides should be consulted before preparing fees for any such work. The few differences include:

• The enhanced-commissioning option of LEED for Healthcare, which is in the public-comment phase and likely to be rolled out this year, is the most notable exception. This is the only program that offers two possible points for enhanced commissioning. The requirements for the first point are identical to the LEED-NC enhanced-commissioning requirements. LEED for Healthcare also offers a second point for envelope commissioning, including wall mockups, envelope design review, and a series of planned and documented field inspections.

• All programs allow a "streamlined" commissioning approach, by which a design team may provide commissioning for projects less than 50,000 sq ft.¹

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