Data Center Electrical I

Commissioning Your Data

Center Electrical System

DCJ
Where Education Meets IT, Facilities & Design

John Riley, P.E, CCP

George Butler Associates

Commissioning (Cx) FAQs

What is Cx?
What are the various types?
Why is it necessary?
How much will Cx cost? Save?
What are the benefits of Cx?
Who should perform Cx?
What Cx services do I need?

What is Commissioning?
ASHRAE Guideline 0
The Commissioning Process is a quality-oriented
process for achieving, verifying, and documenting
that the performance of facilities, systems, and
assemblies meets defined objectives and criteria.
The Commissioning Process begins at project
inception (during the pre-design phase) and
continues for the life of the facility through the
occupancy and operation phase.The
Commissioning Process includes specific tasks to
be conducted during each phase in order to verify
that design, construction, and training meets the
Owners Project Requirements.

What is Commissioning?
Simplified Definition: An organized process
which verifies a facilities systems will:
Work as intended
When intended
Work together

Types of Commissioning
New Construction
Re-Commissioning- Facilities previously
commissioned.
Retro-Commissioning- Existing facilities not
previously commissioned.

Why Is Cx Necessary?
Owner - I am already paying a lot of money
for a working facility.
CM or GC We run a tight ship and dont
have a lot of problems.
Subcontractors We have an excellent
QA/QC process.

Why Is It Necessary?

Equipment complexity
Operational intent lacking
Building systems integration
Increasing risk exposure
O&M budget limitations
Shorter design/construction schedules

Why Is It Necessary?
Upside Down Panel

The generator did what?

Wheres that flashlight?

Why Is It Necessary?
Improper neutral-ground.
Code violation
C-phase damage

No ground fault
protection

How Much Does Cx Cost?

Three main variables:
Facility size and complexity
New or retrofit
Level of commissioning desired

Data Centers- to 2% of construction

costs. (excluding rack equip.)

How Much Does Cx Save?

Empirical data is difficult to obtain
Differs with each facility. What does a 5
second outage cost your facility? An
hour? Half a day?
Avoided consequences are difficult to
quantify

What are the Benefits of Cx?

Improved Reliability
Repeatable Testing Scripts
Baseline Documentation (Cx Report)
Improved O&M Manuals/Training
Warranty Assistance
Peace of Mind

Who Should Perform Cx?

Typically, Cx is performed by one of the
following entities:
Owner
Designer
Contractor
Independent Agent

Owner Performed

Advantages:

CxA Empowered
Quicker response time
Simplified coordination

Disadvantages:

May lack qualified staff

Designer Performed

Advantages:

Quick design issue resolution

Understands design intent

Disadvantages:

Changes may go unreported

Contractor relationship may be strained
prior to Cx
May lack equipment operational knowledge

Contractor Performed

Advantages:

Simpler interface
Reduced costs

Disadvantages:

Built-in incentive to ignore problems

May get normal QA/QC
May not understand system interactions

Independent Agent

Advantages:

Impartial Owners representative

Knowledgeable in design, construction and
operation
Fresh perspective

Disadvantages:

May be viewed as outsider

May lack empowerment

Cx Team Attributes
Strong PM
multi-disciplined experience

Discipline-specific Team
People & Communication Skills
Organized
Technically Competent ProblemSolvers

Good References

The Commissioning Team

Owner
A/E

CxA

CM or GC

Subs
Day to Day Communications

Potential Problem Areas

Owner does not hold contract

Cx process misunderstood
Schedule compression
Excessive failed testing
CxA lacks empowerment

Project Phases & Cx Services

1. Planning/Programming
2. Design
3. Construction/Acceptance
4. Move-In/Occupancy
5. Warranty
6. Re-commissioning

Project Phases & Cx Services

Planning/Programming and Design
PLAN & PROG
DESIGN

COMMISSIONING

Project Phases & Cx Services

Planning/Programming Phase:
Assist Owner and A/E in programming
Define preliminary commissioning
requirements
Assist in establishing commissioning
budgets.

Project Phases & Cx Services

Planning/Programming and Design
PLAN & PROG
DESIGN

COMMISSIONING

Project Phases & Cx Services

Design Phase:
Review/Comment
Comment Resolution Meetings
Value Engineering
Cx Specifications & Plan

Project Phases & Cx Services

Construction and Post Construction Phases
PROCUREMENT
CONST & ACCEPT
OCCUPY & WARR

COMMISSIONING
PREPARATION
TESTING

Post Const Cx

Project Phases & Cx Services

Procurement Phase:
Review Manufacturers Submittals
Coordination Study

Factory Witness Testing

Prepare Installation Checksheets
Prepare Functional Test Scripts

Project Phases & Cx Services

Construction and Post Construction Phases
PROCUREMENT
CONST & ACCEPT
OCCUPY & WARR

COMMISSIONING
PREPARATION
TESTING

Post Const Cx

Project Phases & Cx Services

Construction/Acceptance Phase:
Installation Verification
Acceptance Testing
Functional Testing
Integrated Systems
Testing

Project Phases & Cx Services

Construction and Post Construction Phases
PROCUREMENT
CONST & ACCEPT
OCCUPY & WARR

COMMISSIONING
PREPARATION
TESTING

Post Const Cx

Project Phases & Cx Services

Occupancy/Warranty Phase:
Operator Training (Provide or
Coordinate)
Seasonal Testing
Warranty Claim Assistance
On-call Operational Advise

What Cx Services Do I Need?

Cx is about risk management, but what level
is right for your facility?
General Guidelines:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Define mission critical for your facility

Prioritize support systems
Determine desired level of Cx by priority
Reconcile scope with respect to budget

What Cx Services Do I Need?

Example:
Mission Critical defined as:
1. Critical Loads (i.e. IT Equipment)
2. Other

Support Systems Priority Criteria:

Priority 1= Immediate impact systems

Priority 2= Eventual impact systems
Priority 3= No impact systems

What Cx Services Do I Need?

Priority 1 Systems:
UPS
PDU
STS, ancillary distribution equip.
Full Scope Commissioning
Recommended

What Cx Services Do I Need?

Priority 2 Systems:
Generators/controls
ATS, ancillary dist equip
CRAC units, Chillers
building automation, pumps, controls,,
etc. (e.g. essential systems)
Full scope recommended on all major
components. Sampling on remainder.

What Cx Services Do I Need?

Priority 3 Systems:
Normal power system
Building HVAC
General lighting, etc. (e.g. non-essential
systems)
Functional testing of major equipment.
Optional sampling on remainder.

Summary
What is Cx?
What are the various types?
Why is it necessary?
How much will Cx cost? Save?
What are the benefits of Cx?
Who should perform Cx?
What Cx services do I need?

Questions & Answers

Contact Information
John Riley, P.E., CCP
c/o George Butler Associates
9801 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, Kansas 66219-9745
Office Ph. (913) 577-8857
Email: jriley@gbutler.com
Website: www.gbutler.com