Building commissioning is one tool building owners can use to avoid the expenses and productivity losses associated with poor indoor air quality and employee discomfort. Because commissioning assures that HVAC and other building systems are installed and operating properly, proper commissioning can prevent these problems. Liability Related to Indoor Air Quality Sick building syndrome and the court cases associated with it continue to make headlines across the country. Although this award was paid by the general contractor, many building owners also are feeling the sting of indoor air quality lawsuits brought by occupants who complain of illnesses resulting from building air quality. And even when owners are on the receiving end of litigation settlements, they and their tenants still suffer the inconvenience of acquiring other work space for use during the repair process, not to mention the inconvenience of the litigation process itself, which can drag on for months and even years.
Building commissioning protects owners in more than one way.
First, it provides documented verification of a building s performance and operation. Owners should request that the commissioning process include testing of outside-air flow rates, a primary factor affecting indoor air quality. If an existing building has deficiencies, the commissioning agent also records the repairs made. Commissioning should be repeated throughout the life of a building, and performance documentation should be updated regularly. This documentation provides owners with a record of building performance that can be used as evidence in the event of a lawsuit.