New Construction Commissioning

Overview

New construction delivers buildings that passed inspection. It does not always deliver buildings that perform as designed. Blower door results that miss the specification. HVAC systems that short-cycle under actual load conditions. Ventilation rates that do not meet design intent. Duct leakage that was never tested. These failures are present at delivery — and they are significantly less expensive to correct before occupancy than after. Independent commissioning at delivery finds them while they are still the builder’s responsibility.

When to Use This Engagement

This engagement is appropriate when: a developer or builder is delivering a newly constructed building and requires independent performance verification before certificate of occupancy; an asset manager is acquiring a newly constructed property and needs documented evidence that systems perform to specification; a builder is facing warranty disputes with mechanical subcontractors and needs independent performance data; or an owner is completing a major renovation, HVAC replacement, or envelope repair and requires verified confirmation that the work resolved the original deficiency.

What We Verify

Commissioning scope includes: building envelope tightness via blower door testing against design specification; duct leakage via duct blaster testing to ACCA QI standards; HVAC system performance including airflow, static pressure, temperature differential, and refrigerant charge; ventilation performance including exhaust rates, fresh air delivery, and ERV or HRV function; dehumidification performance under design conditions; air distribution via TrueFlow grid measurements and room-by-room delivery verification; and moisture baseline including relative humidity, dew point, and condensation risk assessment.

What You Receive

A Commissioning Report documenting as-built performance against design specification, with a deficiency list for any system not performing to specification. The report is structured to be defensible for warranty claims, builder callbacks, certificate of occupancy compliance, and lender or investor reporting. Where deficiencies are found, we issue a corrective specification and can return to verify resolution.

Why Independence Matters

A commissioning report produced by the contractor who performed the installation is not independent verification — it is self-certification. Building Science Advisors has no relationship with the installing contractor and no financial interest in the outcome of the commissioning test. Our report is the only document in the process that is structurally neutral.

The Decision This Protects

Delivery acceptance and warranty period management. Independent commissioning at delivery creates a documented performance baseline that defines what the building was designed to do, what it actually does at delivery, and what corrective action was required. That record protects the owner in every dispute that follows.

Request an Assessment

Contact Building Science Advisors to discuss commissioning services for your project delivery or renovation completion.