ASHRAE Journal - January 2021 - 20

TECHNICAL FEATURE

site visit reporting; device/system/assembly testing and
evaluations; and managing issues and resolutions.
In predesign and design phases, the professional
CxP does develop content to be included in the design
and contract documents. The professional CxP designs
and creates the pre-Cx checklists, Cx plan, as well
as functional performance protocols and test data/
limits based on the design document requirements,
sequences of operation, equipment schedules, plan
details, codes and standards related to Cx and the OPR/
CFR.
After installation, the professional CxP observes,
performs functional tests, and documents that all of
the required systems, assemblies, components, devices
and equipment in their Cx scope are installed and
operated in conformance with the design intent and
OPR. Many times, the professional CxP gets involved
in helping facilitate requests for information (RFI)
from the contractor or subcontractors. Any items not
conforming to the contract documents are identiﬁed
on an issues log, communicated to the Cx team and
retested until they pass and can be recommended for
acceptability.
The CxP should use speciﬁc comparisons to the OPR/
CFR and the basis of design, where available. They can
then compare the design to what was submitted and
what was installed/built. They must conﬁrm that the
owner is getting what he/she paid for, as outlined in the
contract documents.
The professional CxP is the leader of the Cx team
in all phases per the Cx contract, such as predesign,
design, construction or occupancy. They are a " ﬁnal
check " to ensure that the design is complete and that
the contractor installed the systems, assemblies,
components, devices and equipment following that
design.

Conclusion

In conclusion, services furnished by a professional CxP
constitute a profession or professional service because
they:
* Supervise, coordinate and oversee the work of other
professionals and their professional services, such as
engineers, contractors, subcontractors, etc.
* Meet or exceed the many deﬁnitions presented
about professional services.
* Craft speciﬁc technical and professional content

ASHRAE JOURNAL

ashrae.org

JAN UARY 2021

during design and construction phases, such as checklists, evaluations, reviews, testing protocols, sequencing,
reporting non-compliances, etc.
* Require advanced knowledge, specialized skills,
continuing education and training, comparisons, problem solving and multiple technical skills to perform Cx
tasks.
* Require extensive experience or a combination of
specialized education, training or degrees.
* Require being in " responsible charge " of professional CxP activities.
* Provide expert advice to other professionals.
* Require, in many jurisdictions, professionalengineering-related licenses or designation by the code
authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) to be qualiﬁed as
" special inspectors. "
* Require advanced communication and soft skills to
organize the team, lead meetings and conference calls,
write site visit reports, create functional performance
testing protocols, disseminate technical information, as
well as author the ﬁnal Cx report.
" HVAC&R Cx " as a profession or a professional service means that the professional building CxP needs to
carry the appropriate type and limits of insurance to
include general liability (GL), workman's compensation, auto, as well as professional liability (PL). Please
evaluate your risk tolerance and coverage, and act
accordingly.

References

1. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 202-2018, Commissioning Process for
Buildings and Systems.
2. Hart, R. 2020. " ASHRAE 90.1 commissioning requirement
changes and comparison to IECC. " Seminar AABC/ACG.
3. Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary. 2020. " Professional
Service. "
https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/professional%20service
4. AABC/ACG. 2005. " Commissioning Guideline. " AABC
Commissioning Group.
5. ANSI/NEBB. 2019. " ANSI/NEBB Standard S110-2019, Whole
Building Technical Commissioning of New Construction, 2 ed. "
ANSI/NEBB.
6. Building Commissioning Group. 2017. Building Commissioning
Handbook. Building Commissioning Group.
7. Drury, S.R. 2020. " Engineering by Any Other Name is Still
Engineering. " January newsletter. www.fbpe.org
8. Monk, R. 2017. The professional
services exclusion; you may not have the
coverage you think. ItPaysToBeCovered.com.
https://tinyurl.com/rz9gqq4
9. Enck, J.H. 2020. " Is Commissioning
https://bit.ly/3khhdC5
a Professional Service? " Personal
Rate this Article
Communication.

http://www.Merriam-Webster.com https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/professional%20service http://www.fbpe.org http://www.ItPaysToBeCovered.com https://www.tinyurl.com/rz9gqq4 https://www.bit.ly/3khhdC5 https://www.ashrae.org/

ASHRAE Journal - January 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - January 2021