Commissioning

New construction Integrated systems testing Existing buildings

New construction

For new building developers and owners wanting quality design, construction, and operation, commissioning offers the most cost-effective process to verify that the goals for the building are accomplished. Commissioned buildings achieve high energy efficiency, meet environmental goals, improve indoor air quality, provide high-value documentation, and ensure the team is properly trained. Our multidisciplinary team deals with all building components and systems: envelope, air and water-based heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, plumbing, electrical, controls, life safety, security, IT, etc.

WSP’s new building commissioning team has extensive experience commissioning high-performance, net-zero, and complex buildings across Canada. As a result of our comprehensive approach to system design reviews, testing, and verification, our projects achieve benefits such as a 10-25 per cent decrease in energy use. For green building projects, we have helped dozens of buildings achieve LEED Fundamental and Enhanced Commissioning credits including helping ensure investments in innovative technologies are properly understood and implemented so that they achieve the expected performance results.

WSP’s new building commissioning services help clients meet their short- and long-term goals for improved performance operations through a comprehensive set of solutions starting during the design phase all through post-occupancy.

New construction services

Green Buildings - LEED Fundamental and Enhanced Commissioning
Design reviews of construction drawings and specifications
Support for new technologies and alternative energy systems
Review of equipment shop drawings
Verification of equipment and systems installation
Functional testing and system performance verification
Oversee on-site training for O&M staff
Review operation and maintenance manuals
First-year operational support

Complex buildings

Hospitals and medical facilities
Data centres
Laboratories
High security facilities
Arenas and sports facilities
Museums
Compounding pharmacies
Wastewater treatment facilities

Measurement and verification

Measurement and Verification and/or Monitoring-based Commissioning is a service aligned with the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) and designed for long-term performance persistence and energy efficiency.

WSP provides support from schematic design through occupancy, working closely with the MEP design team, construction team, and owner to design and implement a cost-effective sub-metering strategy. This metering approach carefully balances capital investment with the desired level of metering granularity meeting the owner’s project requirements and other relevant metering requirements. Our service includes:

System Integration: Coordination with design teams to install and verify metering systems and BAS integration.
Data-Driven Optimization: Use of trend data and analytics to monitor scheduling, regulation, and power consumption, enabling precise system tuning.
LEED Compliance: Services support LEED credits by archiving metering and HVAC control data, with strict confidentiality protocols.
Operational Insights: Use of analytics to detect performance drift, inform system design, and support environmental goals.

We determine quantifiable savings of energy, water, and GHG, plus operational cost savings from energy efficiency improvements with IPMVP-compliant M&V strategies, industry best practices, owner’s ESG goals, and in compliance with regulatory and incentive program requirements.

Integrated Systems Testing (IST)

WSP has combined the expertise of our building commissioning team, electrical engineers, and our specialist fire alarm system engineering team to deliver integrated systems testing verifying that life safety systems function together as intended. Our services meet CAN/ULC-S1001 standards, support occupancy readiness, and code compliance. WSP is classified by ULC as an Integrated Testing Service Provider. Our testing is tailored to each project, conducted by experienced testing coordinators, and delivers detailed reporting.

Completion of any test type: initial, periodic retro-integrated, or for modifications.
Evaluation of interconnected life safety systems to verify they function cohesively during emergency situations.
Includes extensive documentation review and development of an Integrated Testing Plan.
Developing and executing the project-specific methodology and testing plan.
Provides owners with test results and a detailed test plan for future periodic testing.

Existing buildings

Building commissioning is a detailed, quality-oriented process that improves facility performance to meet defined operational requirements over time. Retro-commissioning or recommissioning is simply performing these activities after a building is already operating. Commissioning can be performed at any point in a building’s life and WSP can help building owners and operators as they look to:

Find solutions for immediate, substantial reductions in operating costs and improvements in occupant comfort.
Complement long-term recommendations from energy audits with low-cost solutions that have an immediate effect.
Gain additional information to make informed decisions regarding equipment repair or replacement.
Develop or enhance effective preventative maintenance.

By offering a full-service solution for all recommissioning and retro-commissioning activities and upgrades, we take a comprehensive approach integrating all necessary services seamlessly to deliver a better-performing building for owners and operators.

Planning study and building investigation

The process begins with a preliminary building walkthrough and staff interview(s) to discuss existing documentation, benchmarking, comfort and performance concerns, and equipment problems. If appropriate, our team will investigate opportunities for LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance certification or other sustainability ratings. A focused investigation then identifies low-cost/no-cost opportunities to improve the performance of the existing equipment and systems most likely to produce useful results. WSP’s full recommissioning investigation can include items such as:

Correction scheduling, setpoint, and sequence errors.
Operational testing of HVAC equipment and components.
Verification of equipment operation during unoccupied times.
Operational review of heating and cooling systems to optimize part load performance.
Review of BAS point and sequences for optimal control and efficiency.
Building envelope thermographic scan and air sealing review.

Minor repairs and any low-cost/no-cost initiatives identified by the investigation should be made as soon as possible to maintain the momentum of the project and produce immediate results. The team will identify capital cost improvements for significant issues having either a reasonable payback, or for equipment at the end of service life. The analysis will allow the owner or operator to confirm that there is a fit with financial and budgeting models, and with capital improvement plans.

Implementation

WSP can provide full turnkey services, or work with your staff to project manage, implement, and commission the agreed-upon changes. This can include such items as rewriting sequences, end device remediation/replacement, and equipment repairs, tune-ups, and adjustments. WSP’s range of optional services includes the following:

Full engineering.
Project management.
Equipment and systems supply and installation.
Commissioning services.
Reviews and coordination of all utility and government incentives.
Oversee contractor services for minor repairs.

Sustainable savings

To maintain the benefits obtained through recommissioning and retro-commissioning, it is essential to update documentation, train staff and develop processes to monitor savings and verify ongoing best practice operations. WSP’s existing building commissioning program can include:

Assistance to update as-built drawings.
Update sequences of operation.
Review and update O&M manuals.
Develop or update a systems manual, that is a single-source document for maintaining, operating, and recommissioning the building.
Engagement of maintenance staff in the testing, verification, and adjustment of equipment.
Addition of monitoring and verification tools through appropriately installed meters and performance verification protocols, providing ongoing reviews and reports, generated to ensure the owner gets the information needed to sustain long-term savings.