Our commissioning process

The Core process: a closer look

In commissioning management, it’s essential to ensure that systems and components are designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained according to the intended requirements.

To achieve this, Core Group employs a proven, systematic process to verify and document that a facility can operate as intended. This step-by-step programme helps mitigate risks, ensures safety, and enhances the efficiency and performance of a building:

Stage 0: Pre-Construction

The Commissioning Manager supports the design process to ensure that each system can be commissioned and integrated to provide a fully functional service to the client and the end user.

• Design information review

• Define the commissioning strategy

• Develop the commissioning programme

• Validate and report on factory acceptance testing (FAT)

Stage 1: Installation

Installation quality and compliance is critical to the commissioning process, and this is the stage where the specialist trades certify compliant installation and is verified by the authorised inspector.

• System installation certification

• No intrusive snags

• Checked for commissionability by the Core Group team

• Approved by the Inspection Authority
  

Stage 2 Static Testing

Testing of a completed installation to ensure it is sound, secure and safe to commence dynamic commissioning.

• Pressure testing of pipework systems

• Leakage testing of ducted and drainage systems

• Safety testing of electrical equipment and circuits

• Soundness testing of gas and refrigerant installations
  

Stage 3 Pre-Functional Testing

Setting systems to work by the energisation of electrical switchgear, start-up of motive plant panels, pre-commissioning of safety systems in order to facilitate the dynamic commissioning of systems. Includes the critical process of close pipe work system flushing and cleaning.

• Power on

• Live testing of electrical installations

• Flushing and cleaning of closed pipework installations

• Balancing and regulation of air and water distribution systems

• Autonomous commissioning of control and monitoring systems
  

Stage 4: Functional Performance Testing

The built environment is controlled by the integration of autonomous systems – these function in accordance with the design to support the client and end users business. 

The testing and proving of these integrated systems is undertaken by the Core Group team to record and demonstrate operational performance compliance.

• Environmental control of internal spaces

• Performance of power management systems

• Compliance demonstration of energy monitoring systems (EMS)

• Functional performance of life safety systems

• Utility and critical power failure / recovery testing (IST)
  

Stage 5: Record Documentation and Handover

This stage represents the formal approval by the Core Group team of the commissioning process, and is recorded by the collation and publication of final record documentation.

• Collation of test and commissioning packs for each system

• Publication of approved test and commissioning packs on Centrum

• Publication of a commissioning completion certificate for compliance with Building Regulations (2010)

• Publication of the commissioning completion report for compliance with BREEAM