Commissioning Management
Buildings are complex and one-of-a-kind, even identical designs have significant differences due to the different trades, products, program and people involved. The commissioning company has a major role in any building as their independent input helps all concerned focus on the performance of each system.
The commissioning manager plays a vital part in bringing all concerned parties to the table and ensures that the various systems are co-coordinated ready for start-up and commissioning. Often in many buildings there can be dozens of different trades all focusing at their own objective, that being to finish their own system.
The commissioning manager will schedule the trades so that upon initialization all interconnections, integration or interfaces with other trades are considered and incorporated within the start-up process.
The commissioning manager is now a key figure taking a greater role than ever before. The commissioning manager can be appointed at the design stage to review the commissionabiltiy of each system, value engineering and how maintainable the actual design solution will be.
H.V.A.C Testing & Balancing
Independent testing, adjusting and balancing is now an established market as clients recognize the importance of having their systems independently tested and commissioned.
We offer a comprehensive service for all H.V.A.C systems including air conditioning, chilled water and domestic hot and cold water services, for new build or refurbishment.
In addition, site surveys and trouble shooting can be undertaken, including acoustic and environmental testing.
Modern HVAC systems typically use sophisticated, automatic controls to supply the proper amounts of air for cooling, heating and ventilation in commercial buildings. Problems encountered during installation, operation, maintenance and servicing of the H.V.A.C system could prevent it from operating as designed. Therefore each system has to be tested to ensure its initial and continued performance.
In addition to providing optimal thermal conditions and balanced ventilation, a properly adjusted and balanced system can also reduce operating costs and increase equipment life.
Our test and balance report provides a complete record of the design, preliminary measurements, and final test data. The report includes any discrepancies between the test data and the design specifications, along with reasons for those discrepancies.
Property assessment
Plant surveys
We at PEG we pride ourselves in our accurate and informative surveys for all systems.
We provide a combination of observations and physical measurements in a concise tabulated format to enable you to appreciate the condition and performance against design we also estimate the life expectancy of your plant.
We record the physical details, design data and the dynamic measurement of volumetric flow rates, static pressures, speeds, and absorbed current.
Our plant survey report consists of a system by system overview with a 1 – 5 grading of required remedial works.
In order to provide an extremely cost effective service we focus on Plant Rooms and specifically nominated areas. However, we would be happy to record and compare all air and water flow rates, throughout the network.
We can also inspect the condition and operation of the H.V.A.C system with regard to Life Safety equipment such as Fire Dampers and Duct Smoke Detectors.
Our Quality Controlled documents record both static and dynamic plant data. Our team measures all relevant plant data with the latest calibrated and certified test equipment.
Energy audits
Investors, Owners or Building Operators need to know where the energy costs, environmental health and thermal comfort of their buildings stand compared to design parameters.
Technical committees engaged with energy and environmental issues require an investigation into the total performance of the building.
Based upon information that we provide, designers of new and refurbished buildings may utilise our performance testing to assess the energy and environmental performance of their design and to identify areas of deficiency.
Energy Efficiency Rating is a key issue in the implementation of Energy Conservation Policy Programmes. Although the annual energy consumption can only be predicted with limited accuracy, monitoring and analysis can identify sources of energy wastage enabling their rectification. This aspect is becoming more important given present increasing concerns about the environment, particularly CO2 emissions, and the decrease in fossil fuel reserves. Also, Owners of large Estates and Buildings where the energy bill is a major expense can benefit from significant reductions.
It is not uncommon with correct identification followed by implementation of new or remedial works, substantial and immediate reductions of Energy Consumption can be achieved.
Thermographic surveys
A thermographic survey of your plant and equipment will establish whether or not you have problems without switching the plant off line, thus keeping your investment running.
Over the years Thermography has proven itself as an extremely useful tool and a cost effective way of assessing the condition of buildings.
With Thermography we believe that we have the unique ability to provide a comprehensive service for all your plant requirements.
Our thermography supports risk assessment, general plant surveys, energy conservation, trouble shooting, commissioning and efficiency management.
With our established expertise behind the view finder of an Infrared imaging camera, we can establish a new awareness in the protection of your plant.
Typically on Electrical systems we would survey HV through to LV. Inclusive of switchgear, standby alternators, busbar risers, transformers, cables, MDB, SMDB, final DB’s, fire alarm, audio, PABX, UPS & CVT.
On Mechanical systems we would survey pumps and fan motors, pipe lines, bearing temperatures, generators and radiators, pipe lines, air conditioning ductwork, walls, rooms and cold stores.
Inspection
Electrical testing
Depending on the stage of employment our services can be used for equipment evaluation , design review or commissionabiltiy studies.
Later in the project we may be employed to carry out electrical inspections in order to verify that the installation complies with the design drawings, the specification and the relevant local and international requirements.
We are also employed to witness test electrical installations as a third party during the phases of installation.
We ensure that all testing is carried out to the latest standards using task specific and calibrated equipment.
All test activities are recorded on our acceptance sheets and can be witnessed by the accepting authority.
This information is in invaluable and will ensure that all your systems have historic data and are fit for purpose and safe.
PAT testing
The Health and Safety at Work Act (1984) as well as many E.C Directives relating to workplace safety, put the entire onus on the employer to ensure that he creates and maintains a safe working environment. This includes ensuring any electrical tools or electrical equipment supplied are safe and in good working order.
Section 4 (2) of the Electricity at Work Regulation (1989) focuses on this “Duty of Care” in relation to any machinery connected to the electricity supply via a removable plug.
To assist companies to comply with this legislation, the electrical industry has developed a range of tests to an industry standard specification. This ensures that all portable appliances are checked by a trained engineer to ensure they comply with the pre-defined standard, and are safe for the purpose they are designed for.
Each appliance is comprehensively tested by a fully trained Ideal engineer, who will certify that the appliance conforms to the current required specification. A detailed portable appliance test report is then produced confirming the status of each appliance.
Vibration testing and analysis
We provide vibration testing for both predictive maintenance and re-active maintenance.
With our predictive maintenance technique we utilize a vibration measuring device that records a blue print of your piece of plant.
This measurement can be trended to ensure that each item of plant is working to its optimum performance. By utilizing this service as part of regular maintenance plant optimization can be guaranteed.
Vibration testing should be carried out on equipment suspected of excessive vibration and unusual noise.
Any unusual noise should be dealt with immediately, this is often the tell tail sign that the plant is failing or working inefficiently.
Vibration tests can also be carried out on plant with intermittent faults, often vibration can trace the route of the problem quickly, accurately without any down time.
Test data analysis is carried out in house with our certified analyst.
Sound Level and Environmental testing
At the conclusion of the project we provide two additional services for total peace of mind, sound Level testing and environmental condition monitoring.
Sound level testing comprises of our engineers using state-of-the -art acoustic equipment that will measure the sound level in all spaces of the building.
This study can only be conducted when commissioning is complete and all of the buildings fabrics and fittings have been put in place.
The study records all sounds within the space, before the plant is running and after start up.
Environmental condition monitoring comprises of our engineers either physically taking readings from each space or setting calibrated electronic data loggers to record temperature and humidity.
During this verification the building management and controls system is modulated and each reading is verified. The data gathered is then provided to the controls specialist enabling exact off sets to be entered into the controls system, if necessary. The individual space is then re-tested and signed off.
Validation
HEPA Filter testing
PEG has the knowledge and equipment to test and validate high efficiency particulate arrestment (HEPA) filters via DOP testing methods, our equipment exceeds the current British, American, European and Australian requirements for filter testing with Aerosol challenge.
In applications such as Hospitals, Operating theatres, Pharmaceutical facilities, Clean rooms, fume cupboards and safety cabinets.
The manufacturers stated HEPA filter efficiency of 99.997% must be checked in situ, our testing is not only for the condition of existing or new HEPA filters but also to test its housing and installation.
In our testing DOP is generated by air. This is done by using a special Laskin nozzle which creates an aerosol when it is immersed in DOP liquid and air passed through it.
This aerosol, unlike that used to test the filters at time of manufacture, is not a monodisperse 0.3 micron cloud, but is polydispersed, ranging from 0.32 microns to 1 micron, averaging approximately 0.45 microns.
HEPA filter certification testing is critical to several industries including semiconductor cleanrooms.
Room Integrity testing
Before the introduction of the Room Integrity Test, it was common practice to prove the ability of the room to contain gas by carrying out full discharge testing.
Environmental concerns surrounding the Halons led to the development of the Room Integrity Test. This test is now required to comply with BS150 14520.
Unlike full discharge testing, Room Integrity Testing causes little disruption to the working day and staff may continue to work in the test area.
The service is repeatable. The integrity of the room can be thoroughly tested at any time as part of a regular servicing arrangement, or whenever changes are made to the protected
area. Indeed under BS150 14520, it is recommended as part of the annual servicing and maintenance requirements, should any doubt remain and it cannot be visually determined that the room is adequately sealed, then the test should be repeated.
Indoor Air Quality
The quality of air within our working environment is extremely important ASHRAE following an extensive survey concluded that productivity can be improved by 10-25% by improving air quality. Often sickness within the work place is due to poor air quality.
At PEG we provide Air Quality inspections to determine whether your property is suffering from SBS “Sick Building Syndrome”, or BRI “Building Related Illness”.
A buildings air duct network acts as its respiratory system. Dirt, dust, debris and microbial growth that accumulate inside of air ducts hidden from view “congest” the system and make it difficult for the building to “breath” properly and function efficiently.
It’s a fact that more than 70% of all Indoor Air Quality problems involve the HVAC system.
Documentation
Operating and Maintenance Manuals
Excellent quality Operating and Maintenance Manuals are essential for the future of your investment. Far too many projects at the end of an installation are let down by poor manuals.
In a complicated project there are hundreds of different components often provided by numerous manufacturers, suppliers and agents. Each organization has a different way in which they prepare their manuals.
Our technical authors resolve this problem by upgrading the manuals to the internationally approved standards incorporating crucial information required for trouble free operation of any piece of plant or equipment installed at any facility. Adherence to the instructions on these manuals will ensure trouble free operation and prolonged life expectancy of any piece of equipment installed resulting in cost savings with no down time or unexpected plant breakdown.
This not only saves time and money but helps the incoming operator or maintenance provider the ability to truly keep its property in optimum performance.
We can provide conventionally bound O & M’s, or Electronic Manuals with asset tracking automated purchase orders, time and attendance packages.
Client Training
The training of the end user or facility management team is a crucial factor for trouble free operation of the plant or systems installed at any building.
Quite often the ‘training element’ is overlooked which affects the operational efficiency of the maintenance team.
We provide an independent service whereby we will arrange training for your maintenance team on how the systems work and how each piece of equipment should perform and be maintained.
Our engineers prepare a detailed and easy to understand training document that can be used time and time again.