Commissioning Services
The Newcomb & Boyd Commissioning Agents provide commissioning, retrocommissioning, and systems training services. The members of this group have extensive experience in the construction industry to draw from as they assist the project team. Their experience provides owners with practical knowledge of how a facility should be constructed and operated. This, along with specialized expertise in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, digital controls, emergency power, lighting controls, security systems, specialty gas systems, communications systems, audio-visual systems, and sustainable design processes uniquely qualifies our commissioning group to handle the challenges of any project. Additionally, this group can draw from the resources of the entire firm.
Commissioning is the process of assuring that a project is constructed and executed in accordance with the owner’s requirements. It involves the following measures, all of which Newcomb & Boyd can support:
• Construction observation
• Design criteria assessment
• Design review
• Equipment start-up
• Facility documentation
• Special inspections
• Acceptance testing
• Warranty period monitoring
Our group specializes in laboratory, research, and healthcare facilities commissioning. These facilities commonly involve more complex designs and house equipment that require annual certification. In these spaces, comfort and cost are secondary to the safety and health of individuals. We offer the following services and certifications to facilitate a safe working environment:
• ASHRAE 110 Fume Hood Testing
• Biosafety Cabinet Certification
• Laboratory Commissioning – Biosafety Levels 1, 2, and 3
• Specialized Containment Commissioning
• Cleanroom Testing
Retrocommissioning is the systematic means for ensuring that all building systems perform interactively according to the owner’s current operational needs. Newcomb & Boyd provides expert retrocommissioning support through the following services:
• Benefit analysis
• Condition surveys
• Corrective measures
• Current load determination
• Indoor air quality analysis
• Remedial design
• System optimization
When technicians are properly trained and understand how systems function interactively, they can better identify solutions to problems, resulting in less downtime to facility systems. As building problems are rectified, the entire facility begins to function as designed, resulting in a better working environment for the facility occupants. Additionally, proper maintenance techniques will keep facilities running efficiently.
Newcomb & Boyd offers comprehensive Systems Training for the following areas:
• Central plants
• Critical power systems
• Direct digital controls
• Graphical interfaces
• Hydronic systems
• Indoor air quality
• Pressurization
• Psychrometrics
• Pumping controls
• Test instruments
• Troubleshooting
• Variable volume flow
Commissioning Clients
Watson Tate Savory Architects, Inc.
Commissioning of the offices of an architectural firm located in a renovated historic building.
Mercy Hospital
Client: JLL
Associate Architect: MGE Architects
Commissioning of a 45,000 square foot addition to, and 15,000 square foot renovation of, Mercy Hospital, including expansion of the emergency department from nineteen to thirty-two treatment rooms, a radiology/nuclear medicine department, and a clinic.
Clemson University
Architect: LS3P Associates Ltd.
Associate Architect: SmithGroupJJR
Design, construction, acceptance, and warranty phase commissioning of the Sandhill Research & Education Center. Research in the facility focuses on programs and units that work collectively to cultivate sustainable economic and community development in South Carolina. The building includes classrooms, office space, an activities room, a boardroom, and food preparation areas. This building achieved LEED Gold certification.
High Museum of Art
Client: JLL
Architect: Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Associate Architect: Lord Aeck Sargent
Commissioning of the expansion of the High Museum of Art, comprising the Susan and John Wieland Pavilion, the Anne Cox Chambers Wing and the Administrative Center. The Wieland Pavilion serves as the new main entrance to the Museum.
Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center
Architect: Lord Aeck Sargent
Commissioning of the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, an interpretive learning center focusing on the value of water and its conservation. The facility includes the Blue Planet Theatre, interactive exhibits for children, a laboratory, a gift shop, and office and support space. Outside there are a series of trails linking outdoor interpretive experiences. This building achieved LEED Gold certification.
Georgia Institute of Technology
Architect: HOK
Commissioning of the mechanical and laboratory systems in the U.A. Whitaker Biomedical Engineering Building. The commissioning effort includes functional testing and verification of test and balance, automatic temperature controls, and laboratory pressurization controls, as well as verification of the proper operation and required pressure relationships of the laboratory spaces. The building includes laboratories, education and administrative facilities, and interactive, collaborative, and building support spaces.
Gregory A. Adams Juvenile Justice Center
Architect: Turner Associates Architects & Planners, Inc.
Commissioning of the four story justice center with a 750 car parking deck. This project achieved LEED Silver certification.
The University of Alabama
Retrocommissioning of the Moody Music Building including the main concert hall, recital hall, choral rehearsal hall, and band and jazz rehearsal spaces. The student practice rooms, administrative spaces and classrooms were converted to direct digital control (DDC) controls. In addition to the testing and calibration of the existing installations, operational strategy revisions were made to the controlling software to provide demand ventilation control and to improve environmental conditions in the most energy efficient manner possible.
