Basic Documentation
Table Of Contents
- About this Application Guide
- Chapter 1–Introduction
- Chapter 2–Goals of the Laboratory Environment
- Chapter 3–Unique Ventilation Needs of a Laboratory Facility
- Chapter 4–Ventilation Systems Classification
- Chapter 5–Laboratory Facility Exhaust Systems
- Chapter 6–Laboratory Containment Units - Ventilation
- Chapter 7–Room Ventilation, Makeup Air, and Pressurization Control Systems
- Chapter 8–Laboratory Temperature and Humidity Control Systems
- Chapter 9–Laboratory Emergencies - Ventilation System Response
- Chapter 10–Laboratory Ventilation System - Validation
- Chapter 11–Laboratory Ventilation System - Commissioning
- Glossary
- Index
Chapter 11–Laboratory Ventilation
System - Commissioning
Chapter 10 discusses the commissioning process for laboratory ventilation systems.
Commissioning Process
In a typical construction project, many contractors (mechanical, electrical, sheetmetal,
building controls, etc.) will furnish, install and interconnect a multitude of equipment and
components that comprise the facility ventilation and associated control and monitoring
system. Increasingly, building design professionals acknowledge that even though individual
contractors may fulfill their contractual requirements to furnish and install equipment, that
alone will not ensure attaining the desired overall functionality of technically sophisticated
systems.
To ensure attainment of all functional requirements of a laboratory ventilation and associated
control and monitoring system, it is necessary that a commissioning process be implemented
whenever new construction or a major renovation project is undertaken. The commissioning
process is intended to be a systematic means to verify that each contractor has properly
completed their work and that the ventilation system components and associated control and
monitoring system is fully checked out, tested, adjusted, balanced, and documented. Finally
the commissioning process ensures that adequate user training is provided.
Commissioning Plan
Since each laboratory project differs in many ways, no general “one size fits all”
commissioning plan will apply in all situations. Therefore, it is necessary that a distinct
commissioning plan be put together for each individual project. For a laboratory ventilation
system, the commissioning plan extends from just before all ventilation system components
have been installed and concludes after the owner has accepted the overall ventilation
system and user training has begun. The commissioning plan must include a process to
verify that the installation of all components is complete and per the project documents and
specifications. The commissioning plan then continues to test and verify proper performance
of the ventilation and control system.
Responsibility for the ventilation commissioning plan should lie with the designer of the
ventilation system since that individual has the most thorough knowledge on the functional
objectives and performance criteria of the ventilation system. For specific guidance in
composing a commissioning plan, it is suggested that the reader refer to the following
publications on commissioning ventilation systems which are available from the ASHRAE
organization:
• The Building Commissioning Process
• National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB), Procedural Standards for Building
Commissioning
• Commissioning of HVAC Systems
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