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Commissioning Air Systems
By Chris Parsloe
BG 49/2013
A BSRIA Guide www.bsria.co.uk
I n c l u d e s d o w n l o a d a b l e
p r o - f o r m a
c h e c k l i s t s
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1
COMMISSIONING AIR SYSTEMS
© BSRIA BG 49/2013
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The first edition of Commissioning Air Systems was produced by BSRIA
(AG 3/89) as part of a research project in 1989, under the sponsorship of the
Department of Trade and Industry, and under the direction of an industry
steering group.
This new fully-revised edition has been compiled with the help of an industry
steering group. BSRIA would like to thank the following people, without
whom this revised guidance would not have been possible:
Roger Carlin Ashford Environmental Services Ltd.
Luke Collier Belimo Automation UK Ltd.
Ross Nield Belimo Automation UK Ltd.
Alan Gilbert BSRIA Instrument Solutions
Paul Blower Building Technology Systems Ltd.
Daniel Davies Cardiff Commissioning Ltd.
Neil White Commissioning Specialists Association
Iain Kinghorn Fläkt Woods UK Ltd.
Chris Parsloe Parsloe Consulting
Nick Ward Prime (ES) Ltd.
Rob Lambert Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil
Chris Johnston Sutton Services International Ltd.
Gary Nicholls Swiftclean UK Ltd.
Ian Thomas Trox UK Ltd.
Chris Davey JPS Commissioning Services Ltd.
BSRIA acknowledges the very significant contribution made by all the
steering group members, and especially the chair and author, Chris Parsloe of
Parsloe Consulting. The final editorial responsibility for this publication restedwith BSRIA. It was designed and produced by Joanna Smith of BSRIA.
BSRIA would like to thank DP Measurement, KIMO Instruments UK,
Swema AB, Testo Ltd.,Trox UK Ltd., and TSI Incorporated who kindly
provided photographs.
BSRIA acknowledges with thanks Ashford Environmental Services ltd.,
Balcomm Ltd., Crosscount Ltd., HVAC Plant Proving Ltd., Sutton Services
International Ltd. and Swegon Ltd., who provided financial support to this
publication by placing an advertisement.
The advertisements in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of
BSRIA. BSRIA does not endorse the products and services of advertisers and
the technical content has not been influenced by the presence of advertising.
The guidance given in this publication is correct to the best of BSRIA’s knowledge. However BSRIAcannot guarantee that it is free of errors. Material in this publication does not constitute any warranty,endorsement or guarantee by BSRIA. Risk associated with the use of material from this publication isassumed entirely by the user.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording orotherwise without prior written permission of the publisher.
© BSRIA 56653 July 2013
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© BSRIA BG 49/2013
COMMISSIONING AIR SYSTEMS
PREFACE
It has been almost 12 years since BSRIA’s guidance on Commissioning
Air Systems was last updated (AG 3/89.3 in November 2001).Amendments to Part F and Part L of the Building Regulations combined
with Soft Landings and the recently issued BSRIA Guide to Seasonal
Commissioning (BG 44/2013) have elevated the importance of
commissioning.
Environmental assessment methods such as BREEAM, LEED and
DREAM have focused the minds of building owners, operators, developers
and designers on the benefits of a proficient, professional commissioning
process. Technological advances in plant and equipment and in particular
the measurement instrumentation utilised by the commissioning specialist
have also played their part in necessitating a full revision of the guide.CIBSE Commissioning Code A Air Distribution Systems sets out the
normal standards of good practice which are generally accepted within
the building services industry. This BSRIA guide explains how to carry
out the commissioning procedure in a way that ensures these standards are
achieved.
This revised guide has been compiled with the assistance of an industry
steering group and it is heartening to see that the Commissioning
Specialists Association (CSA) has been so well represented by both
corporate and individual members. It is the ultimate aim of the CSA to
promote proficient, professional commissioning to the built environment
and to support this with training and career development.
Neil F. White
Chairman, Commissioning Specialists Association – April 2011 to April
2013
Managing Director, Crosscount Ltd.
June 2013
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COMMISSIONING AIR SYSTEMS
© BSRIA BG 49/2013
CONTENTS
DEFINITIONS 1
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Building regulations 3
1.2 Guide content 3
2. DESIGN FOR COMMISSIONABILITY 5
2.1 Commissioning specification 5
2.2 Duct system layout 6
2.3 Fan selection 7
2.4 Access space 8
2.5 Variable air volume (vav) systems 8
2.6 Specifying flow rates and tolerances 10
3. COMMISSIONING FACILITIES 16
3.1 Flow regulating dampers 16
3.2 Flow measurement 18
4. THE INSTALLATION OF COMMISSIONABLE SYSTEMS 23
4.1 General 23
4.2 Organisation and planning 23
4.3 Installation issues affecting commissionability 24
4.4 Housekeeping 24
4.5 Duct system cleanliness 24 4.6 Duct workmanship 25
4.7 Duct air leakage testing 25
4.8 Installation inspections 25 4.9 Preparation for commissioning 26
5. SITE TEST INSTRUMENTS 27
5.1 Rotational speed measurement 27
5.2 Voltage and current measurement 28
5.3 Static pressure measurement 29
5.4 Air velocity and flow rate measurement 29
6 ON SITE FLOW MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES 40
6.1 Air flow and velocity flow measurements in ducts 41
6.2 Measuring air velocity at supply and extract terminals 44
6.3 Use of flow capture hoods for supply diffusers 45
6.4 Flow measurements at other terminals 46
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© BSRIA BG 49/2013
COMMISSIONING AIR SYSTEMS
CONTENTS
7. COMMISSIONING PROCEDURES 47
7.1 Organisation and planning 47 7.2 Setting to work 48
7.3 Regulation method and system type 49
7.4 Proportional balancing 50
8. EXAMPLE METHOD STATEMENTS 52
8.1 Proportion balancing with volume control dampers 52
8.2 Systems with constant volume dampers (CVD) 56 8.3 Commissioning of variable air volume systems (VAVs) 59
9. DOCUMENTATION 64
9.1 Example proformas 64
REFERENCES 73
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COMMISSIONING AIR SYSTEMS
© BSRIA BG 49/2013
1
For the purpose of this guide the following definitions apply:
Cleanliness quality class
A quantifiable level of duct cleanliness that should be achieved prior to
handover. It should be specified as high, medium or low prior to contract
commencement based on a British & European Standard.
Commissionable system
A system designed, installed and prepared to specified requirements in such
a manner as to enable commissioning to be carried out.
Commissionability
The ability of a system to be commissioned satisfactorily.
Commissioning
The advancement of an installation from the state of static completion to
full working order to specified requirements. For air systems, it includes
the setting to work of an installation and the regulation of flow rates.
Commissioning Management
The planning, organisation, co-ordination and control of commissioning
activities.
Commissioning Management Organisation
The firm (or person) appointed to manage the commissioning process,being responsible for overall planning, supervision and witnessing of the
results of the integrated commissioning of all installed building services
systems.
Commissioning specialist
The firm (or person) appointed to carry out specified duties in connection
with the commissioning of the engineering services.
Note: The appointed person should have an appropriate level of
competence. One way of demonstrating competence is by individual
membership at an appropriate grade of the Commissioning Specialists
Association.
Commissioning specification
The document (or sub-section of the design specification) that prescribes
the detailed objectives and requirements for commissioning.
Note: the specification must refer to drawings, schedules and relevant parts
of the codes, manuals, guides and other standards.
Designer
The organisation (firm or persons) responsible for the design of the
air systems that are to be commissioned. Depending on the method ofprocurement this may be one or more organisation. In many instances the
design intent of the air systems may be set out by one organisation, with
DEFINITIONS
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© BSRIA BG 49/2013
COMMISSIONING AIR SYSTEMS2
the final selection of some, or all, of the individual components (main
plant, fans, terminal equipment, control and regulating dampers etc.) by
another organisation. Where this is the case the final system flow rates
should be provided by the organisation that has selected the components,
however this responsibility should be clearly set out in the contractdocuments.
Design criteria
The specified performance of the system expressed as a numerical quantity
together with allowable tolerances.
Installation
A system placed in position as required by the design or specification.
Pre-commissioning
The systematic checking of a completed installation to confirm its state of
readiness for commissioning.
Note: Pre-commissioning is a post-installation completion activity.
Pressure and leakage testing
The measurement and recording of a specified pressure retention or loss
within a system or system component.
Proportional balancing
The process of bringing the fluid flow rates throughout a distribution
system into balance with one another, in their correct proportions and
within tolerances specified by the designer.
Regulating
The process of adjusting the flow rates of a fluid in a distribution system
to achieve the design flow rates within the tolerances specified by the
designer.
Setting to work
The process of setting a static system into operation.
Static completion
The state of a system when it is installed in accordance with the drawings
and specification, clean and ready for setting to work.
System
A set of connected components for heating, cooling, ventilation or air
conditioning consisting of plant, distribution ducting, piping and terminal
units and arrangements to control their operation.
Tolerance
The permissible range of variation from the specified design value.
Witnessing authority
The firm or person that may sometimes be appointed to witness the resultsof commissioning, and to verify that results obtained comply with the
requirements of the design criteria and commissioning specification.
DEFINITIONS
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INTRODUCTION 1
COMMISSIONING AIR SYSTEMS
© BSRIA BG 49/2013
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This Guide explains how to commission ducted air distr ibution systems
in buildings. The commissioning process mainly comprises the setting towork of the system fans and the regulation (or proportional balancing) of
system flow rates.
The procedures set out in this guide, if undertaken, should achieve
compliance with the requirements of CIBSE Code A Air Distribution
Systems. In general, CIBSE Code A sets out the normal standards of good
practice which are generally accepted within the building services industry.
This guide explains how to carry out the commissioning procedure in a
way that ensures these standards are achieved.
This guide is equally applicable to new-build and retrofit large scalecommercial applications. The procedures are not generally applicable
to ventilation systems in dwellings. For domestic applications, reference
should be made to BSRIA publication BG46/2013 Domestic ventilation
systems – a guide to measuring air flow rates[1].
Throughout this guide, references are made to England & Wales Building
Regulations and Approved Documents. Separate Building Regulations
apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Welsh government has
powers to enact separate Building Regulations but at the time of writing
has not yet done so.
Newly installed ventilation systems must comply with the requirements of
the relevant Building Regulations. Approved Guidance for England and
Wales can be found in Approved Document F, Ventilation, 2010.
Furthermore, Part L of the Building Regulations for England and Wales
requires that, “Reasonable provision shall be made for the conservation
of fuel and power in buildings by… providing fixed building services
which… are commissioned by testing and adjusting as necessary to ensure
they use no more fuel and power than is reasonable in the circumstances.”
The approved procedure by which compliance with Part L can
be demonstrated is that set out in CIBSE Code M CommissioningManagement [2], and, for ductwork distribution systems, its sub-referenced
document CIBSE Code A Air Distribution Systems[3].
The technical guidance in this guide is divided into the following section
headings:
Section 2: Design for commissionability
Section 3: Commissioning facilities
Section 4: The installation of commissionable systems
Section 5: Site test instrumentsSection 6: On-site flow measurement techniques
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BUILDING REGULATIONS
1.2 GUIDE CONTENT
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INTRODUCTION1
© BSRIA BG 49/2013
COMMISSIONING AIR SYSTEMS4
Section 7: Commissioning procedures
Section 8: Example method statements
Section 9: Documentation
Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the guide are aimed at system designers andinstallers. Unless commissioning is properly considered during both the
design and installation stages of a project, it may not be possible to meet
the requirements of CIBSE Code A[3].
Section 3 provides a summary of the main commissioning facilities.
Sections 5-9 are intended as guidance for commissioning specialists
employed to undertake commissioning activities.
The pro-forma checklists in section 9 are available as an editable Excel
workbook. These can be used on projects, and can be edited or altered bythe user to suit the needs of their projects.
The workbook is attached to the pdf of this publication and can also be
downloaded from www.bsria.co.uk.
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