AABC Commissioning Group
AIA Provider Number 50111116
Comparison: ACG Commissioning Guideline
and NETA Standard for Electrical
Commissioning
Course Number: CXENERGY22-11
Jesse Felter, Jim Magee, Mark Gelfo, Charles Jackson,
and Peter Turek
April 21st, 2022
Credit(s) earned on completion of
this course will be reported to AIA
CES for AIA members. Certificates of
Completion for both AIA members
and non-AIA members are available
upon request.
CES for continuing professional
education. As such, it does not
include content that may be
deemed or construed to be an
approval or endorsement by the
AIA of any material of construction
or any method or manner of
handling, using, distributing, or
dealing in any material or product.
_______________________________________
Questions related to specific materials, methods, and
services will be addressed at the conclusion of this
presentation.
This course is registered with AIA
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Course
Description
Identifying distinctions between startup and commissioning of
electrical equipment is essential in achieving client goals. With
this Round Table discussion, possible applications of accepted
industry guidelines and standards for electrical equipment and
systems will be evaluated.
Learning
Objectives
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Learning Objective 1:
Distinguish between ACG Commissioning Process and acceptance testing.
Learning Objective 2:
Impact to client with project requirements for Commissioning Provider to have installer
qualifications and how to respond to these requirements.
Learning Objective 3:
Identify why ACG Commissioning Guideline addresses whole building systems rather than a
limited range of specific equipment.
Learning Objective 4:
Understand acceptance testing standards use of the term Commissioning.
Commissioning Services with Installer Requirements
UFGC 01 91 00.15 – Total Building Commissioning
Use of Term the Commissioning by Installer
ANSI/NETA ECS-2020
Abbreviations Used and Organizational Relationships
WBDG (The Whole Building Design Guide)
NAVFAC (Naval Facilities Engineering Systems
Command)
UFGS (Unified Facilities Guide Specifications)
USACE (United States Army Corps of
Engineering)
NIBS (National Institute of Building Sciences)
Abbreviations Used and Organizational Relationships
Standard for Electrical
Commissioning
Specifications for Electrical
Power Equipment and
Systems
Standard for Acceptance
Testing Specifications for
Electrical Power
Equipment and Systems
Commissioning Services with Installer Requirements
UFGC 01 91 00.15 1.8.2.a Mechanical Technical Commissioning Specialist:
Mechanical Technical Commissioning Specialist: The technical work associated with
mechanical systems including Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration
Systems; Building Automation System; Utility Monitoring and Control System; Service
Water Heating Systems; Plumbing Systems; Energy and Water Utility Metering Systems
must be performed by a Commissioning Specialist certified by NEBB, ACG, ICB/TABB, AEE,
University of Wisconsin-Madison, ASHRAE, or BCA in the commissioning of HVAC systems
with five years of experience in the commissioning of HVAC systems.
Is there a disparity in commissioning requirements between mechanical and electrical
specialists?
Commissioning Services with Installer Requirements
UFGC 01 91 00.15 1.8.2.b Electrical Technical Commissioning Specialist:
The technical work associated with electrical systems including Lighting Systems
Electrical Utility Metering Systems must be performed by an engineering technician
certified by the InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA) with five years of
experience inspecting, testing, and calibrating electrical distribution and generation
equipment, systems, and devices.
You have a client with this requirement. How do you respond?
Commissioning Services with Installer Requirements
ANSI/NETA ECS-2020: STANDARD FOR ELECTRICAL COMMISSIONING
SPECIFICATIONS for Electrical Power Equipment and Systems
Does ASHRAE Standards 90.1, 189.1, 202, Guidelines 0, 0.2, 1.1 or 1.2, ACG
Commissioning Guideline, NEBB, AEE recognize NETA certification as a
requirement for Cx Providers of Cx services for electrical and mechanical
systems?
Use of Term the Commissioning by Installer
ANSI/NETA ECS-2020: STANDARD FOR ELECTRICAL COMMISSIONING
SPECIFICATIONS for Electrical Power Equipment and Systems
Does the commissioning industry or the Client benefit from distinguishing NETA
ECS Ready-to-test conditions from ACG comprehensive commissioning?
Use of Term the Commissioning by Installer
ANSI/NETA ECS-2020: STANDARD FOR ELECTRICAL COMMISSIONING
SPECIFICATIONS for Electrical Power Equipment and Systems
Do current industry needs allow for a Cx provider to have 80% of their revenue
from electrical commissioning AND still be capable of performing other
comprehensive commissioning services, such as HVAC and Building Enclosure?
Commissioning Services with Installer Requirements
ANSI/NETA ECS-2020: STANDARD FOR ELECTRICAL COMMISSIONING
SPECIFICATIONS for Electrical Power Equipment and Systems
Commissioning Services with Installer Requirements
ANSI/NETA ECS-2020: STANDARD FOR ELECTRICAL COMMISSIONING
SPECIFICATIONS for Electrical Power Equipment and Systems
Commissioning Services with Installer Requirements
NETA ATS-2017: Acceptance Testing Specifications for Electrical Power
Distribution Equipment and Systems
Use of Term the Commissioning by Installer
NETA ATS-2017: Acceptance Testing Specifications for Electrical Power
Distribution Equipment and Systems
Use of Term the Commissioning by Installer
NETA ATS-2017: Acceptance Testing Specifications for Electrical Power
Distribution Equipment and Systems
Use of Term the Commissioning by Installer
https://www.netaworld.org/accreditation/overview
ANSI/NETA ECS-2020
ACG Commissioning Guideline, 2nd Edition
Where Are We Today
What are we doing about it?
CCRs (Criteria Change Request)
Liaison groups
Dialog with NETAWorld
Presentations/ Articles/ etc
ACG Commissioning Guideline
CCR – Criteria Change Request
https://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-guide-specifications-ufgs
UFGS 01 91 00.15 10: Total Building Commissioning
Technical CCR 9219
-- Problem -NETA required certification for the electrical technical commissioning specialist.
-- Solution -Delete this requirement.
-- Reason -Commissioning is not Testing. The [General] Contractor is responsible for testing. NETA
certification is a qualification for Testing entities contracted under the [General]
Contractor. A NETA certification for the Commissioning Firm is not a requirement of
leading Commissioning guidelines or standards. The certification should not be
required for an experienced and qualified electrical commissioning specialist holding a
current ACG or other approved Commissioning certification. The NETA requirement
should only be a requirement of the [General] Contractor’s electrical subcontractor
contracted for Testing and startup.
CCR 9219 Responses
USACE.Army.mil | US.AF.mil
I could not find any required training for the commissioning firm, but in ANSI/NETA ECS2020, section 3.2 Commissioning Personnel, it states "Personnel performing these
commissioning activities shall be trained and experienced concerning the apparatus
and systems being evaluated. These individuals shall be capable of conducting the tests
in a safe manner and with complete knowledge of the hazards involved. They must
evaluate the test data and make a judgment on the serviceability of the specific
equipment.“
If you should be trained and experienced, you need the NETA certification. I recommend
disapproving the CCR.
CCR 9219 Response
US.Navy.mil
CCR 9219 Response
US.Navy.mil
NAVFAC, NAVFAC Mid-Lant has been using a regional version of UFGS that includes:
1) The Commissioning Firm must still provide the qualified specialists, but the
requirement that those specialists be direct employees was removed. Although
not explicit, the change allows the potential for subcontracting specialists who are
not direct employees of the firm.
2) The Commissioning Firm itself does not specifically need to be certified if the
certifying organization does not require it in order to employ certified employees.
3) The Electrical Commissioning Specialist must still have five years of relevant
experience but the NETA certification is not required. The electrical power
distribution specification requires the general contractor to hire a NETA-certified
technician to perform the electrical acceptance tests so the specialist need only
observe and confirm the tests were successfully performed by a certified
technician.
Where Are We Today
Status for branches of service
Navy - Adopted a revised UFGC, addressing qualification requirements
Marine Corps - Adopted a revised UFGC, addressing qualification requirements
Army
Air Force
NASA
Adding to Confusion: Electrical Commissioning is NOT
Electrical Testing
https://www.csemag.com/articles/considerations-for-electrical-testing-and-commissioning/
Adding to Confusion: Electrical Commissioning IS
Electrical Testing
https://www.missioncriticalmagazine.com/articles/93338-electrical-commissioning-and-acceptance-testing-arethey-one-in-the-same
Where Are We Today
This concludes The American Institute of Architects
Continuing Education Systems Course
Jesse Felter, jfelter@ssr-inc.com
Jim Magee, jim@facomgrp.com
Mark Gelfo, mark.gelfo@tlc-eng.com
Charles Jackson, charles.jackson@sustainbldgs.com
Peter Turek, peter.turek@tlc-eng.com