The Complete Guide to Energy Code Commissioning in New York

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What is NYC Energy Code?

Before designing and building any new project, builders must consider all regulations that fall under The 2016 NYC Energy Conservation Code (NYC Energy Code) which regulates energy consumption in all New York City buildings. This energy code applies to all new buildings as well as any building that undergoes major modifications or renovations.

There are different requirements for residential and commercial buildings, and in the case of mixed occupancies residential and commercial are treated separately and assessed based on different chapters of the code.

Though there are statewide codes as well, they cannot be used in place of the NYC Energy Code. The NYC Energy Conservation Code determines the minimum energy performance for buildings in this city.

What is commissioning?

Commissioning is a type of quality assurance process, where the main objective is to ensure a project is designed, installed, and configured according to the requirements of the owner. It is a mandatory procedure in all new projects. In cases of commissioning, there are specific documentation requirements and procedures that need to be followed. These procedures are described in section C408 of the code.

Even if the builder has followed all procedures and all building systems are installed correctly, the owner must provide evidence of commissioning by an approved agency.

The NYC Energy Code Commissioning Process:

  • The Commissioning Plan:

The first step is having your plan written by an approved agency. It will include:

  1. A list of the proposed activities with a narrative description of each activity.
  2. A detailed description of all equipment, appliances, and systems to be tested.
  3. System functions to test during commissioning.
  4. Identifying the required conditions for each test that can specifically be performed during a particular season of the year.
  5. Measurable performance criteria.

 

  • System Adjusting and Balancing:

Since all HVAC systems involve airflow and a balanced heating and cooling effect, the NYC Energy Code requires adjustment and balancing according to ASHRAE 111 or any equivalent standard approved by the NYC Department of Buildings.

This includes:

  1. Air systems balancing and
  2. Hydronic systems balancing

 

  • Functional Performance Testing:

This step ensures that building systems are properly installed and configured, so that performance meets the standards specified in the design documents.

This testing includes equipment tests, control tests, economizer tests, and lighting system tests.

 

  • Preliminary Commissioning Report:

The preliminary commissioning report achieves two main functions:

  1. Investigates and define any deficiencies found during testing.
  2. List the tests that could not be performed due to unfavorable climate conditions, and describe the conditions required to perform them correctly.

Once this preliminary commissioning report is submitted to the building owner and the necessary code official is notified, the building is subject to a final inspection process.

 

  • System Balancing Report:

This report provides a detailed description of the adjustment and balancing procedure for air and hydronic systems, with a list of all measurements that must be done.

 

  • Final Commissioning Report:

At this stage, the final commissioning report is written and the building receives the certificate of occupancy or letter of completion.

The deadline to be followed for final report delivery is:

  1. 30 months for buildings with at least 500,000 square feet, excluding R-2.
  2. 18 months for buildings smaller than 500,000 square feet, and all R-2 buildings regardless of area.

 

This long list of tasks can certainly seem daunting. Hiring a qualified professional team like Skyline Engineering will make all the difference. We are familiarized with all NYC code requirements and the corresponding documentation and your building will receive the final inspection report with ease.

Get in touch today at https://skylineengineering.com/contact/ for a hassle-free experience.

Energy Efficiency and Building Electrification in the Western United States

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Energy efficiency is crucial to reducing your carbon footprint. In this blog, we will discuss how building electrification can help us become more energy efficient in our day-to-day activities and bring down our carbon footprint.

What Is Building Electrification?

Building electrification is the process of shifting from non-renewable power sources to cleaner sources of electricity to power buildings. This can be done by installing solar panels, wind turbines, or other forms of renewable energy or by connecting the building to the grid. Building electrification can also refer to retrofitting an existing building with electrical wiring and fixtures.

Advantages of Building Electrification

Electricity is one of the most important modern conveniences, and it plays an important role in almost every aspect of our lives. It acts as a power source for lights, appliances, and heating and cooling systems, and it also has a variety of industrial applications. This is why it is important to create comprehensive plans for building electrification and raise awareness about the benefits of installing these technologies in buildings.

Cost-Efficiency

One of the primary advantages of electric power is that it is relatively inexpensive to generate. In most cases, it is cheaper to produce electricity than it is to purchase it from a utility company. Additionally, electric power is more efficient than other forms of energy, such as gasoline or coal.

Decreased Maintenance Costs

The advantage of building electrification is that it can significantly decrease maintenance costs. For example, an electrified building will not require as much regular maintenance as a non-electrified building since there will be no need to regularly check and replace batteries or power cells. In addition, electrification can also help reduce the wear and tear on building materials, as well as improve the overall efficiency of the building.

Clean and Safe

Another advantage is that it is clean and safe. Unlike fossil fuels, electric power does not produce harmful emissions. Additionally, electric power is not flammable, so it is less likely to cause fires.

Ability to Control Temperature

Building electrification is especially beneficial in areas where the climate is extreme, as it can help maintain the inside of a building at a comfortable temperature. This can be done through the use of air conditioning, heating, and ventilation systems, all of which can be controlled via electrical means. Additionally, electrification can help improve indoor air quality by reducing the level of pollutants and providing a cleaner, more healthy environment.

Elevated Operational Precision

Building electrification can provide many advantages in terms of operational precision. For example, electrically-powered equipment can be more precisely controlled than equipment that uses other power sources. This can be beneficial in terms of overall efficiency and productivity. Additionally, electrically-powered equipment is often less likely to experience unexpected downtime or malfunction. This can help further improve operational precision and reduce the potential for disruptions.

 

The Western U.S. is undergoing a significant shift in its energy landscape. With various renewable energy resources and new market structures in place, the region is well-prepared for the adoption of efficient, low-cost electrification technologies and services.

To accelerate the spread of electrification across the region, Skyline Engineering is working with commercial and public entities to increase the efficiency of new and existing buildings and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. Contact us for more information.

Special Inspections and Quality Assurance for Your Projects

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Ensuring quality maintenance is critical for ensuring client satisfaction with the end product. Personnel, subcontractors, materials, and procedures should all be subject to quality control. A lack of inspection procedures, for example, could result in serious quality issues in a project.

Thanks to the commercial development process, procedures such as Special Inspections have come into play. Special inspections are ” construction inspections requiring the expertise of an approved special inspector to ensure compliance with the code and approved construction documents.” These inspections differ from those required for building permits, and nearly all engineered buildings require special inspections. Here in this blog, we will consider the need and importance of your project’s special inspections and quality assurance.

What Comprises Special Inspections?

Special inspections include testing and inspection of materials and installation, fabrication, component, and connection placement to ensure consent with codes and approved construction documents.

Fabricators for pre-engineered structural components and a fabrication process for prefabricated wood products are examples of inspection items.

  • Concrete
  • Masonry
  • Steel for structural purposes
  • Soils
  • High-load wood diaphragms
  • Systems with deep foundations
  • Fire-resistant materials sprayed
  • Fire-resistant mastic and intumescent coatings
  • EIFS (exterior insulation and finish systems)
  • Systems for controlling smoke
  • Special cases determined by the building official

A Floor Flatness Test is one example of a Special Inspection. After a building slab has been poured, an inspector will take numerous measurements to ensure that the flooring is flat and level. These tests are frequently required by tenants who use shelving that must be level and ensure the floor will polish out properly.

A Rebar Inspection is another common example. The inspector thoroughly inspects the rebar installed before the building slab is even poured. They will ensure that the correct size rebar was used, that the count is correct according to plans, and that everything is properly tied
together.

Why is Quality Assurance Important?

Quality Assurance ensures that the project’s approaches, techniques, methods, and processes are correctly implemented. Quality Assurance activities make sure that the processes used to manage and create deliverables are followed and operational. Individuals involved in developing software applications are in charge of quality assurance. Quality assurance is nothing more than prior planning to execute a process. Given below are the reasons why quality assurance is important for your project:

1. Managing Team

Organizations may choose a specific employee to do quality assurance. In such a scenario, they look for someone who can handle repetitive tasks, is a perfectionist, and is willing to dig deep into the root of an issue. The effort should be well-organized, with clear requirements for
each case. The manager is responsible for tracking progress regularly and providing the necessary tools.

2. Reduction of Cost

If the product is checked at each stage, the cost of a project is reduced dramatically because there is less waste and rework. Reduced project costs are proving to be advantageous for organizations in terms of staying on track with annual budgets and then progressing to save time and budget for other projects. Not only that, but it also reduces events with high scrap costs.

3. Enhancing Client???s Experience

Client satisfaction is the ultimate goal for all businesses. During the software development process, it is possible that the developers may fail to notice some issues with the interface. That is why analysis is necessary. When dealing with a perplexing menu or adjusting a button that
should be working, the tests rely on the function of going through everything that has previously been built. Such a strategy ensures that the program is functional and does not jeopardize the user’s experience.

To know more about Special Inspections and Quality Assurance of the project, get in touch with our experts at Skyline Engineering.