Ashrae Refcx Guide

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Commissioning Refrigeration Systems in

• Food Retail and Convenience Stores • Small Retail Stores

• Food and Beverage Facilities • Food Distribution Centers

Industrial

Systems

Refrigeration

Commissioning

for

Commercial

and

Guide

The Essential Guide for Commissioning Refrigeration Systems

The first of its kind, Refrigeration Commissioning Guide for Commercial and Industrial

Systems provides guidance to owners and managers of commercial and industrial

facilities that use refrigeration systems to help ensure that project requirements are

met and owners’ expectations are achieved. For commercial facility owners and

managers, this means improved profitability through lower operating and service

costs as well as reduced product loss.

Because deficiencies in system design found at start-up are not easily resolved,

maintenance managers or operators may deal with unnecessary shortcomings

and expenses over the life of the facility. Commissioning helps project teams avoid

these “surprises” by establishing a consistent, stepwise process that helps “get it

right the first time.” The commissioning process starts with the initial planning and

design and continues through construction, installation, start-up, and the first year

of system operation. Commissioning also sets the stage for ongoing servicing and

maintenance of performance. The result is refrigeration systems that are easier and

less expensive to install and maintain, with lower energy costs, minimized liabilities

from refrigeration system leaks, and reduced loss of refrigerated product due to

system failures or unreliable performance.

Using this Guide will help achieve cost-effective and cost-efficient refrigeration systems

for new projects, expansions, remodels, and existing systems that simply need a tune-up.

ASHRAE

1791 Tullie Circle

Atlanta, GA 30329-2305

404-636-8400 (worldwide)

9 7 8 1 9 3 6 5 0 4 5 3 4

ISBN 978-1-936504-53-4

Refrigeration Commissioning Guide for Commercial and Industrial Systems

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Refrigeration Commissioning Guide

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Updates/errata for this publication will be posted on the ASHRAE website at www.ashrae.org/publicationupdates.

This publication was developed under ASHRAE’s Special Publication procedures and is not a consensus document. It was developed under the auspices of ASHRAE Special Project 137

and was supported with funding from U.S. Department of Energy through National Renewable Energy Laboratory subcontract #AGN-1-11923.

Cognizant Committee:

Refrigeration Committee

Refrigeration Commissioning Guide

Project Committee

Richard Royal—Chair

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Bryan Beitler

Source Refrigeration and HVAC

Doug Scott

VaCom Technologies

Jon Edmonds

Edmonds Engineering Co.

Scott Smith

Hillphoenix

Timothy Gwyn

DC Engineering, PC

Paul Torcellini

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Larry Meeker

Target

Robert Uhl

Safeway, Inc.

Scott Moore

PECI

Jim Vannan

Winn-Dixie

Caleb Nelson

CTA

Lilas Pratt

ASHRAE Staff Liaison

Bert Etheredge

ASHRAE Staff Support

RefCxGuide.book Page ii Wednesday, December 4, 2013 9:55 AM

© 2013 ASHRAE (www.ashrae.org). For personal use only. Additional reproduction, distribution, or transmission in either print or digital form is not permitted without ASHRAE's prior written permission.

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Refrigeration Commissioning Guide

for Commercial and Industrial Systems

1791 Tullie Circle, NE

Atlanta, GA 30329

www.ashrae.org

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ISBN 978-1-936504-53-4

1791 Tullie Circle, NE · Atlanta, GA 30329 · www.ashrae.org

Cover design by Laura Haass

ASHRAE is a registered trademark in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, owned by the American Society of Heating, Refriger-ating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.

ASHRAE has compiled this publication with care, but ASHRAE has not investigated, and ASHRAE expressly disclaims any duty to investigate, any product, service, process, procedure, design, or the like that may be described herein. The appearance of any technical data or editorial material in this publication does not constitute endorsement, warranty, or guaranty by ASHRAE of any product, service, process, procedure, design, or the like. ASHRAE does not warrant that the information in the publication is free of errors, and ASHRAE does not necessarily agree with any statement or opinion in this publication. The entire risk of the use of any information in this publication is assumed by the user.

While supported by the U.S. Department of Energy with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal lia-bility or responsilia-bility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recom-mendation, or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.

Except for rights reserved by the U.S. Government, no part of this book may be reproduced without permission in writing from ASHRAE, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages or reproduce illustrations in a review with appropriate credit; nor may any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means—electronic, pho-tocopying, recording, or other—without permission in writing from ASHRAE. Requests for permission should be submitted at www.ashrae.org/permissions.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Refrigeration commissioning guide for commercial and industrial systems.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Summary: "Provides how-to guidance for commissioning custom-engineered refrigeration systems in commercial and industrial facilities to improve and supplement existing design, construction, and operational practices"-- Provided by publisher.

ISBN 978-1-936504-53-4 (softcover : alk. paper)

1. Refrigeration and refrigerating machinery--Industrial applications. 2. Refrigerators--Installation. 3. Commercial buildings--Equipment and supplies--Installation--Planning. I. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

TP492.R3785 2013 621.5'6--dc23

2013041539

ASHRAE STAFF SPECIALPUBLICATIONS Mark S. Owen, Editor/Group Manager of Handbook and Special Publications Cindy Sheffield Michaels, Managing Editor

James Madison Walker, Associate Editor Roberta Hirschbuehler, Assistant Editor Sarah Boyle, Assistant Editor

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PUBLISHINGSERVICES David Soltis, Group Manager of Publishing Services and Electronic Communications Jayne Jackson, Publication Traffic Administrator

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Preface

The Business Case

for Commissioning:

A Message to Owners

Refrigeration Commissioning Guide for Commercial and Industrial Sys-tems provides value to owners and managers of commercial and industrial

facilities that use refrigeration systems by ensuring that project requirements are met and owners’ expectations are achieved.

Refrigeration systems account for a significant portion of commercial building energy use and are often the largest energy end use in food and bever-age facilities. A U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) study estimates commer-cial refrigeration uses 1.23 quads (1.23 × 1015Btu) (1.30 EJ) per year, which is approximately 7% of commercial building energy use. Nearly 70% of this commercial refrigeration use consists of supermarkets and other custom-designed refrigeration systems (DOE 2009).

Supermarkets are the largest example: a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study estimates that supermarkets typically use approximately 3,000,000 kWh of electricity per year, with 60% of that energy use attributed to refrigeration (EPA 2007). Portland Energy Conservation, Inc. (PECI) pre-dicts that commissioning in existing grocery stores would result in 7% to 25% energy savings per year (PECI 2010). Based on these estimates, this commis-sioning guide, if widely adopted, would lead to substantial U.S. national energy savings.

Custom refrigeration systems are complex and individually designed for each facility. Deficiencies in the system design found at start-up are not easily resolved and, as a result, maintenance managers or operators deal with unnec-essary shortcomings and expenses over the life of the facility. The value of commissioning is to establish a consistent stepwise process that helps “get it right the first time,” resulting in refrigeration systems that “work right” and minimize maintenance and energy costs.

Thousands of refrigeration systems are installed every year in facilities ranging from convenience stores to large, sophisticated frozen food distribu-tion centers. Properly commissioned systems reduce energy costs, are easier to maintain, help minimize liabilities from refrigeration leaks, and reduce loss of product due to system failures or unreliable performance.

Commissioning of refrigeration systems is currently uncommon. One rea-son is the belief that commissioning results in added cost and time without

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sufficient or measurable value. Certainly, commissioning is an investment, but it provides significant financial value in several ways. First, systems operate more reliably with lower maintenance cost and lower energy cost when missioning is applied as described in this Guide. Second, incorporating com-missioning can reduce first cost through improved understanding of system performance and lead to better equipment design and installation methods.

Using this Guide will help achieve cost-effective and cost-efficient refrig-eration systems for new projects, expansions, remodels, and existing systems that simply need a tune-up. For commercial facility owners and managers, this means improved profitability through lower operating and service costs as well as reduced product loss. For industrial plants, this means improved “up time” and improved labor productivity in addition to reduced operating cost.

The commissioning process is holistic and considers life-cycle perfor-mance, including the long-term operating (utilities and servicing) costs of the refrigeration system. Commissioning is not another term for start-up. The commissioning process starts with the initial planning and design and contin-ues through construction, installation, start-up, and the first year of system operation. Commissioning also sets the stage for ongoing servicing and main-tenance of performance. This Guide provides the process and methods to help achieve these desired results: expected performance and reliability with the lowest life-cycle cost.

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Acknowledgments

Refrigeration Commissioning Guide for Commercial and Institutional Systems was developed to provide guidance to refrigeration system owners,

project/design managers, and refrigeration system service providers. This Guide is the result of the collaborative effort of dedicated professionals who unselfishly volunteered countless hours to give refrigeration system owners and the refrigeration industry consistent validation processes that can be used to bring order to the unorderly.

The primary authors were the members of ASHRAE Special Project Committee 137 and provided the expertise and experience necessary to develop the document. They represented manufacturers, contractors, and end users of refrigeration systems.

The project would not have been possible without the financial support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and National Renewable Energy Labo-ratory (NREL) as well as the invaluable support of ASHRAE. In addition, DOE’s Better Buildings Alliance provided the project committee with the technical services of Rebecca Legett and Robert Zogg of Navigant Consult-ing, Inc. I would also like to thank Paul Torcellini of NREL for his support and help with the development of the document.

I would also like to personally thank all the members of the project com-mittee for their diligence, creativity, persistence, and willingness to take time to support the development and review of this Guide. They worked extremely hard to put together practical and fundamental information covering the aspects of commissioning applicable to a holistic approach. Their expertise and differing views greatly enriched this Guide. The authors brought many decades of experience, success, and failure to the text to achieve a significant milestone for the refrigeration system owner and the refrigeration system industry. I appreciate the patience of the committee members’ families during the development process, and I gratefully acknowledge the support of the committee members’ employers, including CTA; DC Engineering, PC; Edmonds Engineering Company; Hillphoenix; National Renewable Energy Laboratory; PECI; Safeway, Inc.; Source Refrigeration and HVAC; Target

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Corporation; VaCom Technologies; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc; and Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.

Additional thanks go to the ASHRAE staff, including Lilas Pratt and Bert Etheredge, whose direction and guidance were invaluable and whose organi-zational skills and dedication helped keep the project committee on track. Richard Royal

Chair, ASHRAE Special Project Committee 137

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1 Introduction

Refrigeration Commissioning Guide for Commercial and Industrial Sys-tems provides user-friendly, how-to guidance for commissioning of

custom-engineered refrigeration systems in commercial and industrial facilities. The intended audience of this Guide includes system owners, architects, design engineers, contractors, facility managers, and maintenance service providers, as well providers of commissioning services.

Commissioning is a process for ensuring that a facility or system is designed and operated as intended. Commissioning helps achieve larger goals of sustainable design and operations, life-cycle cost-effectiveness, efficient use of capital, minimizing overall maintenance costs and utility costs, long equipment life and reliability, and meeting performance expectations. ASHRAE addresses commissioning in two other publications: ASHRAE Guideline 0, The Commissioning Process (2005), describes a general commis-sioning process applicable to any facility or system and ASHRAE Guideline 1.1, HVAC&R Technical Requirements for the Commissioning Process (2007), addresses how the commissioning process is applied to heating, venti-lating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, with some discussion of refrig-eration systems.

While Guideline 0 and Guideline 1.1 provide useful information, they do not readily address the needs of refrigeration systems. Refrigerated facilities are both numerous and among the most energy-intense commercial buildings.

Refrigeration Commissioning Guide for Commercial and Industrial Systems

builds on the concepts and process outlined in Guideline 0, providing specific methods and approaches to achieve comprehensive commissioning of com-mercial and industrial refrigeration systems.

Development of this Guide began after multiple discussions within ASHRAE concerning the value and need for such a publication and after con-sideration of many factors, such as the customized nature of refrigeration sys-tems as contrasted to packaged HVAC syssys-tems and the typical methods of designing and contracting for refrigeration work. These are two of the factors that have resulted in very limited commissioning of refrigeration systems in current practice. The value of commissioning is clear to those designing and operating for improved sustainability in refrigerated facilities. To meet the

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apparent need and demonstrate the value of commissioning in the market-place, it became clear that refrigeration experts should define the needs, deter-mine the appropriate processes, and develop a guide specifically tailored for the commissioning of refrigeration systems.

THE NEED FOR

COMMISSIONING

Refrigeration systems for most commercial and industrial facilities are custom-engineered for each application, with individual equipment selected and matched to meet project needs and designer preferences. In contrast, a rooftop cooling unit or a packaged water chiller is factory built as a package subject to standards and certification as a combined system, with performance and specifications fully described and catalogued. While factory packages still need commissioning, the more customized nature of refrigeration is an impor-tant factor in defining how refrigeration commissioning will be accomplished. Refrigeration system designers choose the type of refrigerant, control valves, compressor technology, method of oil management, capacity control mea-sures, type of condensing (air or water cooled), and control system design and strategies. Supermarket store-planners determine which display cases will be used, what configuration will be laid out, and what merchandise will be in the cases. Temperature, load, and evaporator layout can be completely unique from project to project, requiring that compressors, condensers, evaporators, valves, and receivers be designed specifically for each project. Various control system providers and programmers contribute their products and services to the completed system, which adds another layer of customization. There are not only numerous manufacturers of compressors, condensers, cases, coils, and controllers but also numerous owners and contractors with their unique specifications—resulting in the possibility for infinite variations.

As with most construction projects, speed to market is critical. While many companies have well-established specifications and criteria, limited design time can make design coordination difficult. For example, to start pur-suing permits for a new facility, a preliminary refrigeration design may be completed early in the process. That design is then distributed for bidding and construction several months later. When the equipment is received directly from the providers, the contractor must integrate everything on site. This pro-cess can result in the design’s intent being lost. The commissioning propro-cess can help to preserve that intent for manufacturers and programmers.

Historically, the design and construction of commercial and industrial refrigeration systems have not followed the approach where the architect is responsible for all design engineers and a general contractor is responsible for all contractors. Refrigeration design has typically been separate from the architect’s responsibility. The entire refrigeration scope may be assumed by a design-build contractor responsible for engineering the systems, providing the equipment, and performing the installation. The owner may have multiple design, equipment, and installation providers, all under separate contracts. Owners with multiple facilities may establish detailed criteria, design the refrigeration systems in house, rely on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), or use a design consultant with refrigeration specialization. Because much of the commercial refrigeration business involves repetitive construc-tion (e.g., multifacility operaconstruc-tions), refrigeraconstruc-tion design often evolves from one project to the next following a general criteria or relies on the experience

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ENERGY SAVINGS FROM COMMISSIONING

AS RELATED TO RETAIL SALES DOLLARS—A CASE STUDY

Background: A study of several recently opened stores owned by a large supermarket chain

revealed that each store had major shortcomings in the operation of its refrigeration and control systems. The chain has a large development department that includes architects, engineers, proj-ect managers (PMs), construction managers, and others, so the store designs were based on a well-developed set of specifications and criteria drawings and should have all been operating the same way. Further investigation revealed that the contractors for the subject stores had not fol-lowed the plans and specifications.

Problem: One specific store in California had been open for more than a year at the time of

the study. The store had been designed to meet California Title 24 standards (CA 2013a, 2013b) and the store design had been evaluated by a leading engineering firm using energy modeling software. The modeling had shown that with all efficiency measures working properly the store energy use would be 2,800,000 kWh/year. However, the actual energy use for this store during the first year of operation was 3,500,000 kWh/year.

Lessons Learned: The Energy Management team developed and implemented a strategy to

retrocommission the store systems. The result was a reduction in annual energy usage of 750,000 kWh and annual cost savings of $90,000, bringing the system more in line with the expectations generated by the model (see the figure).

Support for changes to address this issue at other stores and in future new construction required attention from retail management. But, the value of these savings is difficult to grasp when the focus is on sales dollars. Translating the savings into equivalent sales dollars shows that the average supermarket would have to sell approximately $4,500,000 in groceries (or about 10 weeks’ worth of sales) in order to make up the dollar value of 750,000 kWh in energy savings. Additional savings would also result from reduced maintenance and/or a possible increase in sales from improved conditions in the store.

The magnitude of the savings demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of a new construction com-missioning process that clearly defines expectations and verifies that equipment and controls are performing according to expectations. Subsequently, other stores in the chain also experienced savings ranging from 4% to 24% after similar retrocommissioning.

Commissioning should start before design so that expectations are met at the start of opera-tion rather than errors being discovered and having to be fixed only after excessive energy con-sumption is realized.

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of “what works” and ensures product temperature requirements are met. Design practice, equipment sizing, and performance expectations are highly dependent on the experience of designers and contractors. Most refrigeration components (unlike HVAC equipment) are not certified to a rating standard, and generally equipment catalogs do not reference a test standard. Rules of thumb and experience factors are inherent throughout the design, construc-tion, and operation of systems and are related to the built-up nature of nearly all refrigeration systems and related control systems.

Several retail chains have in recent years changed from reliance on ven-dor- or contractor-provided engineering to employing a refrigeration design consultant and incorporating refrigeration with the other mechanical engineer-ing responsibilities (e.g., HVAC, plumbengineer-ing). This approach adds refrigeration to the traditional mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) design consultants and creates a mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and refrigeration (MEPR) team responsible to the owner and architect. In addition, it has become more prevalent for the general contractor to assume responsibility for the refrigera-tion subcontractor. To address the fragmentarefrigera-tion of the process, commission-ing seeks to provide a common thread with the purpose of creatcommission-ing high-performance refrigeration systems that meet specifications as well as mini-mize energy consumption while increasing reliability and maintainability.

PURPOSE

AND SCOPE

The purpose of this Guide is to outline a commissioning process for refrigeration systems that can be readily adopted by a wide range of owners, designers, and contractors of commercial and industrial refrigeration systems in the United States and globally. The Guide is designed to start at project conception and extend through the first year of operation. Moreover, it also establishes a basis for a continuous improvement process lasting throughout the life of the facility.

This Guide is intended to improve and supplement existing design, con-struction, and operational practices. Since most companies have successfully refined their practices to achieve on-time and on-budget projects, commis-sioning must be carefully considered and adopted such that the existing responsibilities for design, supplier compliance, and contract completion are not diminished. Table 1-1 shows the people involved in commissioning a proj-ect and describes their roles or interests in the process.

A key concept in the Guide is that the commissioning work is a process or function that entails multiple entities and individuals over the course of a proj-ect—commissioning is not simply the work of a single commissioning author-ity (CxA). The Guide is designed to be flexible and to acknowledge the varied methods of designing and contracting refrigeration work across industry seg-ments and from company to company. The Guide can be easily adopted in part or in whole, without assuming one contracting method over another. Users of the Guide will need to determine the elements that are appropriate to their projects, interests, and capabilities and define the responsibilities within avail-able company and project team resources.

This Guide does not attempt to comprehensively address system design, detailed construction specifications, construction methods, or detailed routine start-up procedures (e.g., oil and refrigerant charging methods), and it does not include safety topics.

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Table 1-1 Potential Participants in the Commissioning Process

Owner

In general, “owner” relates to “who is paying the bills” and has the greatest interest in life-cycle cost and getting value from the system. Examples include the following:

• Individual owner of business who may be very involved with project specifics, such as an independent store or specialty food manufacturer owner

• Owner not directly involved with project specifics, such as a property investment/management firm funding an expansion of a refrigerated warehouse

• Large company or chain where the owner is represented by an employee or a third-party agent

Tenant The tenant directly or indirectly pays for operating costs. Some projects are built to suit the needs

for a particular tenant based on medium- or long-term arrangements.

Engineering Team

Refrigeration design engineer(s), including the following: • Consulting refrigeration engineer

• Engineer(s) for design-build contractor • Refrigeration equipment supplier(s)

• Individual acting as Engineer of Record, as required Other engineers and disciplines, including the following:

• Thermal envelope designer, in the case of a refrigerated warehouse • Control system designer, vendor, or contractor

• Electrical engineer, related to refrigeration equipment and controls integration with other systems

Contractors

Refrigeration contractor(s), including the following:

• One contractor providing and installing refrigeration equipment and controls • A separate controls contractor

• A separate contractor for walk-ins or thermal envelope and doors

Safety and Code Consultants

Depending on the type of project, the location, and the type of equipment, additional consultants or specialists may be responsible for safety concerns and complying with safety regulations. Special concerns arise from certain system types (such as ammonia systems).

Commissioning Service

Providers

Commissioning services may be provided by the following:

• Independent third-party commissioning consultants who manage and coordinate the overall commissioning process (see the sidebar “Best Practices for a Commissioning Authority: Independence, Perspective, and Understanding” in Chapter 2 of this Guide)

• A member of the design team

• The design-build refrigeration contractor

• Technical commissioning specialists who provide third-party testing and verification to implement the technical aspects of commissioning

Operations and Maintenance Personnel

Operations and maintenance personnel are responsible for keeping the equipment operating and maintaining temperature limits. They may be in house or outside contractors and may be different after the warranty period. The operations interests for a facility can vary widely:

• Chain supermarkets often have an operations division that prefers a standardized view of refrigeration focused on reliability, maintainability, and energy performance.

• An industrial project may require close coordination by plant operators, maintenance personnel, and production staff, particularly on an existing facility expansion.

• For a new facility, the on-site operations staff may be involved late in the process, only as they are hired or assigned to the location.

Energy and Sustainability Consultants

Various parties may be involved with energy efficiency and sustainability, including the following: • Corporate departments measuring facility performance with metrics such as energy, water, and

sustainability

• Energy efficiency consultant engaged by owner

• Utility and related program consultants for incentives and design assistance programs • Labeling and certification program consultants (e.g., bEQ, LEED®, Green Globes, ENERGY

STAR®)

Other

Projects with new or special equipment, systems, or technology may include an associated representative to assist with design integration and commissioning. An Information Technology representative may be necessary to support data communications and management of information resources required to meet commissioning objectives.

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The Guide emphasizes refrigeration systems commonly used in commer-cial and smaller industrial facilities (e.g., retail food stores, halocarbon sys-tems for warehouses, and small food facilities, etc.). While the commissioning processes outlined will also apply to commissioning of large industrial ammo-nia-based refrigeration systems and large built-up central compressor plants, specific technical procedures related to large industrial and ammonia systems are not addressed in this Guide.

The phases of commissioning described in Refrigeration Commissioning

Guide for Commercial and Industrial Systems are, in order:

1. Planning and Design

2. Construction and Installation 3. Start-Up and First-Year Operation

This Guide is intended to be used within a variety of construction and contracting arrangements, including the following:

• Design-build projects by refrigeration contractors

• Owner-designed projects installed by a refrigeration contractor • Projects designed by the owner’s consultant and installed by a

refrig-eration contractor

This Guide is expected to be used frequently by design-build contractors, who manage the commissioning process largely on the owner’s behalf and/or execute the technical procedures. While the benefit of an independent third-party perspective may not be achieved with this approach, this reflects the reality of the industry and how many commercial and industrial projects are contracted as well as the fact that a great deal of the relevant expertise resides with design-build contractors. For this reason, the Guide is designed to accommodate a “self-managed” method as well as apply to commissioning activities performed by consultants and independent third parties. Additional perspective on third-party commissioning authorities is provided in the Chap-ter 2 sidebar “Best Practices for a Commissioning Authority: Independence, Perspective, and Understanding.”

This Guide is designed to address the characteristics of typical refrigera-tion applicarefrigera-tions and systems, including the following:

• Refrigeration systems must perform (maintain temperatures) at all hours of operation, in contrast to air-conditioning systems, which may be designed to meet temperatures a certain percentage of hours. The consequences of failing to maintain temperatures are therefore more problematic in refrigeration systems than in air-conditioning systems. Thus, safety factors are a practical necessity for refrigera-tion systems, though the amount of safety factor realized by the installed equipment and systems is rarely quantitatively tested. • Refrigeration systems are custom built from components rather than

factory-assembled packages. As such, each system is unique and performance is greatly affected by component interactions and con-trol methods. Compressors and condensers are selected to meet the needs of multiple loads and multiple application conditions, with control valves and electronic control systems often selected and applied by parties different than the provider of the major compo-nents.

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• Retail chain stores and other large users commonly purchase equip-ment directly from multiple vendors to increase competition and obtain the best-in-class product for each use. Equipment may be specified and purchased under blanket bidding/purchase agreements. • The owner (or engineer) often defines the manufacturer and the type of operating controls energy management system (EMS) that will be included with the equipment from one or more OEMs and installed by one or more contractors and then addressed by another controls contractor to include HVAC and lighting. This increases the integra-tion challenges and can contribute to uncertain responsibilities and a lack of coordination between system design features, control system capability, and programming.

As previously stated, this Guide is intended to address the needs of all custom-designed refrigeration systems, including those for industrial applica-tions, retail food stores, and other commercial applications. However, retail food stores provided the largest source of examples concerning design, con-struction, and facility operations, and the examples vary by business size (including national chains, independent chains, and individually owned stores), responsibility for design and design methods, contracting choices, and type of maintenance operations. Historically a large portion of refrigeration design in this sector has been provided by manufacturers and design-build contractors, along with a smaller portion of owner-designed and consultant-designed refrigeration and HVAC systems. Plus, supermarkets are remodeled and expanded over the life of the facility, providing multiple opportunities to realize benefits from commissioning. Using examples from this wide range of industry characteristics has resulted in a Guide that is expected to be adaptable to other industrial and commercial refrigeration applications.

Because commissioning is undertaken to achieve a project that meets owner expectations, this Guide is designed on the assumption that the owner (or owner’s representative) will provide the assignment, directions, and over-all impetus for commissioning. Commissioning will be most successful when all project participants fully understand the commissioning process and take initiative and action in their areas of responsibility and expertise.

There are two major aspects of the Guide: the commissioning process and the technical procedures used in commissioning. The process could be consid-ered the “business of commissioning” while the procedures are the “nuts and bolts” (i.e., how to commission).

In some cases, these constructs may overlap or not be perfectly separated. Users of the Guide may choose to draw the line between the process and tech-nical procedures in a manner that best suits their businesses and facility designs and construction methods. This Guide provides examples of only the most common technical procedures; individual Commissioning Plans should include the identification and development of project-specific technical proce-dures to ensure effective component- and system-level commissioning.

HOW TO USE

THIS GUIDE

Refrigeration Commissioning Guide for Commercial and Industrial Sys-tems traces the development of refrigeration sysSys-tems from concept through

design, construction, and start-up. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 cover the phases of commissioning: Planning and Design, Construction and Installation, and

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Start-Up and First-Year Operation. Each chapter includes a flowchart with steps outlined that users can follow to ensure that the end result will meet the expectations of the owner as well as a roles and responsibilities table that breaks out the possible interested parties and their involvement in the commis-sioning process. Sidebars are dispersed throughout the Guide to offer real-world examples to strengthen points and provide additional ideas and insights. The appendices provide resources for viewing the roles and responsibilities of people involved in commissioning for all phases in one table (Appendix A), an example Commissioning Plan (Appendix B), an example acceptance plan (Appendix C), and technical procedures that describe activities that may be conducted when commissioning refrigeration systems (Appendix D). Also included is a glossary of terms commonly used in refrigeration commission-ing practice.

During the development of this Guide there was much discussion regard-ing the need for consistent terminology within the refrigeration industry, and the committee spent some time coming to a consensus on the terminology and acronyms used in this Guide. Though there is no separate acronyms section included, the acronyms are indicated throughout the text when the terms are used and they are included in the glossary entries.

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2 Commissioning during

Planning and Design

INTRODUCTION

Objectives

The core objective of commissioning during planning and design is to

ensure that a project is designed to be “commissionable.” Starting the com-missioning process in this phase helps to establish a framework by which commissioning is embedded in the project from the beginning. Specifically, it ensures that the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) are the foundation of the project and that all subsequent phases of the project are based on this well-defined set of requirements. This chapter describes the key documents devel-oped and activities undertaken in this phase to help ensure the project achieves the goals defined in the OPR and to facilitate commissioning of the project.

Process

The main commissioning activities during the Planning and Design Phase

are the development or compilation of several key documents: the OPR, the Basis of Design (BoD), and construction documents (CDs). The Commission-ing Plan is developed and refined concurrent with development of these docu-ments. As explained in ASHRAE Guideline 0 (2005), the OPR describes what the owner’s requirements are for the project, the CDs show how the require-ments are tangibly met, and the BoD ties the two together.

Although these documents are developed during the Planning and Design Phase, they must be revisited and revised as needed throughout the project. For example, if a requirement in the OPR cannot be met, the designer must specify why in the BoD, detail what was done instead, and seek approval from the owner to have the OPR revised. In this regard, the OPR, BoD, and CDs, along with the Commissioning Plan, will be living documents throughout the life of the project. As the project progresses and new team members become involved in the project, these foundational documents must be made available and presented with clear expectations so that everyone involved may be held accountable.

As much as possible, the procedures, documents, guidelines, and forms to be used during the construction, start-up, and first-year commissioning activi-ties should be identified during the project design, realizing that some details may change based on final design, equipment, and vendor selections. An

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important step during planning and design is to define the details and costs associated with making the facility commissionable and to include informa-tion to define expectainforma-tions and form a basis of comparison. Examples of com-missionable items include pressure taps, flowmeters, specifications for data logging and history capacity, etc. These are often relatively minor costs when included in the initial design but can be physically impossible or difficult from a budget standpoint to add after a project is designed and under construction.

Figure 2-1 details activities related to commissioning during the Planning and Design Phase and the order in which they should ideally occur. Activities may vary depending on the nature of the project.

Defining the Scope

of Commissioning

for a Specific

Project

The scope of commissioning for a specific project must be defined at the outset of the project by the owner, with involvement of the initial design team and other stakeholders. The owner and executives of the key parties set the tone for commissioning: defining expectations, gaining understanding, and providing the support necessary for success. Defining the commissioning scope includes describing the roles, responsibilities, technical considerations, and processes necessary to achieve the functional and performance goals of the project. Design team members, the owner or owner’s representatives, con-tractors (in the case of a design-build project), and others involved in planning and design are typically all involved in defining the expectations of facility performance and/or how the facility and systems will be commissioned.

Expectations and budgets go hand in hand. Particularly when the commis-sioning process is new, upper-level management support is essential to help define how commissioning fits into the business process, how financial value will be determined, and how sufficient budgets and manpower support will be allocated. The nature and extent of the commissioning to be performed as well as the expectations that define success must be decided and clearly stated.

The areas of design, specification, equipment, construction, and perfor-mance that affect commissioning or are affected by commissioning should be decided on in order to define responsibility and involvement. Table 2-1 pro-vides an example means of defining scope and involvement.

Roles and

Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of all entities directly or indirectly involved in the commissioning process should be established as part of the Commis-sioning Plan. Key roles in the commisCommis-sioning process include, but are not lim-ited to, the following:

• Owner: The entity who owns the building and the project. The owner may assign a representative to perform commissioning tasks and be responsible for core project parameters such as budget, schedule, and other project-specific restrictions and limitations—typically this per-son is the owner’s project manager (PM). The owner may set very detailed and specific project requirements or, as in the case of a design-build project, leave more of the means and methods up to the manufacturers and contractors.

• Commissioning Authority (CxA): The entity managing the commis-sioning process. The CxA may be a subcontractor to the designer or an independent contractor but should be independent of the design team so as not to pose a conflict of interest.

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Figure 2-1 Planning and Design Commissioning Flowchart

• Refrigeration Designer: The entity designing the refrigeration sys-tem. Depending on the applicable state and local codes, the refriger-ation designer may be a licensed, professional Engineer of Record. Depending on the owner or specific project, the refrigeration designer could be an employee of the owner, a consultant to the owner, or an employee of the contractor, such as in a design-build project.

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Table 2-1 Example Scope Definition Document

Design Topic Example Details

Standard Documents

List of standard references and materials used for facility design (e.g., equipment lists, details, specifications) that are to be employed as part of the basis for overall project design. Site-Specific

Documents

List of site-specific development documents (e.g., surveys, planning reports) that are to be employed as part of the basis for overall project design.

Design and Contracting Summary

Definition of intended responsibility for design and construction, including as applicable design professionals, project managers (PMs), consultants, contractors, and how these will be selected at each phase of the project.

Design and Selection Criteria

Ambient conditions, codes and standards, criteria for system options (air vs. water, refrigerants, direct vs. indirect, etc.), guidelines for future capacity and functional flexibility, and tenant requirements.

Design Options Options to be developed for owner consideration and required analysis (e.g., first cost, energy analysis, life-cycle calculations). Operational

Requirements

Temperature requirements in spaces and for equipment,

operational hours, traffic peak and hourly assumptions, pull-down loads, and product definitions.

Economic Considerations

Facility life expectancy, incremental payback requirement, and budgets.

Load Calculations

Definition of responsibility for load calculations, tools to be used (e.g., peak design or modeling), and parameters required for subsequent commissioning.

System Design Standard product specifications, acceptable manufacturers and product configurations.

HVAC/Mechanical Integration

Coordination of space conditions, methods of heat recovery, and requirements for performance measurement and commissioning.

Control System Integration

Network design, integration with other systems, standard vendors or functional requirements, and functional definitions—where responsibilities, required level of detail, and sensor and data requirements must be adequately defined to support the commissioning process during system troubleshooting. Refrigeration Commissioning Guide for Commercial and Industrial Systems

• Refrigeration Contractor/Installer: The entity hired to install the refrigeration system or certain aspects thereof.

• Refrigeration Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM): Manufac-turer of the refrigeration equipment, e.g., refrigerated cases, com-pressor racks, condensers, etc.

• Other Contractors/Specialists: Other entities hired either directly by the owner or as subcontractors to the designer who are responsible for certain aspects of the refrigeration system or its supporting ele-ments (e.g., a control system contractor).

• Building Service, Operations, and Maintenance Staff: People who will occupy, operate, and support the refrigeration system and the building itself throughout the life of the system.

Table 2-2 shows an example of commissioning roles and responsibilities during the Planning and Design Phase. This table is an example for a project

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Table 2-2 Example of Roles and Responsibilities Matrix

in the Planning and Design Phase for an Owner-Specified Project

Role Responsibilities in the Planning and Design Phase

Owner or Owner’s Representative

• Provide OPR, site information, financial information, and product/equipment specifications.

• If desired, undertake cost/benefit analysis of energy-saving features.

• Provide direction on the extent of required commissioning to be reflected in the OPR and Commissioning Plan. • Review and approve BoD, Commissioning Plan, CDs, and

sequence of operations (SoO) and accept deliverables. • Identify which technical procedures must be performed as

part of the commissioning process.

Commissioning Authority (CxA)

• Lead development of Commissioning Plan.

• Review OPR, BoD, CDs, SoO, and product/equipment specifications.

• Work with owner to identify technical procedures that are relevant to the project.

Refrigeration Designer (Engineer of Record)

• Develop the BoD, CDs, and SoO.

• Review product/equipment specifications and modify as needed.

• Provide input on cost/benefit analysis of energy-saving features, Commissioning Plan, and systems manual. Refrigeration

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)

• Provide input on cost/benefit analysis of energy-saving features.

Control System Contractor

• Provide input on cost/benefit analysis of energy-saving features.

Facility Operations and

Maintenance Staff • Provide input on site information, OPR, and BoD.

that is largely owner specified, with the owner providing many of the system specifications to the refrigeration designer and contractors (as opposed to a design-build project, where the owner may provide minimal detail in the requirements). An example of a full roles and responsibilities matrix for all phases in one table is provided in Appendix A.

FORMING THE

COMMISSIONING

TEAM

The formation of the Commissioning Team is the first step in successfully executing the commissioning process in the Planning and Design Phase. It is crucial for the owner to have appointed a CxA prior to the development of any project documents or requirements. The CxA can also help the owner decide what other entities are required to make up a complete Commissioning Team and also solicit the appropriate input from the team and the owner to generate project documents.

Since the activities of the CxA ideally extend from initial design through the first year of operation, the owner must contract for these services, whether from one entity or several, separate from the construction contracts. The means of contracting for CxA services will vary based on the practice fol-lowed by each owner, but a clear delineation of the CxA’s role, responsibili-ties, and authority is essential. Moreover, the CxA’s activities must be coordinated with the commissioning-related work to be carried out by vendors

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and contractors as defined in the CDs. As detailed in Annex L of ASHRAE Guideline 0 (2005), the CxA’s role must be considered and refined for each project to suit the owner’s business practices as well as project-specific neces-sities and constraints.

In this Guide it is not assumed that there will be one CxA throughout the entire project. While a single CxA entity is suggested as the best practice model, the industry requires time and experience for these skills and capabili-ties to develop and be offered by engineering practitioners and service provid-ers. For some companies (e.g., multifacility operations), other methods may be more consistent with their business practices.

Contracting for

CxA Services

The CxA’s role and responsibilities can be defined in a CxA specification or in a project-specific request for proposal (RFP) describing the tasks the CxA will perform at each phase of the project. Annex E of ASHRAE Guide-line 0 (2005) provides an example format that can be used to define responsi-bilities and request proposals for CxA services.

Depending on the content of the project documents, the commissioning services may be engaged using one of the following methods:

• Solicit proposals from prospective third-party CxAs. ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMISSIONING AUTHORITY

The text included in this sidebar is an excerpt from Annex L of ASHRAE Guideline 0 (2005). This annex provides an example of how to implement part of Guideline 0; it is not intended to be a comprehensive representation or a best practice example.

2. THE COMMISSIONING AUTHORITY (CxA) 2.1 The primary role of the CxA is to verify achievement of the OPR throughout the project, from Pre-Design Phase through Occupancy and Opera-tions Phase. The Owner should perform this role.

2.2 When the Owner cannot perform the CxA duties with qualified personnel, then the CxA should have a separate professional services agree-ment with the Owner, as this avoids conflicts of interest and provides independence from the other parties (the Owner’s project manager, designers of record, construction managers, suppliers, and con-struction contractors). This professional services agreement defines the duties, rights, and responsi-bilities of the CxA for each phase of the project. This separate relationship allows the CxA to act independently as director of Commissioning Pro-cess activities, to focus on achieving the OPR, and to communicate directly with the Owner.

2.3 The CxA is a group of personnel with expertise and experience in the design, construction, and operations of the various systems and

assem-blies included in the project. These personnel are led by an individual who has expertise and experi-ence in successfully implementing the Commission-ing Process.

2.4 If the CxA is an employee, associate, or partner of the same organization as the designer of record or construction management firm, there is a conflict of interest. While not a recommended approach, in these instances the CxA must have a separate professional services agreement, be organi-zationally separate from the design team or con-struction management team, and define and manage the conflicts of interest to provide the Owner with the independence required for the Commissioning Process to be successful.

2.5 The CxA does not perform testing; it directs the process and directs the recording of the results. The CxA plans, schedules, and supervises Commis-sioning Process activities to verify achievement of the OPR. The Contractor completes construction checklists, performs tests, and accomplishes other Commissioning Process activities.

Chapter2.fm Page 14 Wednesday, December 4, 2013 10:06 AM

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• Include commissioning responsibilities in the refrigeration contrac-tor’s scope of work.

• Usee the owner’s predetermined internal commissioning resources. • Use a prenegotiated third-party CxA.

Specifying

Commissioning

Activities

The construction contract documents should include the commissioning process activities the contractors are expected to perform during the construc-tion work and through their warranty period. The contract specificaconstruc-tions should describe the CxA’s role in each area of responsibly to avoid duplication of effort and cost and to maintain intended responsibilities. Other sources, such as the Commissioning Plan or the technical procedures, which become part of the CDs (described in more detail later in this chapter), may also be leveraged to help define and delineate the CxA and contractors’ scopes of work. Additional information on project bidding and contract placement is outlined in Chapter 3.

DEVELOPING

THE OWNER’S

PROJECT

REQUIREMENTS

(OPR)

The commissioning process for any system must begin by defining the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR). As per ASHRAE Guideline 0, “the Owner’s Project Requirements form the basis from which all design, con-struction, acceptance, and operational decisions are made. An effective Com-missioning Process depends upon a clear, concise, and comprehensive BEST PRACTICES FOR A COMMISSIONING AUTHORITY:

INDEPENDENCE, PERSPECTIVE, AND UNDERSTANDING

Commissioning is best achieved when the commissioning authority (CxA) is an independent and impartial third-party entity with the technical skills and process experience to achieve the commissioning objectives while creating value through coordination with all project participants.

The greatest independence is achieved when the CxA is not involved in the project design, construction, or ongoing maintenance and operations. This way, not only is the CxA able to bring a fresh perspective to the project but the responsibility for managing the commissioning scope, content, and deadlines is more clearly defined.

Being realistic about the “starting point.” At the present time, given both the very limited

use of commissioning for commercial and industrial refrigeration systems and the common prac-tice of design-build construction for many commercial and industrial projects, it remains to be seen if and when qualified service providers (who are independent and unrelated to the project) will be available to provide refrigeration commissioning. Most importantly, and the biggest chal-lenge, is that this is a highly technical undertaking. Although the CxA is not the design engineer, the nature of refrigeration commissioning requires that the CxA be highly skilled and experienced in refrigeration system and control technologies in order to work with designers, contractors, ven-dors, and the maintenance team.

If the work of the CxA is performed by the project engineer, project contractor, or design-build contractor, the commissioning work should be performed by a separate department and staff within that person’s organization. The CxA should not report to the person responsible for the project design, the construction work, or the start-up team. Achieving the desired independence and impartiality will be largely dependent on how the firm is organized and manages their com-missioning business.

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Owner’s Project Requirements document. It includes information to help the project team to properly plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain sys-tems and assemblies” (ASHRAE 2005, p. 6).

The CxA facilitates the development of the OPR, and in order to success-fully develop an effective OPR, the Commissioning Team must be engaged in the process—including the owner or owner’s representative, who is responsi-ble for core project parameters (budget, schedule, etc.). It is also recom-mended that the building operators, facility managers, store directors, and maintenance personnel be involved in the OPR development. Many times these individuals have valuable insight into the actual operation of the system and facility and can help point out issues that can be addressed during design by influencing the OPR. For example, a supermarket store manager may know from experience that the capacity of the typical ice flaker used may not pro-duce enough ice for the type of service fish cases that are planned to be installed in the store. The OPR could then require the designer to address this particular capacity issue.

Depending on the owner, a technical representative (often a mechanical engineer or other technical individual employed by the owner) may be avail-able to represent the owner’s internal goals and directives. For example, the owner’s project manager (PM) may know that certain refrigerants exhibit a global warming potential (GWP) and that it is the goal of their company to reduce their environmental impact by reducing the GWP of their refrigeration systems; however, this person may not personally know what strategies to employ to best deal with the issue. The owner’s technical representative, therefore, would set requirements in the OPR such as what refrigerant should be used, what type of system it should be used in, what charge minimization strategies should be used, what leak prevention efforts should be made, and how the commissioning process will validate the company’s overall environ-mental strategy. If an internal technical representative does not exist, the owner may rely on the CxA to help effectively communicate the requirements in the OPR. (Refer to the “Roles and Responsibilities” section of this chapter for more detailed information on how the various team members can contrib-ute to the development of the OPR.)

Other examples of key items that should be contained in the OPR are dis-cussed in the following sections. Many of the requirements can be considered project specific; however, many of them reflect owner-specific requirements that may not change from project to project, such as the additional require-ment of quality for materials and construction. It is important to leverage pre-established owner requirements that may already exist in the form of equip-ment and installation specifications, owner-developed design and installation guides, or even CD criteria sets. Many owners use these types of documents as a platform to administer their internal goals and directives in a consistent manner, so simply referencing these documents in the OPR can be an effective way of including the requirements they contain.

Key Items to

Include in the OPR

Project Budget

and Schedule

Sufficient detail should be included to document the project budget and schedule so that the entire project team knows the limitations. Depending on

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the type of system to be installed, sufficient budget and time must be allocated to allow for proper design, installation, start-up, and commissioning. Since many refrigeration systems are custom built for the application, input from the designer and/or manufacturer may be necessary to accurately adjust the bud-get and schedule on a project-by-project basis.

CONDENSER STACK ATTACK—A CASE STUDY

Background: Many grocery stores are built fairly close to residential areas and have to

address noise issues in order to be good neighbors. Some cities have noise ordinances with spe-cific requirements to keep equipment noise below the established threshold during evening/night-time hours. Various design solutions may be employed to accommodate these noise abatement requirements.

Problem: One design resolution to accommodate noise issues is the “stack attack” option

shown in the figure. In this design, condenser fan stacks are installed on top of the condensing equipment. Unfortunately, this particular design solution creates service issues and increases costs associated with changing out the condenser fan motors. It is unlikely that these issues will be real-ized until problems arise associated with condenser fan motor failures (e.g., high head pressures). When that occurs, it is likely that a crane will be required to safely lift the stacks so the condenser fan motors can be replaced and to reset the stacks onto the condenser when the work is completed. The need for a crane greatly increases the both the costs and time required for what should be rou-tine maintenance. In this particular case study, the cost was increased by $5000 for local crane fees and the replacement took all day.

Lessons Learned: Reviewing the OPR and BoD early in this project should have enabled the identification of alternate design options to meet site noise abatement requirements that do not create costly service situations. This design solution created a very expensive service challenge and an unsafe maintenance process. In addition, once installation is complete, retrofitting this type of situation can be expensive, and the process of reviewing information and evaluating sup-porting systems may impact the operation of the store.

Photograph courtesy of NREL; credit John de la Rosa

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Commissioning

Process Scope

and Budget

Identifying the equipment, components, and systems to be commissioned and assigning a budget to carry out the commissioning tasks is essential. Depending on the size of the scope and budget, commissioning could be focused on just the control and operation of the equipment in the compressor room, or it could also include condensers, evaporators, piping systems, pumps, peripheral controls, etc.

Technical

Procedures

All technical procedures that will be conducted for commissioning, as specified in the Commissioning Plan (see the section “Developing the Com-missioning Plan” in this chapter), must be reviewed, and the CxA must ensure that any information or data necessary for fulfilling a given technical proce-dure is included in the OPR.

Submittal

Requirements

Specify how the submittals will be coordinated, reviewed, and approved and who will be responsible for these functions.

Project

Documentation

Requirements

With input from the owner’s technical representative and the CxA, specify what documentation will be required for effective commissioning, who will be responsible for providing it, and in what format it should be provided. Depend-ing on the nature of the facility and the owner’s preference, the documentation may include only refrigeration-related content or may address all aspects of the facility. Additionally, the owner should specify a method for retaining, storing, and/or displaying these documents in order to preserve them for the life of the system and to allow for updating as changes, additions, and improvements are made to the documents or the facility itself (see Figure 2-2).

Photographs courtesy of NREL; credit John de la Rosa

Figure 2-2 Examples of Displayed Project Documentation

As a best practice, documentation retention should include, at a minimum, the following:

• Owner’s Project Requirements • Basis of Design documents • Issues log

• Construction record documents, specifications, approved submittals, and the construction checklist

• Control requirements

Ashrae Refcx Guide

Industrial

Systems

Refrigeration

Commissioning

for

Commercial

and

Guide

The Essential Guide for Commissioning Refrigeration Systems

The first of its kind, Refrigeration Commissioning Guide for Commercial and Industrial

Systems provides guidance to owners and managers of commercial and industrial

facilities that use refrigeration systems to help ensure that project requirements are

met and owners’ expectations are achieved. For commercial facility owners and

managers, this means improved profitability through lower operating and service

costs as well as reduced product loss.

Because deficiencies in system design found at start-up are not easily resolved,

maintenance managers or operators may deal with unnecessary shortcomings

and expenses over the life of the facility. Commissioning helps project teams avoid

these “surprises” by establishing a consistent, stepwise process that helps “get it

right the first time.” The commissioning process starts with the initial planning and

design and continues through construction, installation, start-up, and the first year

of system operation. Commissioning also sets the stage for ongoing servicing and

maintenance of performance. The result is refrigeration systems that are easier and

less expensive to install and maintain, with lower energy costs, minimized liabilities

from refrigeration system leaks, and reduced loss of refrigerated product due to

system failures or unreliable performance.

Using this Guide will help achieve cost-effective and cost-efficient refrigeration systems

for new projects, expansions, remodels, and existing systems that simply need a tune-up.

ASHRAE

1791 Tullie Circle

Atlanta, GA 30329-2305

404-636-8400 (worldwide)

Refrigeration Commissioning Guide for Commercial and Industrial Systems

Posted originally, 12/5/13

Refrigeration Commissioning Guide

Cognizant Committee:

Refrigeration Committee

Refrigeration Commissioning Guide

Project Committee

Richard Royal—Chair

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Bryan Beitler

Source Refrigeration and HVAC

Doug Scott

VaCom Technologies

Jon Edmonds

Edmonds Engineering Co.

Scott Smith

Hillphoenix

Timothy Gwyn

DC Engineering, PC

Paul Torcellini

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Larry Meeker

Target

Robert Uhl

Safeway, Inc.

Scott Moore

PECI

Jim Vannan

Winn-Dixie

Caleb Nelson

CTA

Lilas Pratt

ASHRAE Staff Liaison

Bert Etheredge

ASHRAE Staff Support

Refrigeration Commissioning Guide

for Commercial and Industrial Systems

1791 Tullie Circle, NE

Atlanta, GA 30329

www.ashrae.org

Contents

Preface

The Business Case

for Commissioning:

A Message to Owners

Acknowledgments

1