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Essential/standby power equipment and system components are some of the most critical electrical systems to be commissioned in nonresidential buildings.
Learning objectives
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Know the codes and standards that govern commissioning of emergency power supply systems.
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Understand the emergency power system classifications.
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Know the documentation required throughout the commissioning process.
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Commissioning is the bridge from the design phase through construction and into occupancy. Its purpose is to ensure that building mechanical and electrical systems operate as intended per the owner's project requirements (OPR). As defined by ASHRAE Guideline 0-2013 [http://www.techstreet.com/ashrae/products/1870180], the commissioning process is the owner's "quality-oriented process for achieving, verifying, and documenting that the performance of buildings, systems, and assemblies meets defined objectives and criteria." In electrical commissioning, the goal is primarily to confirm reliability. This is in contrast to LEED commissioning as defined by the U.S. Green Building Council [http://www.usgbc.org/] (USGBC), which has been driven by, and has focused on, energy conservation.
One of the most critical electrical systems to be commissioned in nonresidential buildings is essential/standby power equipment and system components. Given their importance, the NFPA [http://www.nfpa.org/] provides specific requirements in NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC) [http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/document-information-pages?mode=code&code=70], 2013; NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities Code, 2013; [http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/document-information-pages?mode=code&code=99] and NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems, 2013 [http://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/document-information-pages?mode=code&code=110&tab=committee]. (These editions of the associated codes and standards are referenced throughout this article unless otherwise noted).
With these requirements in mind, a standard commissioning process can be developed as outlined by ASHRAE Guideline 0-2013 [http://www.techstreet.com/ashrae/products/1870180]. This allows an owner to define activities and deliverables, such as design reviews, submittal reviews, prefunctional checklists,...