When is commissioning performed and what is its purpose?

• A. After occupancy; to evaluate owner satisfaction
• B. Near project completion; to verify systems perform as intended, meet specifications, and operate under occupancy conditions
• C. During early design; to set budget
• D. Only for cosmetic assessments

Answer: (B)

Commissioning is a quality assurance process that ensures building systems perform in line with the owner's project requirements and the design intent. It is typically performed toward the end of construction, near project completion, with tests run to verify that mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and control systems operate as designed under actual occupancy conditions. The goal is to confirm systems meet specifications, work together as an integrated whole, and that the building can be operated effectively by the owner’s team once turnover occurs. This isn’t about budgets or cosmetic issues, and it isn’t a post-occupancy evaluation of user satisfaction; it’s about proving readiness and performance before and around the time the building is occupied.