By Rusty Ross, PE, LEED AP BD+C, CxA, EMP and Clay Seckman, PE, HFDP

A health care organization constructs a world-class medical facility, taking all the right steps, setting all the right goals and allocating all the right resources. The project is designed and built, systems and components are started up and their performance validated, and system integration is coordinated and verified.

Building automation and control systems receive sequence-of-operation procedures and testing. Commissioning is executed, confirming successful overall compliance with owner requirements and objectives. Regulatory compliance is completed and certified. Operations and maintenance (O/M) staff receive basic systems training, and the facility is equipped and occupied.

And yet, somehow, within the first year of operation, the organization begins to notice faltering building performance, including high energy consumption, occupant complaints and subpar control system function.

View Article