Building Enclosure Commissioning: Past, Present, and Future

Though the practice of Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx) is still in its early stages (only a few institutional projects prior to 2006), there is an important history to understand and analyze so that we can better predict the future of this practice area. Following the path of Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Commissioning (MEPCx), BECx has begun to define its own identity and is developing into a practice area and profession. As with any new practice area in the construction industry, there are many challenges and significant industry confusion surrounding BECx. This paper explores several of the critical topics that are shaping BECx by studying the past, acknowledging the present and working toward predicting the future. Specifically, this paper discusses the new versus existing building commissioning, the impact the commissioning process has on project schedules, the evolution into commissioning sub disciplines, certification versus accreditation and the next frontier of building enclosure performance verification.

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