DPR Receives NEBB Building Systems Commissioning Certification

Never one to be satisfied with the status quo, DPR recently improved upon its building systems commissioning capabilities by seeking and receiving National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) certification in Building System Commissioning.

DPR Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) Coordinator Bill Jeffrey, who is also serving as DPR’s NEBB commissioning supervisor, completed the qualification effort requiring two days of intensive training. The training culminated in Jeffrey passing the eight-hour Building System Commissioning exam administered by the NEBB, a nonprofit organization that establishes and maintains industry standards, procedures and specifications for work in various disciplines, including building systems commissioning. To maintain the certification, DPR is required to be re-certified on an annual basis. When renewing in 2006, DPR will also pursue fire-protection certification, which is now being offered.

Seeking certification was an important, but not necessary, next step for DPR, which routinely performs commissioning services on its projects. The commissioning process involves field installation and operational verification, functional performance testing, and documentation that all systems have been provided, installed, calibrated, balanced and functionally tested as designed. A well-commissioned facility can also increase energy efficiency, improve environmental conditions and reduce maintenance costs. Therefore, commissioning has become a requirement for projects that are being designed and constructed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification. DPR’s expertise in the advanced technology, biopharmaceutical and healthcare markets, which all rely on sophisticated technology and frequently require more exact climate-controlled conditions, also made the case for DPR’s certification even stronger.

Receiving certification from the NEBB organization builds upon a strong internal commissioning program established by DPR nearly 10 years ago. This focus on commissioning has helped DPR create a process that can be adapted to specific projects. For each project, DPR provides start-up and commissioning services and tailors the commissioning plan and documents to meet the design requirements as specified, even going as far as providing training videos for the owner’s operating personnel, if requested. As such, certification is an extension of DPR’s own commissioning program, and, as described by the NEBB, is meant to serve as tangible proof of competent firms and supervisors qualified in the proper methods and procedures for building systems commissioning. Jeffrey agrees.

“DPR is one of the few builders to recognize the need to further enhance the quality control of the overall construction of the buildings by providing MEP field start-up and commissioning coordinators on their projects. By receiving and maintaining our NEBB certification, we will be able to provide our start-up and commissioning services with more credibility and better performance. We will also be able to stay current with the changes that will occur in the industry in the future,” explained Jeffrey.