We act on behalf of owners as an Owner’s Representative to protect the owner’s interests during a construction project. This can be as a Commissioning Agent working on behalf of the owner from inception of a project through completion in accordance with ASHRAE Guideline 0, or for portions of a project, such as the construction phase.
We bring our team of construction specialists, architects, engineers, and for remediation or brownfield projects, industrial hygienists and environmental specialists to provide the needed services. For typical projects, examples of the services we provide include the following:
- Project Initiation: At the start of the project we can define the goals of a project in terms of the metrics that describe compliance with the requirements of associated quality standards and guidelines. For example, rain resistance of windows, strength of concrete, and moisture content of concrete that is required before installation of drywall or floor finishes; and documents such as a program of spaces, project schedule, and budget for the project are established.
- Project Development: During development of design and contract documents, we provide peer review and guidance to the design professional responsible for this work. This may include peer review of waterproofing details, consultation on materials such as air barriers, vapor retarders, sealants, flashings, etc., and their use.
- Bidding or Negotiation: We are able to manage the bidding or negotiation phase of the project on behalf of an owner.
- Construction Phase Services: During the construction phase there are a number of services that we offer:
- Construction administration: Handling the paperwork generated by a project, including processing of submittals, payment requests and change orders. This can include construction accounting for the project.
- On-site Project Representative: An individual, or individuals, who observe construction to assure that it complies with the contract documents, and coordinates between the contractor and design professionals.
- Submittal Review: We review the materials and equipment proposed for the work, and installation requirements. Typically, this is an additional technical review in addition to the design professionals review. in this role, our building scientists and engineers, act as peer reviewers and consultants to the design professional and contractor.
- Pre-Construction Meeting: At the start of specific construction activities, for example installation of an air barrier membrane, we convene a meeting of all involved parties including the manufacturer’s technical representative, installer, subcontractor, general contractor, and the design professional. Technical issues regarding the installation of the system are resolved, with the guidance of our building sciences staff. Decisions made at the preconstruction meeting are memorialized in a submittal including materials, detailed installation instructions, and details. These are reviewed and approved by our building sciences staff before being submitted for review by the design professionals.
- Construction Testing: We perform on-site testing, for example moisture testing of concrete to determine if it is dry enough, in accordance with the metrics established in the Project Initiation phase, for installation of drywall or flooring. Records of testing are maintained and provided to the owner at the end of the project.
- Compliance Testing: We perform testing of materials and installations to determine if they meet the criteria set forth in the Project Initiation phase. Examples of this are paint adhesion tests, water testing of windows, and adhesion/cohesion testing of sealants.
- Post Construction Commissioning: At the completion of construction, we perform the testing to verify that standards and the metrics developed in the Project Initiation Phase have been met. This may include things like: measurement of air flows and ventilation, VOC levels, humidity control, noise measurements, and illumination measurements. Operation of equipment is tested, and facility personnel are trained in proper operation and maintenance. During this process we develop what is essentially an “Owner’s Manual” for the facility and all of its components and equipment. This includes all manuals and material data sheets, and a preventative maintenance schedule. If desired, the “Owner’s Manual” can be provided in the form of a computer database, or can be implemented with a facility management program.
For more specialized projects, such as environmental remediation projects, and brownfield rehabilitations projects, we offer a variety of specialized services that are described elsewhere on this web site.