Question 1

What does an Independent Commissioning Agent (ICA) actually do?

Accepted Answer

An ICA is engaged by the owner or developer, not the contractor. We set the commissioning strategy, review the design for commissionability, accept the contractor's commissioning plans and ITPs, witness a defined sample of testing, and issue an independent report that the systems perform to the Owner's Project Requirements. Because we hold no design or supply interest, that report carries weight with certifiers, financiers and operators.

Question 2

Which Green Star credits does independent commissioning contribute to?

Accepted Answer

Under Green Star Buildings, commissioning evidence supports the Responsible Construction Practices and Operational Performance pathways — typically an independent commissioning agent appointment from design stage, a documented commissioning plan aligned to CIBSE Code M or ASHRAE Guideline 0, building tuning across a minimum 12-month period, and metered performance verification. We build the credit evidence register from tender award so nothing is reconstructed at submission time.

Question 3

When should commissioning management be engaged?

Accepted Answer

At design stage — ideally alongside the services consultant before tender documents are issued. Engaging at that point lets us write commissionability into the specification, set realistic durations into the construction programme and avoid the most expensive problem in commissioning: discovering at week 40 that a system was never designed to be tested.

Question 4

What is Integrated Systems Testing and who runs it?

Accepted Answer

IST proves that independently commissioned systems behave correctly together — a fire alarm triggering smoke mode, stair pressurisation, lift homing, door release, generator changeover and BMS response as one coordinated event. PCM develops the cause-and-effect matrix, audits per-system readiness before the event, scripts and runs the scenarios, and captures witnessed results for the certifier.

Question 5

What is included in a typical commissioning scope?

Accepted Answer

A standard scope covers the commissioning management plan and programme, design-stage reviews, contractor plan and ITP acceptance, pre-functional and functional testing oversight, witnessing to an agreed sample rate, integrated systems testing, defect and non-conformance close-out, O&M and asset data review, operator training coordination, and a final commissioning report. Rating-driven projects add credit evidence and 12-month building tuning.

Question 6

How does commissioning differ for a data centre?

Accepted Answer

Data centres run a Level 1–5 regime: factory witness testing, delivery inspection, pre-functional checks, functional performance testing, then full integrated systems testing including black start, load-bank and failure-mode scenarios at design density. The critical difference is that resilience must be proven under simulated failure, not just correct operation under normal conditions.

Question 7

What happens during 12-month DLP tuning?

Accepted Answer

Through the defects liability period we run seasonal tuning cycles: BMS trend interrogation, fault detection, control strategy and setpoint optimisation, and re-verification of affected systems. Each cycle produces a report with the changes made and the measured effect, which is what NABERS commitment agreements and Green Star tuning credits require.

Question 8

Do you work outside Western Australia?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We are Perth based and deliver in every Australian state and territory, including remote and regional non-process infrastructure. Remote engagements are structured around batched witness mobilisations, with the PCM Client Portal giving the owner live readiness visibility between site visits.

Commissioning knowledge, written for the people who sign off the project.

The CIBSE Commissioning Codes, in plain English.

The CIBSE Commissioning Codes

CIBSE Code M

CIBSE Code A

CIBSE Code W

Commissioning Checklist

Green Star & NABERS

Soft Landings

Take the guides with you.

CIBSE Code M Explained

Building Commissioning Checklist

Green Star & NABERS Commissioning

Soft Landings Framework Explained

Commissioning questions we're asked at tender stage

Need this applied to your project?