Topic: Functional Testing and Design Guides

The Functional Testing Guide: from Fundamentals to the Field provides both a practical understanding of the fundamentals, as well as field tips for functional testing. The Functional Testing Guide presents information at different levels - going from the general to the specific. Two “cross-cutting” sections (Functional Testing Basics and Integrated Operation and Control) are applicable to five system modules: air handling, chillers, condensers, boilers, and pumping.

The Functional Testing Guide allows easy access to the many functional tests collected in the Commissioning Test Protocol Library (CTPL). Since the test procedures in the CTPL include forms rather than detailed explanations, the Functional Testing Guide explains the “how” and “why” behind the functional tests in the CTPL.

Commissioning providers and building engineers are the primary audience for the Functional Testing Guide. They should already be familiar with the commissioning process, HVAC fundamentals, and the building construction industry. The information in the Functional Testing Guide will help commissioning providers to:

• Understand how to test from a systems perspective
• Identify common problems and the root causes of these problems
• Customize test procedures to meet the needs of their specific projects
• Understand why a specific test sequence is being executed
• Understand the possible outcomes and necessary precautions during testing
• Qualitatively understand the costs and benefits of testing

Current version: 2.0

About the Functional Testing Guide: Checklist Tool and Test Directory

Currently under development, the Functional Testing Checklist Tool (Checklist Tool) will streamline access to information in the Functional Testing Guide: Fundamentals to the Field (FTG). The Checklist Tool includes an abbreviated list of test goals and cautions for the various system components covered in the FTG and provides links to relevant sections of the FTG. The Test Directory categorizes each test based on the system module in which it occurs in the FT Guide.

Current versions:
Checklist Tool: 1.0
Test Directory: 1.0

About the Control System Design Guide

The Control System Design Guide (Design Guide) provides methods and recommendations for the control system design process and control point selection and installation. A good design process that takes into account maintenance, operation, and commissioning can lead to a smoothly operating and efficient building. To this end, the Design Guide provides a toolbox of templates for improving control system design and specification.

HVAC designers are the primary audience for the Design Guide. The control design process it presents will help produce well-designed control systems that achieve efficient and robust operation. The spreadsheet examples for control valve schedules, damper schedules, and points lists can streamline the use of the control system design concepts set forth in the Design Guide by providing convenient starting points from which designers can build.

Although each reader brings their own unique questions to the text, the Design Guide contains information that designers, commissioning providers, operators, and owners will find useful.

Current version: 1.0

Tips for Using the Functional Testing and Design Guides

These Guides are designed so that all links open the target document within the same browser window. If you would find it convenient to view different parts of the Guides in separate browser windows, you can:

• Start a separate instance of the Functional Testing Guide and navigate it independently.
  (Click here to do so now.)
  OR
• Click a link while holding down the Shift key.
  (Functionality may vary with browser.)
  OR
• Right-click any link and select Open in New Window.
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Note: In some browsers, these techniques may open new tabs instead of new windows