The Independent Commissioning Agent was relatively unheard off until the introduction of Green Star Building Rating in Australia. The Green Star rating highlighted the importance of commissioning on new and existing developments. While design obviously plays a significant part in system operability, unless it is commissioned correctly it will not work. With the pressure on contractors to finish projects on time and in budget, there are often items missed in the push to complete projects on time. 

The Independent Commissioning Agent is a representative of the client/owner of the project. They will work with the client and the contractor and aid a line of communication between both parties to ensure the commissioning is completed properly in accordance with the design brief and the clients design requirements.

The Independent Commissioning Agent is a verification role first and foremost. It does cross over with some of the scope of work that takes place in the commissioning management role, however the commissioning management role is often associated with assisting the contractor to deliver the project.

The Green Star ICA is there to provide verification to the client and to the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) that the Building has been commissioned correctly and various criteria stipulated in the GBCA manual has been achieved. The ICA will provide evidence to the GBCA throughout the project that the criteria has been met and will work with the Green Star champion to deliver the required outcomes.

Below is some of the scope of works that are delivered as part of the clients Independent commissioning Agent:

• Creation of a commissioning specification to be included for main builder tender stage
• Commissioning reviews on building services specifications for commissioning clauses on behalf of the client

• Check design drawings for commissionability
• Review of contractors commissioning plan specific to the development stages
• Attendance and input at commissioning meetings
• Management and witnessing of off-site tests
• Review of contractors commissioning plans and functional descriptions for acceptance
• Inspections and progress reporting to client against contractors claims
• Building services systems witnessing
• Witnessing of life safety fire matrix testing
• witnessing of Integrated System Testing scripts, managing clients attendance, reporting and acceptance of the testing
• attendance at client training
• Green star report providing evidence how the GBCA Criteria has been achieved for all the ICA requirements

Asset Commissioning Management have on worked numerous ICA projects and GBCA ICA projects, we pride ourselves in delivering the best outcomes for the project and our clients.