ASTM E2947-21a

Standard Guide for Building Enclosure Commissioning

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This guide provides recommendations for the enclosure commissioning process from its project planning through design, construction and occupancy and operation phases. This guide is intended for various building types. Although Practice E2813 defines two levels of enclosure commissioning, fundamental and enhanced, complex buildings and Owners seeking a higher level of assurance may require more intensified enclosure commissioning than the minimum requirements described in this guide and Practice E2813.13  
5.2 The process uses performance-oriented practices and procedures to verify that the project is achieving the expectations described in the OPR and defined by the contract documents throughout the delivery of the project.  
5.3 The BECx process is recommended to begin during the pre-design phase and continues through the occupancy and operations phase. The process includes specific tasks during each project phase.  
5.4 The commissioning process is outlined in ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202. It is recommended that the reader understand the process provided in that document. This standard guide and Practice E2813 provide a specific process related to the building enclosure commissioning.  
5.5 Note that the enclosure commissioning process should not infringe upon the authority or responsibility of the Owner, the project’s designers or contractors. The CxG and BECxG can identify areas of concern relative to the OPR, which are discussed with the Owner and other stakeholders; however it is the Owner who directs the project, Cx team, and BECx team. It is recommended that the BECxP be engaged in pre-design phase to define the scope of BECx so that the Owner’s agreements with the project team (including the contractor) clearly define the scope of contracted tasks that interface with BECx process.  
5.6 BECx does not replace a traditional design/construction process but is meant to enhance and be an integral part of that process by validating the design and verifyi...
SCOPE
1.1 Purpose—This guide provides procedures, methods and documentation techniques that may be used in the application of the building enclosure commissioning (BECx) process. This guide is complementary to Practice E2813 and is aligned with ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202 and ASHRAE Guideline 0.  
1.2 Extent—The process outlined in this standard guide applies to each building delivery phase from pre-design through occupancy and operation. The specific application of this guide may vary to suit the Owner, the project delivery method and the building project as described in the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR), and as defined by the contract documents.  
1.3 Primary Focus—The primary focus of this process includes, but may not be limited to, new construction of building enclosures, existing building enclosures undergoing substantial renovation or alteration, and continuous commissioning of enclosure systems.  
1.4 Contractual and Regulatory Obligations—The methods described in this guide are not intended to supersede or otherwise replace the contractual obligations reserved specifically for the parties responsible for the design and construction of a building or structure, nor to alter the roles, responsibilities and duties that may otherwise be assigned to those parties by applicable regulatory or statutory law.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) C...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Oct-2021
• ICS: 91.010.99 - Other aspects
• ICS: 91.040.01 - Buildings in general
• ICS: 91.060.01 - Elements of buildings in general
• Technical Committee: E06 - Performance of Buildings
• Drafting Committee: E06.55 - Performance of Building Enclosures

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2947 − 21a
Standard Guide for
1
Building Enclosure Commissioning
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2947; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 Purpose—This guide provides procedures, methods and 2.1 ASTM Standards:
documentation techniques that may be used in the application E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
of the building enclosure commissioning (BECx) process.This E2813 Practice for Building Enclosure Commissioning
3
guide is complementary to Practice E2813 and is aligned with
2.2 ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Guidelines and Standards:
ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202 andASHRAE Guideline 0.
ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202 Commissioning Process
for Buildings and Systems
1.2 Extent—The process outlined in this standard guide
ASHRAE Guideline 0 The Commissioning Process
applies to each building delivery phase from pre-design
2.3 Other Publications:
through occupancy and operation. The specific application of
4
The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice
this guide may vary to suit the Owner, the project delivery
The Project Resource Manual (PRM): CSI Manual of Prac-
method and the building project as described in the Owner’s
5
tice
Project Requirements (OPR), and as defined by the contract
documents.
3. Terminology
1.3 Primary Focus—The primary focus of this process
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of general terms related to
includes, but may not be limited to, new construction of
building construction used in this guide, refer to Terminology
building enclosures, existing building enclosures undergoing
E631.
substantial renovation or alteration, and continuous commis-
3.1.1 building enclosure, n—the terms “building enclosure”
sioning of enclosure systems.
and “enclosure” refer collectively to materials, components,
1.4 Contractual and Regulatory Obligations—The methods
systems, and assemblies intended to provide shelter and
described in this guide are not intended to supersede or
environmental separation between interior and exterior or
otherwise replace the contractual obligations reserved specifi-
between two or more environmentally distinct interior spaces
cally for the parties responsible for the design and construction
in a building or structure.
of a building or structure, nor to alter the roles, responsibilities
3.1.1.1 Discussion—The building enclosure may include,
and duties that may otherwise be assigned to those parties by
but is not limited to, walls, fenestration, roofs, ceilings, and
applicable regulatory or statutory law.
floors (and the intentional openings and penetrations through
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
them).
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
6
3.1.2 Refer to the most current edition of the following:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
2
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
the ASTM website.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3
Available from American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE), 1791 Tullie Circle, NE, Atlanta, GA
30329, http://www.ashrae.org.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
4
Available fromTheAmerican Institute ofArchitects, 1735 NewYorkAve, NW,
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Washington, DC 20006-5292, https://www.aia.org.
5
Available from Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), 123 North Pitt St.,
Ste 450, Alexandria, VA 22314, https://www.csiresources.org/.
1 6
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance Selection, interpretation, application, and use of the terminology contained in
of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.55 on Perfor- these documents shall be at the sole discretion of the building enclosure commis-
mance of Building Enclosures. sioning provider (BECxP). Reconciliation of conflicts in terminology or the
C
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E2947 − 21 E2947 − 21a
Standard Guide for
1
Building Enclosure Commissioning
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2947; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 Purpose—This guide provides procedures, methods and documentation techniques that may be used in the application of the
building enclosure commissioning (BECx) process. This guide is complementary to Practice E2813 and is aligned with
ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202 and ASHRAE Guideline 0.
1.2 Extent—The process outlined in this standard guide applies to each building delivery phase from pre-design through
occupancy and operation. The specific application of this guide may vary to suit the Owner, the project delivery method and the
building project as described in the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR), and as defined by the contract documents.
1.3 Primary Focus—The primary focus of this process includes, but may not be limited to, new construction of building
enclosures, existing building enclosures undergoing substantial renovation or alteration, and continuous commissioning of
enclosure systems.
1.4 Contractual and Regulatory Obligations—The methods described in this guide are not intended to supersede or otherwise
replace the contractual obligations reserved specifically for the parties responsible for the design and construction of a building or
structure, nor to alter the roles, responsibilities and duties that may otherwise be assigned to those parties by applicable regulatory
or statutory law.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E2813 Practice for Building Enclosure Commissioning
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.55 on Performance of
Building Enclosures.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2021Oct. 15, 2021. Published March 2021December 2021. Originally approved in 2014. Last previous edition approved in 20162021
as E2947-16a. DOI: 10.1520/E2947-21. – 21. DOI: 10.1520/E2947-21A.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2947 − 21a
3
2.2 ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Guidelines and Standards:
ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202 Commissioning Process for Buildings and Systems
ASHRAE Guideline 0 The Commissioning Process
2.3 Other Publications:
4
The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice
5
The Project Resource Manual (PRM): CSI Manual of Practice
3. Terminology
6
3.1 Definitions—Refer to the most current edition of the following:
3.1.1 AIA Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice,
3.1.2 ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202, Section 3, Definitions,
3.1.3 ASHRAE Guideline 0, Section 4, Definitions,
3.1.4 ASTM E631, Terminology of Building Constructions, and
3.1.5 Project Resource Manual (PRM): CSI Manual of Practice.
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of general terms related to building construction used in this guide, refer to Terminology E631.
3.1.1 building enclosure, n—the terms “building enclosure” and “enclosure” refer collectively to materials, components, systems,
and assemblies intended to provide shelter and environmental separation between interior and exterior or between two or more
environmentally distinct interior spaces in a building or structure.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—
The building enclosur
...