The Only HVAC Commissioning Checklist You Need

Need an HVAC Commissioning Checklist? You’re in the right place. Commissioning a new or repaired heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is critical for a successful system startup. Using an HVAC Commissioning Checklist to complete your pre-start inspection is not only a wise idea; it’s a necessity. To avoid poor quality inspections, we’ve put together this checklist to help you and your team ensure that your HVAC system is set up right – the first time!

An HVAC Commissioning Checklist helps inspectors certify that new or repaired HVAC systems are up to specifications before official equipment startup. Using this checklist will help you maintain uniform system startup inspection procedures and collection of data.

We’re going to take a look at a typical HVAC inspection process for commissioning. The universal format of our checklist ensures that the HVAC Commissioning Checklist is appropriate for any sized installation. We’ll also review some clever tips and tricks to managing inspection processes more efficiently at your facility, so stick around to see how you can save time and money working your inspections more intelligently and with fewer headaches.

Included in the HVAC Commissioning Checklist

The HVAC Commissioning Checklist we’ve put together for you is so robust that it requires two pages. That’s why this is the only HVAC Commissioning Checklist you’ll ever need. Here’s a breakdown of what sections you can expect.

Page One:

  • Administrative – This section allows the inspector to document vital information regarding the project. This information provides for document organization and easy retrieval at a later date.
  • Programmable Thermostats – The first section of the HVAC Commissioning Checklist concerns the control systems, namely the programmable smart thermostats often employed in modern applications.
  • Air-Cooled Condensers – A vital aspect of the HVAC system and essential to inspect during the commissioning process, the air-cooled condensers maintain their status as the second inspection topic for an un-commissioned HVAC system.
  • Variable Air Volume Terminals – This section concerns air volume terminal inspection. The VAV system should be appropriately ducted and adequately verified control functions.
  • System Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing – This section primarily concerns terminal maximum and minimum air flows.

Page Two:

  • Variable Air Volume Handling Unit Installation – This section is more extensive, covering items such as water line installation, coil air vents, insulation, and much more.
  • Heat Recovery Unit – The last check portion of the HVAC Commissioning Checklist is the inspection documentation area concerned with the heat recovery unit.
  • Commissioning Notes and Sign-Off – Further inspection notes and signatures for the inspector, installer, and contractor are included in the final notes and sign-off section on page two of the document.

How to Use the HVAC Commissioning Checklist

How to Use the HVAC Commissioning Checklist explained at 1stReporting.com
Documenting HVAC inspections is easy with 1st Reporting.

Using the template we’ve provided is simple. First, download the template. Next, you will want to print a copy or two of the checklist so you can familiarize yourself with its workings. However, before printing too many copies, consider whether or not it would be feasible to have your inspector use a smart device (smartphone, tablet, laptop) to complete the inspection rather than using a paper document.

You can find out more about our digital reporting solutions here.

There are typically three phases to commissioning an HVAC installation. First is the design phase. During this phase, the initial qualifications of the commissioning process take form. Creating a system design allows for simultaneous system specification creation. These specifications will lay the groundwork for the commissioning inspection.

The second phase of commissioning is the construction phase. This phase allows the inspector to pre-assess several aspects of the system, partially completing commissioning procedures.

The third phase of commissioning is the post-installation/pre-operation inspection. Several aspects of the system have been individually tested and documented at this phase. However, the entire system requires functional/operational testing and documentation to complete a thorough commissioning process.

The system’s occupancy expectations and specifications must be tested and documented at this final commissioning stage.

4 Tips For Better Commissioning Inspection Management

  1. Pre-planning is crucial to the success of any inspection project, but especially so with commissioning inspections. Before you begin your assessment, take some time to develop a plan of action. It will help you to avoid missing critical steps in the inspection process.
  2. Be sure to allow enough time for the inspection. Rushing through the process will only lead to mistakes. Therefore, watch how much you push your inspectors to meet particular deadlines.
  3. Be sure to keep good records of all inspections. It will come in handy if there are ever any questions or issues that arise in the future. The last thing you need if there is the problem is to find out that vital paperwork is missing.
  4. Make use of technology to streamline the inspection process. Many great apps and software programs help you manage your inspection more efficiently. Let’s take a look at one in particular – 1st Reporting. It’s a robust, customizable mobile form application that helps streamline many aspects of the inspection process using the latest automated technologies.

Make the Most of Technology – Go Digital With Your Entire Inspection Process

Make the Most of Technology - Go Digital With Your Entire Inspection Process with 1stReporting.com
An HVAC technician takes advantage of the ease of 1st Reporting software.

Why waste time and money printing forms, storing them in filing cabinets and hoping your inspectors completed the paperwork correctly. Filing cabinets take up valuable floor space, paper costs the lives of trees, printing and ink costs keep rising, and those paper documents can’t precisely find trends in themselves, can they?

What if we told you that you could have your team complete their inspections using only a smartphone, tablet, or laptop?

Welcome to the new world of digital reporting with the 1st Reporting app. Here are just a fraction of the features and benefits you’re going to find you’ll love.

Dynamic Automation

Imagine a printed checklist that could change the questions based on the answers provided. Yeah, like printed paper would ever have such an ability. Well, the 1st Reporting app can do just that.

You can create seamless dynamic workflows that prompt your inspectors with the right questions based on the answers they provide. Never in history has incident and inspection reporting had such an ability. Now that ability is yours to use for the most efficient reporting processes imaginable.

Customization

No two businesses are the same, and your reporting needs won’t be either. That’s why we’ve developed 1st Reporting to be fully customizable. From the app’s automated notifications to creating your own templates, checklists, and more, the 1st Reporting app has all the customization functionality your organization needs to make a successful mobile form.

Integration

Many organizations utilize platforms like Microsoft Teams environments to suit their in-house communication needs. Now, 1st Reporting can integrate with the Teams environment so you can check your reports, inspection documents, and more – right in the Teams platform.

Intelligent Summary Reporting

One of the best features of digital reporting is the ease of document retrieval and reporting. Filing cabinets require a person and manual labor to assess forms from previous inspections and incidents. Using a robust platform like 1st Reporting means you can take advantage of our team to create the perfect summary report.

These reports can help you identify key indicators and trends in incidents and inspections. Key insights provided by your custom reports allow you to manage your inspections easily. And it provides incident reporting how your organization needs it instead of wasting time and money sorting through old paper documents.

Join the globally-recognized brands that trust 1st Reporting to safeguard their organizations!