Commissioning isn’t a new concept. The term actually dates back to shipbuilding; a commissioned ship is one that’s deemed ready for service. However, a ship must pass several milestones before setting sail. The equipment has to be installed and tested, problems need to be identified and corrected and the crew is extensively trained. Similar to ships, buildings undergo the same functional testing before occupancy.
While the idea of commissioning has been around for a while, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Back in the 1980s, building owners mostly viewed commissioning as a start-up process to get the air flowing and the lights going.
