Startup, Commissioning & Training

Whether you’re seeking commissioning services for a new building, or recommissioning or retrocommissioning for an existing structure — you want engineers who can improve indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, and water usage efficiency, all while reducing energy costs as much as possible and increasing performance. The larger your square footage, the greater potential savings can be discovered by recommissioning.

Our dedicated Performance Group fully understands all aspects of the commissioning process. They’re in the field daily, testing, and troubleshooting systems. This is a distinct advantage over other firms whose commissioning team members only intermittently oversee commissioning projects. Our experience tells us there is no substitute for measurement and testing.

We are experienced in providing LEED-building commissioning for all building systems. We have performed both fundamental and enhanced commissioning for all LEED versions, including version 4.

Our numerous LEED Commissioning projects range from LEED Certified to LEED Platinum facilities for both new construction and existing buildings.

KFI is a NEBB-certified firm for both building systems commissioning, and test and balance (TAB) for both air and hydronic systems.

KFI offers the unique combination of a control system integrator embedded in a full-service engineering firm. From a project’s conceptual stage to its final turnover, our controls engineers work in a multi-disciplinary team with our mechanical, electrical, and commissioning engineers. As a result, the control system is an integral part of the entire design, as opposed to one or more proprietary systems introduced after the design is complete.

As an independent control systems integrator, we work free from commercial relationships with vendors of equipment, hardware, or software. We can recommend and implement best-of-breed solutions tailored to each client’s needs. Our automation group staff are experts in the application of both DDC and PLC control technologies for buildings, ranging from an elementary education building to central plants serving large institutional campuses.

We can integrate the installation requirements of the control system with the main electrical and mechanical construction documents. The result is competitive pricing, a reduction in the number of subcontractors, and accelerated construction schedules. Control panels and field devices can also be competitively bid, along with other mechanical and electrical equipment needed for the project. Best pricing is assured for this major part of the project budget.

We implement nonproprietary, open architecture technologies, giving our clients a choice of service and support providers. Our goal is to earn repeat business by exceeding client expectations on every project. With that approach, we have built successful partnerships with several key clients which have now lasted over 20 years.

Recommissioning, as well as retrocommissiong services can uncover everything from equipment inefficiencies to air quality problems within existing buildings. We know how buildings should operate and often find that clients are expending excess energy on heating, cooling and lighting during off hours. We thoroughly review and verify equipment, control systems and all mechanical and electrical systems. We can also identify preventative maintenance measures that, when implemented, can save you additional energy resources and costs.

KFI is a NEBB certified firm for both building systems commissioning, and test and balance (TAB), for both air and hydronic system.

Retrocommissioning is the lowest-cost method to improve actual building performance. Some commissioning firms provide energy audits disguised as retrocommissioning projects, but these energy audits do not provide any correction or immediate benefit from the results of the study.

KFI is a NEBB-certified Test and Balance (TAB) contractor with over 40 years of test and balance experience. We can provide expert TAB services for both air and water systems for any size or any HVAC type or building. We can also provide comfort balance to improve indoor comfort when engineering flows are not known or have changed over time. We also provide yearly certification for laboratory, operating room, and isolation room test and balance.

System Assessments
KFI’s system assessments provide buildings and their technical systems with a thorough evaluation of the facility and its present condition. These assessments range from simple system reviews to complete facility cost indexing.

Energy Audits
KFI provides energy audits for the reduction in energy and water utility costs. We can perform ASHRAE level 1 or level 2 energy audits for any type of building or system. KFI performs level 3 energy audits in conjunction with our retrocommissioning services. Our team’s credentials include Certified Energy Managers, NEBB retrocommissioning, and test and balance professionals, and our past project experience provides the maximum knowledge, education, and experience in providing energy services to our clients.

KFI provides NEBB-certified building enclosure testing. Our lead BET technician is also a certified thermographer. We provide:

• A complete testing plan that describes how the building is to be tested, the testing parameters, and how the building needs to be prepared for the test.
• All required test gear, including blower doors, manometers, etc.
• Experienced certified testing technicians who perform all test parameters and report the results of the test.
• A complete report that indicates the test compliance for the specified standard and shows the associated math and log graphs of the test results to a 95% certainty of accuracy.