Startup, Commissioning, & Training

Recommissioning

Recommissioning services can uncover everything from equipment inefficiencies to air quality problems. We know how buildings should operate and often find that clients are expending more for heat and lighting in off hours than necessary. We thoroughly review and verify equipment, control systems and all mechanical and electrical systems. We can also identify preventive maintenance measures that when implemented, can save you additional energy resources and costs.

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.

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

Retrocommissioning

Retrocommissioning services can uncover everything from equipment inefficiencies to air quality problems. We know how buildings should operate and often find that clients are expending more for heat and lighting in off hours than necessary. We thoroughly review and verify equipment, control systems and all mechanical and electrical systems. We can also identify preventive maintenance measures that when implemented, can save you additional energy resources and costs.

Retrocommissioning is the lowest cost method to improve actual building performance available. 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 firm for both building systems commissioning, and test and balance (TAB), for both air and hydronic systems.

NEBB Certified Test & Balance

KFI is a NEBB certified 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 & balance.

NEBB Certified Building Enclosure Testing

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 which indicates the test compliance to the specified standard and shows the associated math and log graphs of the test results to a 95% certainty of accuracy.

Whole Building Pressure Testing
KFI will assist the design professional or the owner in developing the test specification and test parameters to adhere to ASTM E779, ASTM E1827 or the Army Core of Engineers Building Pressure testing guideline.

Water Intrusion Testing
Water intrusion testing is used to test the building transition areas between walls, doors and windows for water intrusion. The process sprays a calibrated stream of water on the exterior of the area while the building is kept at a negative pressure of 50 Pa.

Thermal Barrier Testing
Thermal imaging is used to verify the presence of air leaks, the effectiveness of the insulation barrier or the presence of water intrusion.

Roof Leakage Testing
Roof leak testing utilizes thermal and conductance leak tests.

Functional Testing
Functional testing of automated enclosure systems, automatic doors and windows and automatic ventilation systems.

Assessments & Energy Audits

System Assessments
KFI’s system assessments provide buildings and their technical systems a thorough evaluation of the facility and its present condition. These assessments can be 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 teams credentials include Certified Energy Managers, NEBB retrocommissioning, and test & balance professionals, and our past project experience provides the maximum knowledge, education, and experience in providing energy services to our clients.

Controls Design

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. Therefore, we can recommend and implement best-of-breed solutions which are tailored to each client’s needs. Our automation group 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.

Expertise:

• Direct digital control (DDC) design and programming
• Programmable logic controller (PLC) design and programming
• Controller hardware/software testing
• System operation budgeting
• Construction administration
• Technical analysis and troubleshooting of existing systems
• Performance criteria development
• Identification of automation upgrade options and strategies
• System integrations
• System retrofit engineering
• HMI development
• SCADA development
• Network design
• Integration with OEM and other 3rd-party control systems
• Instrumentation and controls device specification
• System commissioning
• Training of operations and maintenance staff
• Ongoing maintenance and support
• System lifecycle maintenance (obsolescence, upgrades, etc.)