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The more things change, the more they change 鈥� at least when it comes to commissioning for buildings.

鈥淚t used to be that commissioning was all about (heating, ventilation and air conditioning),鈥� said Liz Fischer, executive director of the Beaverton-based Building Commissioning Association. 鈥淏ut it’s gotten more sophisticated. It’s evolved so it’s about the whole building process these days.鈥�

That increased sophistication also means that it’s not enough these days for firms to just say they have expertise in commissioning. In order to gain a competitive edge and stake a claim in the commissioning niche, a growing number of companies are looking for a third party to validate their skill and understanding of the process.

That’s where Fischer’s group can help. The Building Commissioning Association was formed a little more than 15 years ago with the help of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, she said.

In its earliest days, the trade group focused on getting more people interested in the field of commissioning while also providing education for those already working in it. As commissioning became more popular as a part of the building industry, the BCA’s role also grew.

Ten years ago, the group developed a professional certification program for individuals. Three years ago, it added a certification program for associates, a focus that Fischer said the group hopes will help educate more young people about the potential of careers in commissioning.

Eighteen months ago, the BCA started its newest certification program 鈥� for firms.

鈥淲e started the firm certification to ensure all projects are meeting the highest standard 鈥� not just best practices but (also) the most recent standards, such as ASHRAE,鈥� Fischer said.

Obtaining certification as a firm is a rigorous process. Firms first must already have at least one person on staff who holds an individual certification from BCA. Fischer estimates her organization has already certified about 270 individuals.

For Heery International, earning a commissioning certification was about digging into a niche it’s been working in for a while, according to Richard Young, the company’s director of commission services for the West.

Right now, about 80 percent of the company’s work in commissioning is repeat businesses, Young said. Open solicitations garner a project about 10 percent of the time, an amount that Young said the company would like to see increase.

Commissioning is still primarily used for projects when recognition in a sustainable program like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or Green Globes is being pursued. But Young said it’s becoming more common to find building owners interested in using commissioning to lower operating costs through efficiency in order to create buildings that can competitively attract tenants.

鈥淚n terms of our work, I would say maybe 25 percent of our projects are driven by a sustainable program like LEED,鈥� Young said. 鈥淏ut not everyone is using commissioning just for that reason. It’s a tough market out there and a lot of companies are stepping forward looking for a way to stand out.鈥�

Young and Fischer both believe the demand for commissioning services will continue to increase. Fischer’s organization, for example, has handed out certifications to 16 firms 鈥� including Heery International 鈥� since starting the firm certification program. But the organization already has 12 more companies’ applications in progress.

鈥�(Interest in commissioning) is starting to come along pretty quickly,鈥� Fischer said. 鈥淲e’re starting to see it show up in RFQs, where owners are asking for it.鈥�

One of the biggest public agencies to regularly require that firms hold third-party commission certifications in order to qualify to work on projects is Veterans Affairs, Fischer said.

But as more project owners begin looking to use certified firms for commissioning services, Fischer’s group needs to expand its efforts to educate people about commissioning 鈥� not just those already working in the building industry, but those who might consider such careers in the future.

鈥淐ommissioning is a really fast-growing field,鈥� Fischer said, 鈥渁nd we’re really trying to get young people to just understand what it is.鈥�

Young agrees that education will play a big role in helping the field of commissioning continue to grow.

鈥淐ommissioning 鈥� has been growing for 20 years, but it’s still kind of not understood what we do,鈥� Young said. 鈥淢any people think we just walk in with a list 鈥� that we’re the clipboard police. But the way (Heery) approaches it, we’re here to assist the team in achieving the common goal of providing a building that is functional, safe and serviceable 鈥� and that serves the client with as little trouble as possible.鈥�

For more information about certification programs offered by the Building Commissioning Association, visit .