Lighting & Controls
Lighting Controls Commissioning
Programming, calibration and documented functional testing — the step that determines whether the system delivers anything.
Commissioning is the difference between a control system that saves energy and one that merely cost money. It is also the step most often compressed when a project runs late, which is why so many buildings own sophisticated systems running at factory defaults.
What commissioning actually involves
Not a walkthrough. Commissioning is a documented process of setting every parameter to match how the space is genuinely used, then proving each sequence works.
- Zone and group configuration verified against the actual occupied layout
- Occupancy timeouts set per space type rather than left at default
- Daylight sensor calibration performed after furniture and finishes
- Task tuning — maximum output trimmed to measured requirement
- Schedule configuration by area, day and season
- Scene programming and control station labelling
- Functional testing of every sequence, with results documented
- Energy code compliance documentation for the authority having jurisdiction
- Owner training and a written record of what was set and why
Recommissioning existing systems
A large share of the control systems we work on were never properly commissioned, or have drifted — occupants disabled behaviour they found irritating, spaces got repurposed without rezoning, sensors were covered or blocked during a fit-out.
Recommissioning is significantly cheaper than replacement and frequently recovers most of the original design intent. We start by finding out what the system is currently doing, which is often not what anyone believes it is doing.
Documentation you should insist on
When commissioning is complete you should hold: as-built zone and group assignments, every parameter setting with its rationale, functional test results, sensor calibration records, and administrative credentials for the system.
That last one matters more than it sounds. We regularly meet buildings whose owners cannot change a schedule because the only credentials sit with a contractor who left the market years ago. Get your own administrator access in writing at handover.
Common questions
Our controls were installed but never commissioned. What now?
Common, and recoverable. We audit what the system is currently doing, compare it against how the building is actually used, and recommission. It almost always costs far less than the savings it recovers, because the hardware is already paid for.
How long does commissioning take?
It scales with the number of zones and the complexity of the sequences, not with square footage alone. The determining factor is usually whether the space is furnished and occupied — daylight calibration is not meaningful in an empty shell, so some commissioning has to happen after move-in.
Do we get administrator access to our own system?
From us, always, in writing at handover. It is your building and your system. Be wary of any contractor who is reluctant on this point.
Ready to talk about your project?
Tell us what you need and we will give you a straight answer on scope, schedule and cost. No obligation, and no pressure if it turns out we are not the right fit.