Western Mechanical Services Commissioning Projects
Western Mechanical has successfully commissioned over 1,000 projects in Western Canada to date.
Western Mechanical was one of the Pioneers of the commissioning process in Western Canada by being one of the original companies providing dedicated building commissioning services in the late 1960s. Our experience and expertise combined with our reputation built on integrity and honesty, our commissioning specialists ensure each project has the best opportunity to be successful.
Commissioning is the process of ensuring the HVAC system meets the owner’s operational requirements. Commissioning is usually required for new construction and is always a best practice. The term originated in shipbuilding and refers to identifying and ironing out any issues with the buildings mechanical, HVAC, direct digital controls, BMS, DDC and other controls before the building is put into service. Commissioning protects the relationship of everyone involved in design and construction to make sure that the building performs as specified. Commissioning can be done for an existing building to optimize it for current use and realize efficiencies. Commissioning of an existing building is called Retro Commissioning.
Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria (LEED Gold)
Featured Commissioning Projects
You can review our list of significant commissioning projects over the past 60 years below. To view projects particular to categories of interest, please select the type of project from the drop down list. Please visit our commissioning services page for more information on commissioning for new construction and retrocommisioning to optimize existing buildings.
BC Place Stadium Retractable Roof
Western Mechanical Services performed the mechanical systems commissioning for the BC Place Stadium retractable roof upgrade.
UBC Michael Smith Laboratories
The UBC Michael Smith Laboratories is a 7,500 sq Meter (80,700 sq ft) building that was completed in 2005. It is an interdisciplinary facility that includes biological research and training facilities.
Research is conducted on human and animal molecular genetics, plant and forestry molecular genetics and biological process engineering. The building was named after Doctor Michael Smith, Nobel Prize Winner for Chemistry in 1993 and former Professor Emeritus at UBC.
The mechanical systems for the laboratory areas included variable air volume (VAV) air handling systems with supply and exhaust fans having variable speed drives, and heat recovery coils and pumps that transfer heat from the outgoing exhaust air to the incoming outdoor air.
Western Mechanical Services provided the fundamental and additional commissioning services for the technically challenging mechanical equipment, systems and temperature controls for Alpha Mechanical Contracting in Port Coquitlam, BC. Western Mechanical scheduled all activities related to the commissioning including equipment start-up, water treatment, testing and balancing, duct cleaning, temperature control end-to-end checks, performance verification and preparation and review of the operating and maintenance manuals. Western Mechanical Services organized the turnover and ensured that the building operators had been adequately trained to operate and maintain the building systems.
The VPD Tactical Training Centre, completed in 2011 is owned by the City of Vancouver with the Vancouver Police Department as tenant. This facility is utilized for the training of officers and has simulation training rooms, firing ranges, classrooms and other facilities. The project is registered with the Canada Green Building Council and was designed and constructed to achieve LEED-NC Gold certification.
The centre has 25-metre and 50-metre indoor target ranges, with removable barricades, running man targets, a raised control booth and custom lighting options for a variety of specialized firearms training scenarios. High-flow ventilation systems were provided for each range to remove lead particulate matter from the air to avoid possible health hazards for occupants.
Because of the exceptional requirement for high air volumes of outdoor air when the firing ranges are in use and the need to maintain negative building pressures relative to other occupied areas of the building, special temperature control arrangements are required to achieve optimum use of energy and to provide a safe environment. Western Mechanical Services was entrusted with the responsibility of providing the building system commissioning services and preparing the mechanical system operation and maintenance manuals for this project.
Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria (LEED Gold)
Western Mechanical Services was retained to provide commissioning services for the $ 300 million, 28986 sq meter (312,000 sq ft) award winning Patient Care Centre at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, which opened in March, 2011 to replace all 400 existing beds and to add an additional 120 beds, most of which are private. The building was designed to utilize energy-efficient equipment and sustainable materials, resources and mechanical systems, to achieve LEED Gold certification, based on a target score of 39 to 42 LEED points.
The new hospital, managed by the Vancouver Island Health Authority has no surgical suites, pathology labs or diagnostic facilities. These are all located in an adjacent building. The Patient Care Centre utilizes a revolutionary more humanized approach to patient care, intended to improve recovery times and special attention was given to infection control throughout the building.
Increased access to nature and the use of fresh air ventilation systems were key design features incorporated to contribute to overall health. The building makes use of natural light inside during peak power usage, optimizing the electrical lighting energy required.