Section 120.8(d). Design phase design review.
1. Design Reviewer Requirements. For buildings less than 10,000 square feet, design phase design review may be completed by the design engineer. Buildings between 10,000 and 50,000 square feet require completion of the Design Review Checklist by either an engineer in-house to the design firm but not associated with the building project, or a third party design engineer. For buildings larger than 50,000 square feet or for buildings with complex mechanical systems, an independent review of these documents by a third party design engineer is required.
2. Design Review. During the schematic design phase of the building project, the owner or owner’s representative, design team and design reviewer must meet to discuss the project scope, schedule and how the design reviewer will coordinate with the project team. The building owner or owner’s representative shall include the Design Review Checklist compliance form in the Certificate of Compliance documentation (see Section 10-103).
3. Construction Documents Design Review: The construction documents design review compliance forms list the items that shall be checked by the design reviewer during the construction document review. The completed forms shall be returned to the owner and design team for review and sign-off. The building owner or owner’s representative shall include the construction documents design review compliance forms in the Certificate of Compliance Documentation (see Section 10-103).
12.4
The intent of design phase design review is to improve compliance with existing Title 24 Part 6 code requirements, encourage adoption of best practices in design, and lead to designs that are constructible and maintainable.
Compliance requires completion of the Design Review Kickoff and Construction Document checklists by the design reviewer. Requirements for the design reviewer are spelled out in Section120.8(d)1. The following steps are required to complete this requirement:
1. Design Review Kickoff - Initial Schematic Review
a. An in-person meeting is held between the project owner (or owner’s representative), design team representatives (including mechanical and electrical design engineers, project architect), commissioning coordinator and design reviewer.
b. Meeting topics to be discussed include the following:
i. Discuss Project Coordination, including design reviewer involvement;
ii. Identify Project Scheduling, including design review;
iii. Review Project scope;
iv. Review Owner’s Project Requirements and Basis of Design;
v. Discuss Design Elements and Assumptions;
vi. Discuss HVAC System Selection;
vii. Identify Construction Documents Design Review checklists to be completed;
viii. Discuss Energy Efficiency Measures; and
ix. Complete and Sign Certificate of Compliance – Cx Design Review Kickoff form NRCC-CXR-01-E.
2. Construction Document Review
a. The Design team provides the design reviewer with a set of drawing plans and specifications late in design as agreed upon in Design Review Kickoff meeting, typically around 90% CD completion
b. The Design reviewer provides a review of the construction documents:
i. Prescriptive Path Compliance. Projects following the Prescriptive Path will use compliance forms provided in the Design Review Kickoff meeting (Certificate of Compliance – Cx Construction Documents-General, -Simple HVAC Systems, and –Complex Mechanical Systems forms NRCC-CXR-02-E through NRCC-CXR-04-E )
ii. Performance Path Compliance. Projects following the Performance Path for compliance will use compliance forms provided in the Design Review Kickoff meeting (Certificate of Compliance – Cx Construction Documents-General, -Simple HVAC Systems, and –Complex Mechanical Systems forms NRCC-CXR-02-E through NRCC-CXR-04-E)
c. Completed compliance forms are submitted to the design team and project owner for consideration.
d. The Designer provides a response on the Construction Document compliance forms. The design reviewer is not required to provide a second review of the Construction Documents for compliance purposes.
e. Certification of Completion - The design reviewer, design engineer, and owner/owner’s representative sign the Certificate of Compliance – Cx Design Review Signature Page form NRCC-CXR-05-E indicating that the construction documents design review has been completed.
Qualifications for the design reviewer are based on the project size and complexity of mechanical systems. The design reviewer must be a licensed professional engineer that meets the following:
1. Buildings <10,000 square feet: engineer-of-record (self-review) or contractor if engineer-of-record not required
2. Buildings >10,000 square feet AND <50,000 square feet: qualified, in-house engineer with no other project involvement OR third party engineer
3. Buildings > 50,000 square feet OR buildings <50,000 square feet with complex mechanical systems: third party design engineer.
The commissioning coordinator who meets the above requirements may also complete the construction documents design review.
Enforcement
Compliance is demonstrated by completion of the compliance forms NRCC-CXR-01-E through NRCC-CXR-04-E, as applicable, and signature form NRCC-CXR-05-E. See section 12-10 Commissioning Compliance Forms for additional information on completing these forms.