Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/522582
20 | THE DATA CENTER JOURNAL www.datacenterjournal.com Plumbing: Documents supply and waste water systems in the facility Mechanical: ocuments the HVAC systems Integrated automation: Documents the building-management and control systems Electrical: Documents the electrical infrastructure and distribution systems Communications: Documents the communications system installed within the facility Electronic safety and security: Documents the access-control and CCTV systems Aer the initial construction is complete, modifications to the electri- cal infrastructure or any other system in the facility oen occur. Accurate as-built drawings allow the facility owner to share information with an electrical consul- tant, saving valuable time by allowing the consultant to focus on only the specific changes needed. Once modifications are complete, including changes during construction, the work needs to be care- fully recorded; in some cases new as-built drawings must be created. ese requirements do not mean the facility owner has to go out and buy a CAD application or get training on one of the many CAD/BIM applications on the market. e consultants and contractors performing the work typically provide these services as part of their contracts. e most important point is to keep accu- rate records of all modifications to facility documents in a set of record drawings. In some instances code requirements or recommendations necessitate storage of as-built documents on site as well as updating in accordance with NFPA 72 "Fire Alarm System Record of Completion Warranty Information." Needless to say, constructing a mission-critical facility involves a multi- million-dollar investment; it is important to understand what equipment has been warranted and who is responsible for sup- porting that warranty. Underscoring this point, the American Institute of Archi- tects (AIA) conducted a study of building failures around the world. e number- one building failure was a leaking roof. In these instances, owners would need to immediately determine the following: • Who manufactured and installed the roof • How long the roof is warrantied for • When did the warranty go into ef- fect and how much time remains ese questions need to be asked about every piece of equipment and system installed, and they should represent addi- tional information that needs to be entered and monitored in a CMMS type system. Another critical data point to docu- ment is when the warranty period begins for an item. In some instances, the warran- ty will begin when the device is started for the first time; some warranties will start when the certificate of substantial comple- tion is signed and the facility ownership is established. Documenting extended war- ranties for equipment is important, along with the ability to buy additional warranty time if that option exists. Do not overlook warranties on materials and workmanship provided by the general contractor or any of the subcontractors. A stuck door, leak- ing faucet or jammed dock leveler occurs all too oen in the first year of operation; warranty documentation proves invaluable in such cases. final testing anD Commissioning DoCuments Aer the construction is finished it's important to determine whether the in- frastructure is going to work as designed. At the end of any project it is vital that the facility infrastructure be tested and documented. e commissioning process establishes a baseline of operation as everyone is departing. ere are various levels of commissioning available; it can start in the early design phases and be con- ducted through every aspect of design and construction, or it can consist of function- ally testing the facility before the certificate of substantial completing is issued. How extensive the commissioning levels are is dictated by cost and confidence. Regard- less of the extent of the commissioning effort, it is critical that applicable parties receive and keep a full commissioning report. If at some point in the future a system fails, the owner will have a report on how it operated during the initial testing. is information is invaluable for owners, consultants and manufacturers in determining what went wrong and why. hoW to manage all of this information Oen, all of this documentation is bundled into multiple three-ring binders, along with rolls of drawings, physically de- livered to an owner at the project close-out meeting. It is typically the numerous rolls of drawings and dozens of binders that lead many facility managers to neglect or throw out these documents. ese days, all of this documentation can be transferred and stored electronically. It is easy to collect and sort it on a hard drive or even in the cloud, and granting access to those files to all facility staff is relatively simple. is information can be shared via a web page, inserted into a building management system, or just provided through a file- sharing server in the company. e key to a successful project closeout is to gather this data and keep it available for use throughout the life cycle of the facility. In conclusion, aer the facility is completed, the ribbon-cutting ceremony is over and the crowds have le, it's not the end. In the wake of the backhoes, cranes, electricians, plumbers and architects is a host of documentation and manuals le behind. ese manuals and draw- ings must be at the owner's fingertips to ensure proper facility maintenance. ey constitute a library of information that categorizes many facility items, allowing operators to understand main building elements. ese items are crucial to the upkeep of your facilities—don't toss them out with the leover confetti! n