The first of its kind, Refrigeration Commissioning Guide for Commercial and Industrial Systems provides guidance to owners and managers of commercial and industrial facilities that use refrigeration systems to help ensure that project requirements are met and owners’ expectations are achieved. For commercial facility owners and managers, this means improved profitability through lower operating and service costs as well as reduced product loss.

Because deficiencies in system design found at start-up are not easily resolved, maintenance managers or operators may deal with unnecessary shortcomings and expenses over the life of the facility. Commissioning helps project teams avoid these “surprises” by establishing a consistent, stepwise process that helps “get it right the first time.” The commissioning process starts with the initial planning and design and continues through construction, installation, start-up, and the first year of system operation. Commissioning also sets the stage for ongoing servicing and maintenance of performance. The result is refrigeration systems that are easier and less expensive to install and maintain, with lower energy costs, minimized liabilities from refrigeration system leaks, and reduced loss of refrigerated product due to system failures or unreliable performance.

Using this Guide will help achieve cost-effective and cost-efficient refrigeration systems for new projects, expansions, remodels, and existing systems that simply need a tune-up. This Guide was developed through cooperation of ASHRAE and the U.S. Department of Energy. In an effort to promote building energy efficiency, ASHRAE and DOE are making this Guide available for download (PDF) at no charge.