SERVICES

Peer & Bid Review

Façade Consultancy FZE will review one set of the final architectural drawings and applicable specification sections for the building enclosure and provide comments on remaining concerns on the enclosure design paying particular attention to the details and interfaces as shown on the drawings. We will again also review and comment on the requirements in the specifications for samples, technical data, mock-ups, and performance testing. The objective of this review is to identify details, requirements, or methods which may compromise the water tight integrity and thermal performance of the building in order to call these identified items to the attention of the architect of record and the owner for their action. Issues such as constructability and material compatibility need to be examined by the commissioning agent and specific guidance should be supplied via written documentation to the owner and the architect of record at each phase of review. Materials that appear to be poor choices based on durability and a potential for rapid replacement need to be identified, especially on sustainable projects, where product replacement requiring new resources in a short time frame should be examined versus the use of a more durable product that may not be as environmentally appropriate on first selection.

If any details, plans, or specifications are modified by the architect of record, the we will review these prior to issuance of the design documents. If elements recommended for change have not been completed, the commissioning agent should provide written documentation to the owner, indicating what risks may be associated with not implementing these items.

The peer review process is an important step in assisting the architect of record in making good decisions on the selection of materials, and method of integrating those materials into a durable building envelope.

Façade Consultancy FZE will be available to provide assistance to the owner and the architect of record in reviewing submittals, if included with the bid, for any proposed product substitutions for building enclosure elements, to determine the risk or equivalence of the proposed substitution.

Shop Drawing and Submittal Review

Concurrent with the architect of record and engineer of record review of shop drawings, the Façade consultancy FZE will review shop drawings prior to release and fabrication for building envelope requirements and provide written comments to the owner and architect.

Façade Consultancy FZE will assist the architect/engineer with review of contractor submittals pertaining to the building envelope to verify their conformance with the contract documents and owner requirements. Regardless of whether review of all of the submittals is needed, contractor submittals for any building enclosure products the contractor would like to use as a substitute will also be recommended by Façade consultancy FZE, paying particular attention to the comparability of the substituted product, its possible durability, compatibility with adjacent materials, and whether it not it has any material properties, such as a lower vapor performance, that increase the potential for a moisture-related failure.

Façade Contractor recommendation

Façade Consultancy FZE will recommend the list of qualified & experienced Façade Contractors, depending upon the size, scale, and complexity of the project the owner, owner's representatives, architect & Main-contractor

Performance Testing

Depending upon the size, scale, and complexity of the project, Façade Consultancy FZE recommends laboratory and field-constructed mock-ups to verify constructability and performance. This is particularly true with regard to verification of structural performance, as well as air and water penetration resistance and the thermal efficiency of the building enclosure.

Pre-construction mock-ups should be designed to include primary façade elements and interface conditions that are:

• unique to the design of the building or structure,
• representative of the entire building enclosure, and;
• reflective of actual job conditions that will be encountered in the field.

Contractor personnel used to construct the mock-ups should be the same personnel who will be responsible for the actual work in the field, and should be made fully aware of changes, modifications or refinements in the design and/or installation of the building enclosure resulting from the mock-up and performance testing process.

A certified, independent testing laboratory qualified to perform each of the tests included in the project specifications is recommended by Façade Consultancy FZE to perform all laboratory and field testing. The design professional, Façade Consultancy FZE, and representatives of the owner/developer, general contractor (or construction management firm) and appropriate subcontractors should be present during all tests, and should document, in writing and with supporting photographs and sketches, any changes in the building enclosure design arising out of the mock-up and performance testing program. Individual test methods, standards and required test pressures will vary based on the material, component or system being tested and the climate, location and exposure unique to each project. Test pressures should be carefully coordinated by the design professional in the project specifications to ensure that the specified test pressures for each system are uniform and consistent across the entire wall system or assembly, and meet or exceed the performance levels required by local, state, and national building codes.

Site Visits

Façade Consultancy FZE during the site visits ,will review the contractor's quality assurance inspection plan. To ensure that the findings and recommendations accepted by owner and the architect of record are properly executed and tested in the field, Façade Consultancy FZE will provide periodic, on-site review of the work in progress during the course of construction at the building envelope. A written record of deficiencies will be maintained by the Façade Consultancy FZE and forwarded to the architect/engineer of record, owner, and general contractor in a timely manner throughout the construction process, together with a written record of how and when each deficiency was corrected in the field. During this process, it is anticipated that the commissioning agent will participate in weekly or bi-weekly Building Envelope Quality Assurance Meetings chaired by the general contractor, with the appropriate subcontractors in attendance, to review and discuss issues and concerns noted by Façade Consultancy FZE during the previous week and what action will be taken to address those concerns. Our experience suggests that a minimum on-site presence of two (2) days per week will be required for most projects.

Project Close-Out

Façade Consultancy FZE, architect/engineer and the owner will complete a final walk-through and "punch-list" survey of all deficiencies remaining on the project. The Façade Consultancy FZE will also complete additional testing and commissioning of the envelope at this stage.

Maintenance Guide and Training

The Façade Consultancy FZE will prepare a Maintenance Guide necessary to properly train on-site engineering and maintenance staff on the proper maintenance of the building envelope. This guide will also include a collection of all necessary closeout documents related to the building envelope, such as warranties and information on the materials utilized, including the appropriate catalog information, supplier, manufacturer, and ordering/contact information. The owner and staff should also be given guidance as to what elements will typically require outside contractor assistance for maintenance.