A design review is not specified under LEED EAp1 ‘Fundamental Commissioning’, and is only specified under EAc3 ‘Enhanced Commissioning’. However, an essential part of the commissioning process is to undertake a design review to ensure the designs (particularly the building energy systems) can be commissioned properly, and that the responsibilities for undertaking the various commissioning tasks, as well as responsibilities for approvals, are clearly articulated.

Design Review

The review should cover design drawings and specifications that form part of the tender process. Where modifications are required in order to facilitate commissioning then it is cost effective to do so before construction starts.

The design review should also examine the means for metering, monitoring and logging energy use, especially where the owner seeks to develop an energy management plan or M&V plan.

LEED-NC

“The CxA shall conduct, at a minimum, one commissioning design review of the Owner's Project Requirements (OPR), Basis of Design (BOD), and design documents prior to mid-construction documents phase and back-check the review comments in the subsequent design submission. The CxA shall review the OPR, BOD and design documents to provide the owner and design team with an independent assessment of the state of the design for the commissioned systems. Typically the design review(s) performed by the CxA will focus on the following issues:

# Clarity, completeness and adequacy of the OPR
# Verifying all issues discussed in OPR are addressed adequately in BOD
# Reviewing design documents for achieving the OPR and BOD and coordination of commissioned systems

Additional reviews by the CxA, throughout the design and construction process may be advisable and appropriate depending on the project duration, phasing, complexity and the owner's requirements.”