Commissioning is the owner-led, third-party quality process defined by ASHRAE Guideline 0; ASHRAE 90.1 Section 9.4.3 requires functional testing of lighting controls. Commissioning is distinct from startup: the programming, testing, and documentation of controls against the sequence of operations, performed by a startup technician.
'Can our vendor be the commissioning agent?' is the conversion FAQ — the honest 'no, and no vendor should be' is the sharpest trust signal in the cluster. The CxA must be independent and owner-appointed; the GC cannot serve as CxA on its own project.
Confirm manufacturer startup scope during submittals — it affects cost. NEMA C137.9-2025 standardizes configuration reports.
We advise before we quote. Tell us what you are working on and we will tell you whether this applies to your project.
Coordinate startup and commissioning scope early
