DLB | COMMISSIONING

We’re DLB Associates, a dynamic team of consulting engineers, collaborating in a boundary-free culture to produce optimal solutions for clients ranging from global technology leaders to retail franchise concepts.

We see the bigger picture of each engineering challenge; we employ an adaptive approach to problem solving, and tailor our broad continuum of services to meet the needs of the client where they want to be met.

Simply put, DLB is a firm like no other, producing solutions like no other.

The building industry is experiencing increased confusion in identifying the answers to questions like:

What is commissioning?

What should commissioning provide for the owner?

What is an appropriate scope for commissioning?

COMMISSIONING OVERVIEW

At DLB, commissioning is a quality-oriented process for achieving, verifying, and documenting that the performance of facilities, systems, and assemblies meets defined objectives and criteria.

Our approach to commissioning focuses on maximizing our client’s Return On Investment (ROI) and optimizing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). To do this properly, we adjust the level of effort to “right size” the commissioning effort to the client’s requirements.

This could be considered the polar opposite of the “one shoe fits all” approach. DLB commissioning is customized for the project and thereafter adjusts as more is learned during the design and construction process, adjusting effort to where it will make the most impact and best fit the building owner’s needs.

We implement a holistic process across the entire lifecycle of the building where system performance and efficiency can be sustained and the full value of commissioning realized. Our commissioning team uses methods and tools to verify the project achieves the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) throughout the delivery process and lifecycle of the facility.

COMMISSIONING OVERVIEW | 1

DLB commissioning has a strong team of commissioning experts to address project requirements which includes 25 full-time dedicated mechanical and electrical commissioning experts.

The team’s expertise includes hands-on testing, state-of-the-art performance measurement and analysis, as well as adaptive commissioning experience which improves the quality and lowers the cost of commissioning.

With active participation in guiding the development of industry standards, DLB engineers are experts on the applicable codes and ordinances, published LEED design and commissioning criteria, as well as NEMA, ANSI, NEC, ASME, NFPA, ASHRAE, NEBB, NETA test specifications and industry best practices.

DLB commissioning prides itself on a comprehensive process which controls and assures the quality installation of equipment in the field. DLB leverages the use of active photo and video documentation to communicate to owners and contractors, both compliant and non-compliant installations.

Our in-house talent includes registered professional engineers, certified commissioning professionals and subject matter experts specializing in full building design and commissioning. Our team has decades of experience and possess the expertise to customize the commissioning process to optimize the performance of equipment and systems.

Our team has extensive experience in commissioning traditional as well as first-of-its-kind electrical, mechanical, fire protection and building automation systems. DLB can address your building infrastructure optimization needs for all disciplines.

COMMISSIONING EXPERTS

2 | COMMISSIONING EXPERTS

Established over 30 years ago, DLB Associates has extensive, wide-ranging commissioning experience expanding across many industries.

From mission critical data centers, hospitals, retail, commercial, and financial spaces, DLB’s seasoned team has commissioned multitudes of facilities, domestically and internationally.

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

The following list highlights some of industries commissioned by DLB:

Commercial / Retail / Food Service

Mission Critical (Data Centers & Telecommunications)

Campuses / Educational / Institutional

Sustainable / Energy Savings

Sports / Entertainment

Medical / Healthcare

Pharmaceutical / Laboratory / Process Environment

Housing / Residential

Industrial / Transportation

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE | 3

DLB has extensive commissioning experience with some of the largest and most innovative infrastructure systems in the world. Facilities commissioned by DLB consistently achieve and maintain the highest efficiency and reliability rates available in the marketplace.

The DLB commissioning approach results in an operationally reliable system which is also energy efficient, functionally convenient, and performance proven. DLB facilities are some of the most energy efficient with the lowest overall cost of operations in the world. That’s what lifecycle ROI centric commissioning is all about.

DLB has worked on large domestic & international projects such as:

300+ MW of critical cooling: cutting edge system designs contributing to industry leading cooling efficiency

Over 5 miles each of bus duct and cable tray associated with the electrical distributions

Innovative seawater fed, chillerless cooling system

A water treatment plant fed from a disused canal, supplying make up water to cooling towers minimizing environmental impact of the chillerless cooling system configuration

DLB also has an extensive and broad range of experience in all aspects of the technically complex facility infrastructure automation industry, including:

Integral in planning, hardware and software engineering, installation, component verification, and system commissioning on over 78 enterprise data centers.

Automation installations and commissioning for WWTPs, hospitals, sports complexes, schools, and office buildings.

4 | SCALE & SCOPE

SCALE & SCOPE

HOLISTIC APPROACH

HOLISTIC APPROACH | 5

DLB commissioning is an ROI-driven, quality-focused process for enhancing the delivery of a program / project. The process focuses upon verifying and documenting that the facility and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated and maintained to meet the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR).

The OPR is comprised of key performance and specific performance statements, intended to convey and transpose the owner’s vision for the facility into actionable facility delivery objectives. DLB then develops a commissioning approach to ensure that those objectives are met or exceeded.

DLB’s approach to commissioning doesn’t just focus on testing. Commissioning has a function at all stages of the design, build, and operation process and is applied throughout the lifecycle of the facility.

Pre-Design – The Commissioning team engages early in the process, during the planning phase. Working with the design team and the Client, DLB’s Commissioning experts play a critical role in helping define the OPR and develop the design concept.

Design – What happens on paper isn’t always optimal in the field. This is why the DLB Commissioning team is involved with iterative reviews during the design phase of the project. Participating in design reviews is critical as significant efficiencies are realized during the installation and testing phases.

Construction – Quality is the primary focus during the installation phase, and is one of the key components at the heart of the Commissioning Team mission, which is based upon the delivery of solid Quality Assurance and Quality Control checks.

Testing – Testing by DLB doesn’t begin post installation, it begins on test benches and in the factory. This ensures equipment is configured to meet the owner’s requirements and enables an efficient and smooth field testing process.

Operations – The DLB Commissioning team understands that operability is paramount. With any system, if it isn’t operator friendly, it isn’t commissioned properly. That’s why the DLB Commissioning team maintains an operational mindset at all stages to ensure ease of use and efficiencies are maximized.

DLB COMMISSIONING ADDS VALUE

DLB has commissioned some of the largest and most energy efficient data centers in the world, with the lowest Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) in the industry. The DLB staff have commissioned some of the largest and most complex commercial LEED Certified buildings in the world.

Commissioning, like all other facility delivery programs, should provide a business case for the client to invest capital resources into the process. DLB commissioning is structured specifically to that business case.

The value added by the DLB commissioning process derives from the evaluation of each commissioning activity outcome relative to the ability to improve the owners’ long term ROI by reducing the facility Total Cost of Operation (TCO), making the process value centric.

DLB commissioning activities are focused on commissioning actions that will make the biggest difference in long-term facility performance.

Effective commissioning also improves system performance, identifies areas for optimization which results in lower operating expenses, and can avert outages which can create costly service interruptions and resultant branding damage.

Significant project team automation knowledge and experience incorporated from the beginning and throughout the process provides numerous advantages and helps maximize the overall ROI while delivering a more comprehensive solution.

We have an internal technical automation group, made up of design, programming and hardware experts providing planning and oversight to automation installations. This ensures credible monitoring information that supports energy savings programs, predictive maintenance, and plant availability.

DLB expends the commissioning effort, where they provide the most value. This means your facility will receive a process specifically designed for your building infrastructure. The DLB holistic lifecycle process ensures that your return on investment is not just a day – one event, but continues out through year five, ten, and beyond.

Long-term reliability and efficiency, combined with the best value for money in the commissioning industry is what it's all about. That's why our clients are glad they chose DLB as their facility commissioning authority.

6 | DLB COMMISSIONING ADDS VALUE

GREEN COMMISSIONING

GREEN COMMISSIONING | 7

The move towards green, energy efficient buildings is among the fastest-growing in the facility delivery business. Building commissioning is at the forefront of this growing trend, and constitutes a key element of LEED building certification.

This green movement includes aspects such as sustainability and energy efficiency. The energy associated with the operation of the Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems in commercial facilities can account for up to 50% of the total energy consumption of the entire facility and therefore it becomes a major component to consider when moving towards a “greener” operation.

DLB commissioning processes optimize the building infrastructure systems for efficient operations and reliability. Furthermore, DLB’s process is committed to ensure the facility staff has adequate system documentation and training required to sustain that efficient operation across the life of the facility, making sure the energy savings are not singular, but rather continuous.

Having written portions of the energy code for a major utility, DLB is an expert in the process required to accurately and comprehensively baseline the current energy consumption data and measure the savings post-implementation.

This intimate understanding helps us to identify lifecycle-appropriate Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) which do not just attain, but sustain this energy efficiency across the lifecycle of the facility. This is critical when coupled with our experience in base-lining facility performance to obtaining grant-funded infrastructure and equipment upgrades.

DLB has all the tools in-house to serve as your complete LEED Commissioning Authority. This includes design experience of some of the most innovative and energy efficient buildings in the world.

This experience translates into the ability to do more than just the typical cursory commissioning peer review, but rather provide innovative and creative thought to expand the efficiency, constructability and performance of your building.

DLB has multiple LEED Accredited Professionals with the experience necessary to serve as your LEED commissioning authority. When coupled with our highly experienced field testing team, we provide unparalleled capability to your project delivery team that will not only meet your obligations to environmental efficiencies, but also improve your bottom line.

8 | INTEGRATED TEAM COMMISSIONING

INTEGRATED TEAM COMMISSIONING

The intent of DLB’s commissioning team is to fully integrate as part of the project delivery team. Culturally for DLB, this means a fully collaborative partnering approach throughout the duration of the facility delivery process.

This collaboration with design, construction, and operations teams spans the full spectrum of delivery activities; from the development of the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPRs) to the operations staff system training.

By proactively and effectively communicating with the stakeholders what specific commissioning activities will take place well in advance (and thereby avoiding surprises), the potential for disruption and change orders can be minimized through collective planning.

Using techniques that we have spent years perfecting, DLB informs and educates our stakeholders using easily understood materials (e.g., simplistic drawings, photo documentation, etc.) that are reader friendly and do not require prerequisite knowledge or technical background.

DLB uses three primary pillars to accomplish the effective collaboration process:

1. Applying the 3Rs (Right Person, Right Task, Right Conditions)

2. Leveraging technology

3. Attaining open communication among all project delivery partners

Through the implementation of these collaborative tools, our clients benefit from quicker, more effective transmission of key decisions, more effective management of contractors and testing agents, fewer change orders, and better control / coordination of the commissioning and facility delivery effort.

More effective and efficient management results in more value and an improved return on investment.

For more information, please visit: www.dlbassociates.com Copyright © 2013 by DLB Associates Consulting Engineers, P.C. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written consent of DLB Associates Consulting Engineers, P.C. v1r02

NEW JERSEY 265 Industrial Way West Eatontown, NJ 07724 p: 732-774-2000

NEW YORK One Penn Plaza Suite 2601 New York, NY 10119 p: 646-381-6721

ATLANTA 3290 Cumberland Club Drive Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30339 p: 678-504-2200

NEW JERSEY | HEADQUARTERS Our primary goal for our headquarters was to create the physical embodiment of the DLB culture. As with the processes utilized for our clients, tremendous attention to detail was paid to our needs and the result was a truly optimal environment that effortlessly integrates with the way we work.

The New Jersey office is over 70,000 square feet and technologically advanced, with a heightened focus on learning, communication and collaboration. The design concepts of the headquarters were then carried through to our other offices, so our entire firm is able to operate as one virtual office in a seamless manner.

This approach facilitates the ability to deliver brilliant results for our clients.

NEW YORK | OPENED WINTER 2010 Optimally located in One Penn Plaza, our new 20,000-square foot NYC office mirrors the environment and technologies of our headquarters that are central to the firm.

The open plan design, large circulation and gathering areas, video conferencing in all of the meeting rooms and dedicated training rooms are true differentiators amongst typical NYC office spaces for engineers.

ATLANTA | OPENED SUMMER 2011 Our most recent expansion is a new 7,500-square foot satellite office, centrally located along the northwest corridor of Atlanta.

Again reflecting the style, atmosphere and cutting-edge technology of our headquarters and NYC office, the latest DLB space includes an open floor plan and video conferencing capabilities in meeting rooms, training rooms and private offices that further expand our virtual office infrastructure.

DLB OFFICES

www.dlbassociates.com

NEW JERSEY | HEADQUARTERS 265 Industrial Way West Eatontown, NJ 07724 p: 732-774-2000

NEW YORK One Penn Plaza Suite 2601 New York, NY 10119 p: 646-381-6721

ATLANTA 3290 Cumberland Club Drive Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30339 p: 678-504-2200