What is an Independent Commissioning Agent (ICA)?

AirRated® are Independent Commissioning Agents

The role of an independent commissioning agent (ICA) is an essential part of delivering the commissioning of building services to the client/building owner. It is prudent that a thorough commissioning review is undertaken to ensure building energy efficiencies are achieved and systems are operating as intended.

Depending on who has engaged the Commissioning Manager or ICA may often determine the responsibilities and scope required. This may vary due to the complexities of building services, or it could be a contract requirement. The main contractor may engage a commissioning manager or ICA to review the hardware being installed during procurement, documenting and reporting site progress from the contractors, being involved in quality assurance tasks such as duct/building leakage testing, pressure testing, monitoring first fix installations, to reviewing on-site testing and commissioning. Or, the responsibility could be a direct report to the principal contractor, providing commission-ability reviews and updates of the commissioning processes.

An ICA essentially works as a third-party project manager. The ICA fills a vital role in ensuring the systems within the building are performing within the design parameters set by the design team. It should be the ICA's responsibility to review the incumbent services trades commissioning plans to ensure a smooth commissioning process is carried out. The ICA should monitor all commissioning activities and be able to guide the services team should any issues arise.

We can manage heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, building management systems (BMS), commissioning, quarterly tuning & reporting. AirRated® can individually provide the HVAC commissioning services individually or as an all-inclusive project package referred to as Commissioning Management.