Which statement about commissioning cost ranges is correct?

Which statement about commissioning cost ranges is correct?

• A. New construction commissioning costs 2 to 3% of total construction cost
• B. New construction commissioning costs 0.5 to 1.5% of total construction cost
• C. Retrocommissioning costs 3 to 5% of total operation cost
• D. New construction commissioning costs 3 to 4% of total electrical system construction cost

Answer: (B)

New construction commissioning is a one‑time activity tied to planning, testing, and verifying that the building systems meet the design intent. The typical range for this work is about 0.5 to 1.5% of the total construction cost, which reflects the labor, documentation, field testing, and oversight involved without being tied to a specific subsystem or to ongoing operating costs. The option stating 0.5 to 1.5% of total construction cost aligns with common industry expectations for the scope and effort of commissioning on new buildings. The other statements are less representative: 2–3% for new construction is higher than what is usually expected; tying commissioning to a portion of a single system (like the electrical system) narrows the scope incorrectly; and retrocommissioning is a separate process typically considered a one‑time optimization effort, not a percentage of ongoing operating costs.

New construction commissioning is a one‑time activity tied to planning, testing, and verifying that the building systems meet the design intent. The typical range for this work is about 0.5 to 1.5% of the total construction cost, which reflects the labor, documentation, field testing, and oversight involved without being tied to a specific subsystem or to ongoing operating costs.

The option stating 0.5 to 1.5% of total construction cost aligns with common industry expectations for the scope and effort of commissioning on new buildings. The other statements are less representative: 2–3% for new construction is higher than what is usually expected; tying commissioning to a portion of a single system (like the electrical system) narrows the scope incorrectly; and retrocommissioning is a separate process typically considered a one‑time optimization effort, not a percentage of ongoing operating costs.