VC-20-002 -- A Review of Relevant Practices for O&M of High-Performance Buildings

This paper documents in part the study that was conductedfor ASHRAE Research Project RP-1650, which investigatedthe training requirements for sustainable high-performancebuilding operations and maintenance (O&M). The study wasconducted in three related parts, which include: a literaturereview of appropriate O&M practices for high-performancebuildings and training opportunities, a survey of existing practicesin the industry, and the development of learning objectivesto establish appropriate training material for personnelinvolved in the O&M of high-performance buildings. Thepurpose of this paper is to document the procedures and findingsof a portion of the first part, which included a literaturereview of appropriate O&M practices and a correspondingknowledge base required to conduct such activities for highperformancebuildings. The paper concluded that high-performancebuildings are characterized with the implementationand operation of state-of-the-art technologies that requireadvanced monitoring systems and controls for optimum operation.It was found that corresponding O&M practices placesubstantial emphasis on maintaining rigorous preventivemaintenance schedules, optimizing equipment- and systemlevelcontrols, and integrating the performance of thesesystems with other systems and equipment in the facility. Theidentified knowledge-skill-competencies (KSCs) for thesesystems and equipment prompt a shift in the approach requiredin the training of O&M personnel from component-basedunderstanding to systems-thinking.