01Commissioning reference library: standards, guides and books, and what each one requires

01.0Scope of this chapter

This chapter lists the documents that a commissioning manager (CxM) on a hyperscale data-centre campus uses, says what each one requires of commissioning, and shows which chapter of this manual applies it. The chapter is the reference register for the whole manual. Every acceptance value in chapters 13 to 30 traces back to a document in this chapter, to the project specification or to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) manual.

1. Types of document. The difference between a law, a code, a standard, a guideline, a manufacturer document and a reference book, and which of them binds the contractor.
2. Order of precedence. How the contract, the specification, the referenced standards and the OEM documents rank when they disagree.
3. Process documents. ASHRAE Guideline 0-2019, ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202-2024, the ASHRAE Guideline 1.x family, NIBS Guideline 3, the Building Commissioning Association (BCxA) best practices and the AABC Commissioning Group (ACG) guidelines. The chapter also covers the BSRIA guides BG 8, BG 49, BG 29 and BG 54, the CIBSE Commissioning Codes and CSI MasterFormat section 01 91 13.
4. Data-centre standards. Uptime Institute Tier Standard: Topology and Operational Sustainability, ANSI/TIA-942-C, ANSI/BICSI 002-2024, the EN 50600 series, the ISO/IEC 22237 series and the ASHRAE Technical Committee (TC) 9.9 publications.
5. Discipline standards. Electrical, mechanical, fire and life safety, controls and networks, document management and contracts, and Indonesian regulations.
6. Reference books. Fourteen books checked against a library catalogue, with author, publisher, year and use.
7. Maps and reading plan. Documents by phase, by system, an edition timeline and a reading plan for a Jakarta hyperscale campus.
8. Edition control. How to record, check and change the edition of a referenced document, with worked examples.

Documents and sources used: the ASHRAE course "Principles of Building Commissioning: Guideline 0 and Standard 202" (2020), ASHRAE and ANSI catalogue entries, and the NIBS, BCxA, ACG, BSRIA and CIBSE publication pages. The chapter also uses the Uptime Institute, TIA and BICSI publication pages and the DKE notice on EN 50600 and ISO/IEC 22237. It also uses the Open Library catalogue for books, the research notes RF-01 to RF-03 and the MSC-1 case ledger. Editions were checked on the publisher or catalogue pages on 1 November 2026 (research note RF-01, section D). Where a value or clause could not be read, the text names the document and clause to check.

01.1Types of document and which ones bind the contractor

01.1.1Definitions

A commissioning manager must know whether a document is mandatory before using it to reject work. The table gives the six types used in this manual. The Indonesian regulation example is issued by the Kementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral (ESDM), the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

01.1.2How a standard becomes a contract requirement

A standard binds the contractor only through the contract.

1. The specification names the standard. The specification section (for example 26 08 00 Commissioning of Electrical Systems) states "Test in accordance with ANSI/NETA ATS-2025 section 7.1". Without this sentence the contractor has no duty to follow the NETA Acceptance Testing Specifications (ATS).
2. The specification states the edition. A reference without an edition is read, on most contracts, as the edition current at the tender date. Check the "references" article in Part 1 of each specification section.
3. The contract states the order of precedence. The conditions of contract say which document governs in a conflict (section 01.2).
4. The approved submittal fixes the OEM document. Once the shop drawing and the OEM start-up procedure are approved, they become part of the contract record for that equipment.
5. The commissioning plan and scripts apply the requirement. The commissioning (Cx) plan and the scripts copy the acceptance value and name the clause. A script value without a source is a defect in the script.

Check: For every acceptance value in a script, the "source" column must name one of three documents: the specification clause, the standard clause called up by the specification, or the approved OEM document. The CxM rejects a script during review when a value has no source.

01.1.3Mandatory and advisory language

ASHRAE describes the difference between Standard 202 and Guideline 0 in these terms: Standard 202 is "written in code language" and presents the minimum acceptable process. Guideline 0 is written in guideline language and presents the ideal process (source 1). On a data-centre project section 01 91 13 of the specification calls up Guideline 0 or Standard 202 by name, which makes the named document a contract requirement to the extent stated.

01.2Order of precedence: contract, specification, standard, OEM document

01.2.1The usual order

Figure F01-3 shows the hierarchy. When two documents disagree, the conditions of contract set the order. Where the contract is silent for commissioning documents, the usual practice on hyperscale programmes is the order below (it matches section 04.12.3 of this manual).

01.2.2Rules for applying the hierarchy

1. The stricter value is not automatically correct. A stricter value in a lower document does not override a higher document. If the specification states a 1 min insulation resistance (IR) test and the OEM manual states 10 min with a polarisation index, raise a request for information (RFI, chapter 05) to the EoR. Do not apply either value alone.
2. OEM limits protect the equipment. Where a standard test voltage exceeds the OEM rating of a component (for example a surge arrester or an electronic trip unit), the OEM limit applies to that component and the component is disconnected. Record this on the test sheet.
3. Laws apply even when the contract omits them. The SLO and the fire authority acceptance are required regardless of the contract text.
4. A script cannot relax a specification. If a script tolerance is wider than the specification, the specification governs and the script is revised.
5. A conflict is recorded. Every conflict found is a request for information (RFI) with the two clauses quoted. The answer is filed against both documents so the next reader finds it.

Worked example: Conflict on cable test voltage. The 20 kV cable specification for building B2 states "VLF withstand at 3 U0 for 60 min". This is an example value that follows CENELEC HD 620 practice; the IEEE 400.2 acceptance level for the 20 kV row is 26 kV rms for 30 min (section 13.8.3). The cable manufacturer's commissioning note for the same cable states "VLF withstand at 2 U0 for 15 min for cables older than 5 years; for new installation follow the project specification". U0 for a 12/20 kV cable is 12 kV. The specification requires 3 × 12 = 36 kV for 60 min. The OEM note applies to aged cable and defers to the specification for new cable. There is no conflict. The CxM records the reading in the script header: "Applied value 36 kV rms VLF 0.1 Hz, 60 min, source specification 26 05 13 clause 3.4.B (confirm the level against IEEE 400.2-2024 Table 3 and the CENELEC HD 620 part for the cable type)". If the OEM note had stated a lower maximum for new cable, the CxM would raise an RFI to the EoR with both clauses and stop the test until the answer is issued. The RFI answer limit in chapter 05 is 5 working days.

01.3Commissioning process documents

These documents describe the commissioning process itself: who does what, which documents are produced and when. They do not give test values for equipment.

01.3.1Process documents register

01.3.2ASHRAE Guideline 0-2019: what it requires

Guideline 0 is the base text for the commissioning process on most hyperscale projects. ASHRAE describes the process as having three elements: communication, documentation and verification, all started in pre-design and continued through every phase (source 1). Guideline 0 is organised by the phases pre-design, design, construction, and occupancy and operations. Chapter 02 gives the activities of each phase. Figure F01-6 shows what happens to each commissioning document in each phase.

1. Start in pre-design. Guideline 0 recommends that commissioning starts in pre-design with an independent commissioning provider and a commissioning team. On a campus, this means the CxM is appointed before the 30 % design review of building 1.
2. Write the OPR first. The OPR states the minimum characteristics of a successful project from the owner's view, with verifiable benchmarks. It is completed in pre-design and becomes the basis for all verification.
3. Get a basis of design from the designer. The BOD records assumptions, methods, selections and decisions, and the narrative of operation and control sequences.
4. Keep a Cx plan current. The Cx plan starts in pre-design and is updated in each phase.
5. Review the design against the OPR. The design review checks that the design will deliver the OPR. Guideline 0 recommends sampling of design documents as a procedure; the scope is a project decision.
6. Put commissioning into the construction documents. The specifications must carry general conditions (participation, consequences of non-compliance) and section-specific requirements (checklists, test procedures, training).
7. Use construction checklists and test procedures. Checklists cover delivery, pre-installation condition, installation, and operation in isolation. Test procedures are scripted and allow easy recording.
8. Verify by sampling where agreed. The ASHRAE course states that ASHRAE recommends sampling for verifications at 5 % to 10 %, set by the commissioning provider (source 1). On mission-critical facilities, Uptime Institute states that representative testing is not acceptable for critical components (source 12). Chapter 02 shows how the two positions are combined.
9. Keep an issues log. The issues log is the shared record of issues and their resolution. Standard 202 calls it the issues and resolution log.
10. Verify training and the systems manual. Both are verified during construction.
11. Finish in occupancy. Seasonal and deferred tests, a lessons-learned workshop and the final commissioning process report are completed in occupancy and operations.

01.3.3ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202-2024: what it requires

Standard 202 is the minimum process. It is written so that a specification or a code can call it up. ASHRAE's catalogue gives the 2024 title as "The Commissioning Process Requirements for New Buildings and New Systems" and describes it as identifying "the minimum acceptable Commissioning Process (Cx) for new buildings and new systems" with "procedures, methods, and documentation requirements for each activity for project delivery, from predesign through occupancy and operations" (source 2). Existing buildings are covered by Standard 230.

1. Organisation by document. Standard 202 is organised around the documents that record commissioning activities and responsibilities. Guideline 0 is organised by phase.
2. Owner selects the systems. The owner selects the systems and assemblies to be commissioned, unless a code sets them.
3. Minimum content of each document. Each document has minimum content (OPR, BOD review, Cx plan, Cx requirements in the construction documents, checklists, test procedures, issues and resolution log, training requirements, systems manual, Cx report). Read the clause list of the current edition before writing the project Cx specification.
4. Use in the specification. For example, section 01 91 13 contains "Commissioning process shall comply with ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202-2024 as a minimum and shall follow ASHRAE Guideline 0-2019".

01.3.4The ASHRAE Guideline 1.x family

ASHRAE presents Guideline 0 and Standard 202 as process documents and the 1.x guidelines as technical support for a system type (source 1). The 2020 ASHRAE course listed a Guideline 1.6 for data centres as work in progress. In this research no published Guideline 1.6 was found; a CxM should ask ASHRAE or check the bookstore before citing it.

01.3.5NIBS Guideline 3, BCxA and ACG

NIBS Guideline 3-2012 is the second edition of the building enclosure commissioning guideline (first edition 2005). NIBS states that it is used with ASHRAE Guideline 0, which covers the whole building, while Guideline 3 covers the enclosure (source 4). On a data centre the enclosure matters for two reasons: water entry into electrical rooms and air leakage that upsets room pressure and humidity control. Guideline 3 requires an enclosure part of the OPR, a project-specific enclosure Cx specification, design review and field tests.

The Building Commissioning Association published its New Construction Building Commissioning Best Practices to condense long lists of tasks into the activities of an ideal process and to list common pitfalls (source 5). The ACG Commissioning Guideline 2nd edition (2005) is free; ACG now uses the Building Systems Commissioning Guideline (2022) as its reference for independent third-party commissioning providers (source 6).

01.3.6BSRIA and CIBSE documents

BSRIA and CIBSE documents are British. Asian projects designed by UK or Singapore consultants call them up for flushing and air balancing.

1. BG 29/2021 for flushing. BG 29 is the BSRIA guide that data-centre specifications call up for chilled-water and technology cooling loops. It sets the flushing method, the sampling and the water quality acceptance before the system is filled for commissioning. Chapter 18 applies it.
2. BG 49/2024 for air systems. BG 49 covers the functional test and regulation of air systems. Chapter 19 applies it to CRAH and fan walls.
3. BG 8/2009 for the Cx plan. BG 8 is a template for the commissioning plan. Chapter 03 compares it with the Guideline 0 content.
4. BG 54/2018 for handover. The Soft Landings Framework has six phases and names a soft landings champion. Chapter 12 uses it for the period after handover.
5. CIBSE Code M (2022). Code M is the management code and is read with the technical codes A, B, C, L, R and W.
6. CIBSE Code W (2025) and Code A. These give the method and the tolerances for water and air flow regulation where the specification calls them up. Chapters 18 and 19 apply them.

01.3.7CSI MasterFormat section 01 91 13

Section 01 91 13 General Commissioning Requirements is the Division 01 section that makes the commissioning process a contractor obligation. Owner master specifications use the three-part format: Part 1 General, Part 2 Products and Part 3 Execution (source 7). Four discipline sections carry the technical commissioning requirements. They are 23 08 00 (commissioning of HVAC), 26 08 00 (commissioning of electrical systems), 27 08 00 (commissioning of communications) and 28 08 00 (commissioning of electronic safety and security). The owner master specification can number them differently; its index governs. Chapter 03 lists the articles of 01 91 13.

Check: At tender review, read section 01 91 13 for four items: the named Cx process document and edition, the witness notice period, the retest cost clause, and the list of systems to be commissioned. If any of the four is missing, raise it in the design review log.

01.4Data-centre standards

01.4.1Data-centre standards register

The register lists the documents that rate a data centre and the publications of ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.9. Figure F01-7 compares the four rating systems and shows what commissioning must demonstrate for each. The four systems are Uptime Tier I to IV, TIA-942-C Rated 1 to 4, BICSI Class F0 to F4, and the EN 50600 and ISO/IEC 22237 availability classes 1 to 4.

01.4.2Uptime Institute: what the Tier Standards require of commissioning

1. Topology sets the tests. Tier III requires that every capacity component and distribution path can be removed for maintenance without affecting the critical load. Tier IV adds tolerance of a single fault. The IST scripts in chapter 28 demonstrate both.
2. Commissioning rigour does not depend on Tier. Uptime Institute writes that "the rigor associated with commissioning a data center has little relationship to its Tier level" (source 12). Under this rule a Tier III hall gets the same five levels of commissioning as a Tier IV hall: Level 1 (L1) factory tests to Level 5 (L5) integrated systems test, as chapter 02 defines them.
3. Load bank duration. Uptime recommends minimum continuous runtime of 8 hours for all load bank tests (source 12).
4. Every critical component is tested. Uptime states that representative testing should not be acceptable for mission-critical data centres (source 12).
5. Fire systems stay active during Level 5. Uptime recommends running Level 5 tests with fire detection and suppression active.
6. Certification sequence. TCDD is a prerequisite for TCCF, and both are prerequisites for the Operational Sustainability rating (source 13).

01.4.3TIA-942-C, BICSI 002 and the EN 50600 and ISO/IEC 22237 series

TIA-942-C was published in May 2024 (source 14). It is the reference for the telecommunications spaces, cabling topology and cabinet widths. Its Rated levels are a TIA rating and are separate from Uptime Tiers. ANSI/BICSI 002-2024 was published in May 2024 and replaces the 2019 edition (source 15). Its availability Classes F0 to F4 are intentionally independent of a single electrical topology.

The DKE notice on the European and international series shows that ISO/IEC 22237 began as technical specifications taken from the first EN 50600 editions and that most parts map one to one (source 16). The mapping is shown below.

01.4.4ASHRAE TC 9.9 publications

The Thermal Guidelines (5th edition, 2021) give the environmental classes that the white-space acceptance tests use. The fifth edition added research on high humidity and gaseous pollutants, a high-density class, and renamed the liquid cooling classes by maximum facility water temperature (source 17). In the MSC-1 worked example, the technology cooling system (TCS) supply is 45 °C and the facility water system (FWS) supply is 35 °C. The liquid class that the OEM declares for the rack must cover the TCS supply temperature with the tolerance stated by the OEM. Chapter 19 gives the test.

01.5Electrical standards

01.5.1Electrical standards register

The register lists the electrical test, product and safety standards with the edition checked on 1 November 2026. Figure F01-8 shows, for seven equipment types, which document gives the test list, which gives the method and the agreed example acceptance value.

01.5.2How the electrical standards are used together

1. NETA ATS gives the test list and many values. For each equipment type, ATS section 7 lists the visual and mechanical inspections and the electrical tests. The values sit in the section 100 tables. The 2025 edition rewrote Table 100.6 for MV cable (source 19).
2. IEEE and IEC give the method. IEEE 400.2 gives the VLF test method. IEC 60270 gives the PD measurement method. ISO 8528-5 gives the generator transient classes.
3. IEC product standards give the factory evidence. IEC 61439 and IEC 62271-200 type and routine test reports are checked at the FAT (Level 1).
4. IEC 60364-6 and PUIL 2020 give the low-voltage verification. These are the tests that the LIT inspector checks for the SLO.
5. NFPA 70E governs safe work during every test. Chapter 10 applies it.

Worked example: Choosing the source of the IR acceptance value for a 400 V switchboard. The specification for building B2 states "test per ANSI/NETA ATS-2025 section 7.1". ATS section 7.1 refers to Table 100.1 for the minimum insulation resistance. For a 400 V system, Table 100.1 gives a test voltage of 1,000 V DC and a minimum of 100 MΩ for equipment rated 251 V to 600 V (confirm against ANSI/NETA ATS-2025 Table 100.1). IEC 60364-6 gives a lower minimum for the installation (1 MΩ at 500 V DC for circuits up to 500 V). The CxM uses the NETA value for the switchboard because the specification names NETA for equipment. The CxM uses the IEC 60364-6 value for the installation circuits because the SLO inspector checks against PUIL 2020. The test sheet ELE-L3-LVSB-B2-A1-01 shows both columns with their sources.

01.6Mechanical standards

01.6.1Mechanical standards register

01.6.2How the mechanical standards are used together

The mechanical standards apply in the order of the site work: flushing, pressure test, chiller factory test and balancing. Figure F01-9 shows the four steps with the applied value, the record and the step that each record releases.

1. Flush and clean first. BSRIA BG 29 defines when a loop is clean enough to fill and commission. A TCS loop for liquid-cooled racks has a stricter particle limit set by the coolant distribution unit (CDU) OEM. The OEM limit is copied into the L2 flushing record.
2. Pressure test to the piping code. ASME B31.9 (or the code named in the specification) sets the test pressure and hold time.
3. Test the chiller at the factory to AHRI 550/590. The FAT of a chiller compares capacity and efficiency against the rating at agreed conditions with the AHRI tolerance.
4. Balance with a certified TAB firm. NEBB or AABC procedures govern the TAB report. The CxM witnesses a sample of the TAB readings (chapter 19).

01.7Fire and life safety standards

Common errors:

1. Testing fire interfaces from a simulated signal only. NFPA 72 acceptance requires the real initiating device to be operated for the interface test. A CxM accepts a simulated input only for repeat tests after the first real test.
2. Forgetting the local authority. In Jakarta the fire authority acceptance is separate from the owner's commissioning. Book the authority inspection at least 15 working days before the planned date. The 15 working days are a planning value; the current lead time is agreed with Dinas Gulkarmat DKI Jakarta.

01.8Controls, monitoring and network standards

01.9Document management and contract documents

The contract documents decide when tests take place and what the test records release. Figure F01-10 places the FIDIC 2017 and NEC4 test clauses and the Indonesian legal hold points (LIT inspection, recommendation of fitness for energisation (RLB), SLO and fire authority acceptance) against the commissioning levels.

01.10Indonesian laws, regulations and national standards

01.10.1What the Indonesian regulations add to the commissioning plan

1. SLO is a legal gate. The SLO is issued by an accredited LIT after inspection and testing. An installation without SLO must not be operated. The Cx plan includes the LIT inspection as a hold point in the energisation programme (chapter 10).
2. Energisation recommendation before first energisation. For new HV and MV installations the usual sequence is a recommendation of fitness for energisation (Rekomendasi Laik Bertegangan, RLB) before first energisation, then commissioning, then the SLO. Permen ESDM 12/2021 sets the SLO procedure and does not name the RLB; the current RLB procedure is agreed with the LIT and PLN (the state electricity company).
3. Competent persons sign. Under Permenaker 12/2015 the electrical safety inspector is a competent person. The Cx plan lists the certificate numbers of the persons who sign the electrical safety records.
4. Fire authority acceptance. The local fire authority inspects and accepts the fire installations. The Cx plan books this as a separate hold point after the owner's L4 fire tests.

01.11Reference books

The books below were checked against the Open Library catalogue for title, author, publisher and year (sources 21 to 34). The "use" column says when the CxM reads each book. Books are never cited as acceptance values.

A data-centre handbook attributed to "Bullock et al." was searched for and was not found in the Open Library catalogue. It is not listed here. Add it to the register only after the full title, publisher and year are confirmed.

01.12Maps of the library by phase and by system

01.12.1Documents by project phase

Figure F01-1 shows which documents the CxM uses in each phase. The table gives the same map with the commissioning task that each document supports. The operations row cites the NETA Maintenance Testing Specifications (MTS).

01.12.2Documents by system

Figure F01-2 maps documents to the systems of a hyperscale building. The table lists the first document to open for each system.

01.13Edition control of referenced documents

01.13.1Why edition control matters

Standards change values between editions. The NETA ATS 2025 edition rewrote the MV cable table. TIA-568.2-E replaced 568.2-D in 2024. A script that names the wrong edition can either reject good work or accept work that the current edition would fail. Figure F01-4 shows the editions used in this manual on a timeline.

01.13.2Reference register fields

The CxM keeps a reference register for the campus. It is a controlled document in the CDE (chapter 04).

01.13.3Procedure to check and change an edition

Purpose: Keep every referenced document at the edition stated in the contract, and handle a newer edition by change control.

Owner: Commissioning manager.

Trigger: Start of design review; every 6 months; when a publisher issues a new edition or an erratum.

Steps:

1. List the references. Extract the "references" article from Part 1 of every specification section and from section 01 91 13. Enter each reference in the register within 10 working days of receiving the specification.
2. Check the latest edition. Check the publisher catalogue for each reference. Record the latest edition and the date of the check. Allow 1 working day per 20 references.
3. Compare contract edition and latest edition. Where they differ, read the summary of changes issued by the publisher and list the changes that affect a test value or a test method.
4. Decide the action. If a change affects safety or a legal requirement, raise an RFI to the EoR within 2 working days. If the change affects only a test value, record it and raise it at the next design review.
5. Change by instruction only. The contract edition changes only by a site instruction or a variation (chapter 08). The CxM does not apply a newer edition in a script without that instruction.
6. Update scripts. After the instruction, revise every script that cites the document. Record the new revision in the script register within 5 working days.
7. Record. Update the register with the new edition, the instruction number and the date.

Records: Reference register REF-MSC1, RFI log, script revision log.

Worked example: TIA-568.2 edition on the MSC-1 OT network. The OT network specification for building B1 was issued in March 2024 and names "ANSI/TIA-568.2-D". TIA published 568.2-E in October 2024. The CxM records REF-0071 with contract edition D and latest edition E. The cabling installer for building B2 starts in January 2027 and asks which edition to certify against. The CxM raises RFI-B2-ICT-0315 on 6 January 2027. The EoR answers on Monday 11 January (3 working days, counting 6 January as day 0). The answer states that the permanent link limits used on site stay at 568.2-D for building B2 because the tester firmware library already contains both. It also states that building B3 will move to 568.2-E by site instruction SI-B3-021. The CxM sets the tester limit to "TIA Cat 6A Perm. Link (568.2-D)" in script NET-L3-CU-B2-01 rev B and records the edition in the header of every test report.

01.13.4Edition timeline of the documents used most

01.13.5Further standards cited in the chapters, with the edition checked

The registers above list the documents the commissioning plan calls up by name. The chapters also cite the standards below for single values, test methods or definitions. The adopted edition is the one in the first column; the status column records what the publisher's catalogue or a national standards body listed on 1 November 2026. A chapter that quotes a value from an older edition says so beside the value. Figure F01-11 summarises what the check found and what the text does with each outcome.

01.14Obtaining, licensing and holding the documents

01.14.1Access methods

1. Purchase a licensed copy. Most standards are sold as single-user PDF files. A single-user licence does not allow the file to be placed on a shared drive. Buy one licence per named user who signs test records against the document.
2. Use a subscription service. Standards subscription services give a team access to IEEE, IEC, ISO and ASTM documents. Check that the subscription includes withdrawn editions, because the contract may name an older edition.
3. Use free read-only access. NFPA gives free read-only online access to its codes. Uptime Institute gives the Tier Standards free after registration. NIBS Guideline 3 is free on the WBDG. The ACG Commissioning Guideline 2nd edition is a free PDF.
4. Use Indonesian legal databases. Permen and UU texts are free on peraturan.bpk.go.id and the ministry legal portals (JDIH).
5. Ask the OEM. OEM installation and start-up manuals are supplied with the submittal. The specification must require the OEM to supply them in English (and in Indonesian where the operator needs it).

01.14.2Minimum set to hold on site

Common errors:

1. Working from a summary. Test values copied from a vendor blog or a training slide are not a source. The CxM accepts a value only from the document itself or from the approved specification.
2. Using an unlicensed copy. An unlicensed PDF on a shared drive is a breach of copyright and of most owner policies. The CxM keeps the licence record in the reference register.
3. Losing the edition named in the contract. If the contract names an older edition, keep that edition. A subscription that shows only the current edition is not enough.

01.15Reading plan for a Jakarta hyperscale campus

01.15.1Purpose of the plan

A new CxM on a Jakarta hyperscale campus has limited time before the first design review. The plan below sets the order of reading so that the documents needed first are read first. It assumes 6 hours of reading per week alongside site work. Figure F01-5 shows the plan as a timeline.

01.15.2Plan by week

01.15.3Rules for the reading plan

1. Read the project documents before the standards. The contract and the specification decide which standard applies. Read week 1 before anything else.
2. Read the listed sections first. Each standard is read for the sections listed in the plan. The rest is used as a reference when a question arises.
3. Write the output. Each week ends with the written output in the last column. The output is a working note filed in the CDE under the CxM's work-in-progress folder.
4. Ask the local authority early. The fire authority and the LIT requirements are not fully written in public documents. In week 4 and week 8, the CxM meets the authority or the LIT to confirm the inspection steps and the lead times.
5. Repeat for each new building. For buildings 2 to 4 the plan shrinks to the documents that changed edition and the lessons-learned log of building 1.

01.16How to read a standard clause and copy it into a script

01.16.1Steps

Purpose: Copy an acceptance value from a standard into a script without error.

Owner: Commissioning engineer who writes the script; reviewed by the CxM.

Steps:

1. Identify the clause. Write the document code, edition, clause number and table number, for example "ANSI/NETA ATS-2025, 7.22.2, Table 100.1".
2. Read the scope of the clause. Check that the equipment matches the scope (voltage class, type, rating). A table for dry-type transformers does not apply to liquid-filled ones.
3. Read the notes under the table. Many tables have notes that change the value (temperature correction, test duration, altitude).
4. Check the units. Copy the unit exactly (MΩ, kV AC rms, kV DC, pC, N·m).
5. Check against the specification. If the specification states a different value, the specification governs under the order of precedence; raise an RFI if the specification value looks wrong.
6. Check against the OEM document. If the OEM document states a lower limit for a component, record the component as disconnected during the test.
7. Enter the value with its source. In the script step table, the "acceptance" column holds the value and the "source" column holds the clause reference.
8. Get a second check. A second engineer checks every copied value against the document. The second check is signed in the script review record.

01.16.2Script source column format

Worked example: UPS output voltage tolerance. The script writer for the UPS L4 script UPS-L4-B2-DH3-A1-01 needs the steady-state output voltage tolerance. The specification 26 33 53 clause 2.4.C states "output voltage regulation ±1 % for balanced load, ±2 % for 100 % unbalanced load". IEC 62040-3:2021 defines the performance classification but the tolerance values are declared by the manufacturer. The approved UPS submittal states ±1 % balanced and ±3 % for 100 % unbalanced load. The specification (rank 4) is stricter than the OEM declaration (rank 7) for unbalanced load. The script writer enters "±1 % balanced, source 26 33 53 2.4.C" and "±2 % unbalanced, source 26 33 53 2.4.C" and raises RFI-B2-ELE-0402 because the approved product declares ±3 %. The EoR answers that the submittal approval did not accept a deviation and that the OEM must show ±2 % at FAT or submit a deviation request. At the FAT the unit measures ±1.6 % at 100 % unbalanced load, which passes the specification value.

01.17Worked examples of using the library

Worked example: Building the reference register for MSC-1 building B1. The CxM receives 46 specification sections for building B1. Section 01 91 13 names ASHRAE Guideline 0-2019 and Standard 202-2024. The electrical sections name NETA ATS-2021, IEC 62040-3:2021, ISO 8528-5:2022 and IEEE 1188. The mechanical sections name BSRIA BG 29/2020, ASME B31.9 and AHRI 550/590. The CxM extracts 63 distinct references and enters them as REF-0001 to REF-0063 in 4 working days. The catalogue check finds 9 references where a newer edition exists, including NETA ATS-2025 (contract 2021) and BG 29/2021. The contract names BG 29/2020, which the catalogue lists as withdrawn and superseded by the amended 6th edition in March 2021. The CxM raises one RFI listing all 9 with the changes that affect tests. The EoR answers within 5 working days: BG 29/2021 is adopted by site instruction SI-B1-007 because the 2020 edition is withdrawn. NETA ATS stays at 2021 for building B1 and moves to 2025 for building B2. The register records 63 references, 9 newer editions, 1 instruction.

Worked example: Choosing between Uptime and ASHRAE on sampling. The Cx specification for the MSC-1 hall rack power distribution allows the CxA to verify L2 checklists by sampling at 10 %, following the ASHRAE recommendation of 5 % to 10 %. Each hall has 100 racks and 200 rack power distribution units (PDU), two per rack on the A and B feeds. The owner's OPR states that every component in the critical power path is tested. Uptime states that representative testing is not acceptable for mission-critical sites. The CxM applies the order of precedence: the OPR (rank 3) is above the specification (rank 4). The CxM sets 100 % testing for L3 and L4 of the critical power path (200 rack PDU energisation checks per hall). The CxM keeps 10 % sampling only for L2 visual checks of non-critical items such as rack blanking panels. The decision is recorded in the Cx plan section 6.3 and in RFI-B1-ELE-0122 because the specification and the OPR differ.

Worked example: Fire authority and NFPA. The fire design for building B1 follows NFPA 72 and NFPA 2001. The Jakarta fire authority accepts installations against the Indonesian regulations and the SNI fire standards. The CxM lists the tests that both require (device tests, panel functions, cause-and-effect) and the tests that only NFPA requires (clean agent enclosure integrity test with a door fan). The CxM plans the door fan test for 12 rooms in building B1 at 0.5 day per room, 6 working days in total, before the fire authority inspection. The CxM books the authority inspection 15 working days ahead (planning value; the lead time is agreed with Dinas Gulkarmat DKI Jakarta).

01.18Common errors in using the reference library

1. No edition in the script. A script that cites "NETA" without the edition cannot be checked. Detect it at script review by searching the source column for document codes without a year.
2. A guideline cited as mandatory. An issue raised against a "should" in a guideline that the contract does not call up is not a contract defect. Record it as an observation and raise it with the owner.
3. A training slide or blog used as a source. Detect it by checking that every source in the script source column appears in the reference register.
4. OEM value overriding the specification without an RFI. Detect it at FAT review by comparing the OEM test report limits with the specification.
5. A withdrawn standard kept in use. Detect it at the 6-monthly register check.
6. Local law missed. The SLO and fire authority hold points are missing from the energisation programme. Detect it by checking the programme against section 01.10.1.
7. Uptime Tier confused with TIA Rated. A design called "Tier III" by a contractor may mean TIA-942 Rated 3. Detect it by asking which document and which certification the claim refers to.
8. Sampling applied to critical items. Detect it by reading the Cx plan sampling section against the OPR.
9. Values copied without notes. Temperature correction of IR readings is missed. Detect it by checking that the script states the correction rule and the reference temperature.
10. Unlicensed copies. Detect it at the reference register audit.

01.19Checklist for site use

1. Contract first. The contract, conditions and order of precedence are read and noted before any standard is used.
2. Reference register created. Every reference in every specification section is in REF-MSC1 with contract edition and latest edition.
3. Editions checked. Each reference was checked against the publisher catalogue within the last 6 months.
4. Newer editions handled. Every newer edition that changes a test has an RFI and an EoR answer.
5. Licences held. Each signing engineer holds a licensed copy of the standards used in their scripts.
6. Process documents named. Section 01 91 13 names Guideline 0-2019 and Standard 202-2024 or states another process document.
7. Data-centre standards identified. The OPR states the Uptime Tier objective or the TIA-942 Rated or BICSI Class target, and the certification required.
8. Electrical test source fixed. The electrical specifications name NETA ATS with an edition, and the IEC and IEEE documents for method.
9. Mechanical test source fixed. Flushing, pressure test, TAB and chiller FAT sources are named.
10. Fire sources fixed. NFPA and Indonesian fire requirements are listed, and the fire authority hold point is in the programme.
11. Controls and network sources fixed. BACnet, Modbus, PTP, cabling and IEC 62443 references are named with editions.
12. Indonesian law in the programme. SLO, LIT inspection, RLB and competent person rules are hold points.
13. Script source column complete. Every acceptance value in every script has a source with edition and clause.
14. Reading plan followed. The 12-week reading plan outputs are filed in the CDE.
15. Books used for method only. No acceptance value is taken from a reference book.

01.20Sources

1. ASHRAE, "Principles of Building Commissioning: ASHRAE Guideline 0 and Standard 202", course slides, 2020, accessed 31 October 2026. https://www.utah.gov/pmn/files/1040363.pdf
2. ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 202-2024, The Commissioning Process Requirements for New Buildings and New Systems, catalogue entry, accessed 31 October 2026. https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/ashrae/ansiashraeies2022024
3. ASHRAE Guideline 1.1-2025 catalogue entry and ASHRAE commissioning bookstore, accessed 31 October 2026. https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/ashrae/ashraeguideline2025 and https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/bookstore/commissioning
4. National Institute of Building Sciences, NIBS Guideline 3-2012, Building Enclosure Commissioning Process BECx, accessed 31 October 2026. https://nibs.org/?p=13993 and https://stg.wbdg.org/FFC/NIBS/nibs_gl3.pdf
5. Building Design+Construction, "BCA's Best Practices in New Construction available online", accessed 31 October 2026. https://www.bdcnetwork.com/building-team/architects/news/55156639/bcas-best-practices-in-new-construction-available-online
6. AABC Commissioning Group, ACG Commissioning Guideline 2nd edition (PDF) and Building Systems Commissioning Guideline announcement, accessed 31 October 2026. https://www.commissioning.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ACGCommissioningGuideline.pdf and https://www.achrnews.com/articles/162348-the-updated-acg-building-systems-commissioning-guideline-is-now-available
7. University of Houston master specification, Section 01 91 13 General Commissioning Requirements, accessed 31 October 2026. https://www.uh.edu/facilities-services/departments/fpc/master-specs/01-91-13-fl-general-commissioning-reqmts.pdf
8. BSRIA guides BG 8/2009, BG 29/2021 and BG 49/2024, catalogue records, accessed 31 October 2026. https://cis.ihs.com//CIS/document/294607 and https://designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Commissioning_Air_Systems_BG_49/2024
9. BSRIA, Soft Landings Framework BG 54/2018 launch, accessed 31 October 2026. https://www.acr-news.com/bsria-launches-soft-landings-framework
10. CIBSE, Commissioning Codes, accessed 31 October 2026. https://www.cibse.org/knowledge-research/knowledge-resources/engineering-guidance/commissioning-codes
11. Uptime Institute, Tier Standard: Topology, accessed 31 October 2026. https://uptimeinstitute.com/resources/asset/tier-standard-topology
12. Uptime Institute Journal, "Improve Project Success Through Mission Critical Commissioning", accessed 14 October 2026 (research note RN-04). https://journal.uptimeinstitute.com/improve-project-success-through-mission-critical-commissioning
13. Uptime Institute, Tier Standard: Operational Sustainability, accessed 31 October 2026. https://mission-criticalservices.yolasite.com/resources/TIERSTANDARD_OperationalSustainability_100701.pdf
14. Telecommunications Industry Association, TIA-942 product page, revision C, May 2024, accessed 31 October 2026. https://tiaonline.org/products/tia-942/
15. Cabling Installation and Maintenance, "Updated BICSI Data Center Standard Prescribes Design and Implementation Best Practices", accessed 31 October 2026. https://www.cablinginstall.com/home/press-release/55056414/updated-bicsi-data-center-standard-prescribes-design-and-implementation-best-practices
16. DKE, notice on EN 50600 and ISO/IEC 22237 (GK 719, March 2022), accessed 31 October 2026. https://www.dke.de/resource/blob/2169150/ebc22bd96c983c3e69145d50cb46e369/verlautbarung-gk-719-2022-03---pdf-data.pdf
17. Upsite Technologies, "What You Need to Know About ASHRAE's Fifth Edition of Thermal Guidelines", accessed 31 October 2026. https://www.upsite.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-ashraes-fifth-edition-of-thermal-guidelines/
18. Schneider Electric, White Paper 148, Data Center Projects: Commissioning, Rev 1, accessed 31 October 2026. https://download.schneider-electric.com/doc/SPD_DBOY-6NJNK6_EN/DBOY-6NJNK6_R1_EN.pdf
19. ANSI Blog, "ANSI/NETA ATS-2025: Electrical Power Testing", accessed 31 October 2026. https://blog.ansi.org/ansi/ansi-neta-ats-2025-electrical-power-testing/
20. Permen PU 26/PRT/M/2008, fire protection requirements, accessed 14 October 2026. https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Download/95203/PermenPU26-2008.pdf
21. Open Library, Geng (ed.), Data Center Handbook. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL17447135W
22. Open Library, Curtis, Maintaining Mission Critical Systems in a 24/7 Environment. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL8231780W
23. Open Library, Jayaswal, Administering Data Centers. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL5833851W
24. Open Library, Heinz, The Building Commissioning Handbook. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL5801519W
25. Open Library, Odom, Commissioning Buildings in Hot Humid Climates. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL8561639W
26. Open Library, Grondzik, Principles of Building Commissioning. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL8229959W
27. Open Library, Alger, Build the Best Data Center Facility for Your Business. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL8961934W
28. Open Library, Joshi and Kumar (eds.), Energy Efficient Thermal Management of Data Centers. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL17446616W
29. Open Library, Klote, Handbook of Smoke Control Engineering. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL16599329W
30. Open Library, SMACNA, HVAC Systems: Testing, Adjusting and Balancing, 4th edition. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL37761749W
31. Open Library, Gill, Electrical Power Equipment Maintenance and Testing. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL2709639W
32. Open Library, Arregoces and Portolani, Data Center Fundamentals. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL6216191W
33. Open Library, Barroso and Hölzle, The Datacenter as a Computer. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL9959158W
34. Open Library, Doughton and Hooper, Inspection, Testing and Commissioning of Electrical Installations. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL21036234W
35. MSC-1 case ledger, ../case_ledger.json, Data Centre Commissioning Field Manual R01 working files, October 2026.
36. NFPA, Current Edition fields on the standard development pages for NFPA 13, 25, 70B, 70E, 72, 75, 76, 110 and 2001, accessed 1 November 2026. https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-72-standard-development/72
37. IEEE Standards Association, status pages for IEEE 400-2012 (superseded by 400-2023), IEEE 400.3-2022, IEEE 1188-2025, IEEE 450-2020 and IEEE 485-2020, accessed 1 November 2026. https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/1188/11656/ and https://standards.ieee.org/standard/400-2012.html
38. ASHRAE, Commissioning bookstore page (Standard 230-2022, Guideline 1.3-2018, Guideline 1.5-2017), accessed 1 November 2026. https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/bookstore/commissioning
39. ANSI Webstore, ASHRAE 111-2024, ASHRAE Guideline 1.1-2025 and Guideline 1.3-2026 catalogue entries, accessed 1 November 2026. https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/ashrae/ansiashrae1112024 and https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/ashrae/ashraeguideline2026
40. ASTM International, E2813-26 Standard Practice for Building Enclosure Commissioning, accessed 1 November 2026. https://store.astm.org/e2813-26.html
41. CIBSE knowledge portal, CCA Commissioning Code A: Air Distribution Systems (2024) and Commissioning Code C: Automatic Controls (2001), accessed 1 November 2026. https://cibse.org/knowledge-research/knowledge-portal/cca-commissioning-code-a-air-distribution-systems-2024-pdf/
42. AHRI, Search Standards page listing 550/590-2026 (I-P) and 551/591-2026 (SI), accessed 1 November 2026. https://ahrinet.org/site/686/Standards/HVACR-Industry-Standards/Search-Standards
43. IEC Webstore, IEC 61280-4-2:2024 and IEC 60092-302-2:2025 (which cites IEC 61439-1:2020 and IEC 61439-2:2020), accessed 1 November 2026. https://webstore.iec.ch/publication/77134 and https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/85193
44. Catalogue entries for ISO 8528-6:2023, ISO/IEC 14763-3:2024, ISO/IEC 11801-1:2017/Amd 1:2025 and ISO/IEC 22237-1:2021, accessed 1 November 2026. https://www.standards.govt.nz/shop/ISO-8528-62023 , https://scc-ccn.ca/standardsdb/standards/2054208 , https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/iso/isoiec118012017amd12025 , https://www.iso.org/standard/78550.html
45. ACHR News, "Updated guidance on data center cooling covers supply water temperatures" (Liquid Cooling Guidelines 2nd edition), 29 April 2014, accessed 1 November 2026. https://achrnews.com/articles/126514-april-29-2014-updated-guidance-on-data-center-cooling-covers-supply-water-temperatures
46. NEC, "NEC4 2023 Amendments now available", accessed 1 November 2026. https://www.neccontract.com/news/nec4-2023-amendments
47. ASHRAE Standards Actions, 24 April 2026 (second public review of BSR/ASHRAE Standard 223P), accessed 1 November 2026. https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/technical%20resources/standards%20and%20guidelines/standards%20actions/sa-apr_24_2026.pdf
48. Uptime Institute, Tier Standard: Operational Sustainability resource page (version effective 1 April 2013), accessed 1 November 2026. https://atd.uptimeinstitute.com/resources/asset/tier-standard-operational-sustainability

Educational field reference compiled from public standards, guides, manufacturer documents and published incident reports; sources close each chapter. The project specification, the Engineer of Record and the OEM documents govern; check the current edition of every standard before use. Worked examples use an example campus (MSC-1: 4 buildings, 12 halls of 12 MW), not project data. Independent research; not affiliated with any current or former employer. Privacy · Terms.