Testing and Measurement Services

Using measurements to assess building performance

At handover, the team needs to know whether systems operate as intended; during occupancy, it may need to understand the conditions behind a specific indoor environmental concern. Our testing and measurement service examines these questions using site data. AECO defines the areas, systems and measurement conditions and relates findings to design, construction or operational decisions.

The service can support building owners, investors, design and construction teams, and facilities managers. A handover review may examine whether systems operate in line with their intended targets, while an occupied building may require investigation of a specific performance question. Defining the purpose and scope at the outset makes it clearer which decisions the findings can support.

For commissioning, the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) and Basis of Design (BOD) provide the basis for functional tests and issue tracking. ASHRAE’s commissioning framework addresses the relationship between these documents and system performance; handover documentation is reviewed accordingly. Façade testing examines performance characteristics such as air and water tightness in the agreed areas. Test methods and assessment criteria are selected for the building element and project conditions being examined.

Indoor environmental work can cover illuminance and its distribution, indoor air quality, daylight and thermal comfort. We interpret air quality results alongside occupancy and ventilation conditions, and daylight findings alongside outdoor conditions and the time of measurement. Comfort assessments relate temperature, humidity, air movement and other variables within the agreed scope to occupant conditions.

We begin by defining the question and the areas the measurements need to represent. Methods, acceptance criteria, access requirements and test conditions form part of the plan. Design documents and available operational information help explain the data collected on site. This preparation helps interpret instrument readings in their project context.

During site work, we record the agreed conditions and what was observed. Reports present results together with the method and assessment criteria. Clear findings help the project team prioritise corrective actions. Where another check is needed, we also clarify its scope.

For indoor environmental and comfort targets, resources such as the WELL Building Standard and ASHRAE 55 — Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy are considered alongside the project's assessment method. Façade work uses the applicable ASTM building performance test methods and technical specification. The test plan identifies the references and assessment pathway to be used.

Deliverables include the test and measurement plan, a report explaining the conditions, methods and results, and a prioritised list of findings and actions. The relevant design or operations team can use these records to understand what was assessed and how. For background, read about building conditions in the WELL process and the relationship between daylight analysis and measurement.