Scope of work
- Preparation of a commissioning plan and method statements defining test sequences, acceptance criteria, witnesses and the order of system start-up.
- Pre-commissioning checks including pressure tests, flushing and chemical cleaning of chilled water and condenser circuits, insulation resistance and continuity tests.
- Air balancing of AHUs, fresh-air units and terminals to design flows, and water balancing of chilled water circuits with flow measurement at each coil.
- Chiller, pump and cooling equipment start-up with manufacturer representatives, recording capacities, temperatures and electrical readings.
- Electrical testing of panels, breakers, earthing and protection settings, followed by load tests and power quality checks before utility energisation and after.
- Plumbing tests including pressure tests, disinfection of potable water systems, booster pump set-up and drainage flow tests.
- Integrated life-safety tests with fire alarm, smoke control, stair pressurisation, lifts and BMS acting together under alarm conditions.
Systems we install
- Chillers, district cooling energy transfer stations and primary and secondary pumps.
- AHUs, FCUs, VAV boxes and fresh-air units with their control valves.
- Smoke extract and stair pressurisation fans with motorised and fire dampers.
- LV panels, MCCs, distribution boards, earthing systems and protection relays.
- Water boosters, hot water systems, drainage pumps and sump controls.
- BMS points, control sequences, alarms and trend logging across all plant.
Codes, standards and approvals
- Consultant commissioning specifications and accepted industry procedures for air and water balancing.
- UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice for life-safety system acceptance testing.
- DEWA, SEWA, ADDC or the relevant utility's testing requirements before energisation.
- Al Sa'fat or Estidama commissioning requirements where the project is under a green building system.
- Manufacturer start-up procedures and warranty conditions.
- UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice (UAE FLSC) — national code governing fire-fighting, fire alarm, smoke control and egress
- ASHRAE standards (62.1, 90.1) (ASHRAE) — ventilation-rate and energy-efficiency basis referenced by UAE regulations
UAE site and climate challenges
- Commissioning often happens in summer when cooling loads are high but the building is not yet occupied. We plan chiller load tests and record results across different times so performance is proven under real heat, not just at part load.
- Construction dust contaminates ducts, coils and condenser fins, and running AHUs without filters spreads it. Temporary filters, duct cleanliness checks and coil cleaning are scheduled before balancing so readings reflect clean equipment.
- High humidity in unconditioned buildings during commissioning can cause condensation on chilled pipes before insulation is complete. We sequence cooling start-up after insulation inspections and keep fresh air controlled to avoid sweating ceilings.
- Hot weather affects diesel fire pumps, generators and electrical rooms. Witness tests are scheduled with ventilation running and equipment derating checked against plant room temperatures.
Decisions to make early
- Third-party commissioning agent or contractor-led commissioning: an independent agent adds assurance on complex hospitals and towers, while contractor-led commissioning witnessed by the consultant suits most residential and commercial projects.
- Phased versus whole-building commissioning: phased handover lets tenants move in sooner, but requires temporary isolations, repeated integrated tests and careful control of systems shared between occupied and unfinished zones.
- Seasonal commissioning: retesting cooling in milder months verifies part-load behaviour and control stability, but extends the contractor's involvement after handover and must be agreed in the contract scope.
- Level of BMS trend logging at handover: more trended points give the operator better diagnostics and energy tracking, but require setup time, storage and staff who actually review the data.
What you receive at handover
- Approved commissioning plan and method statements.
- Pre-commissioning and pressure test certificates.
- Air and water balancing reports with measured versus design values.
- Equipment start-up reports and electrical test sheets.
- Integrated life-safety test records signed by witnesses.
- O&M manuals, training records and as-built drawings.
How we deliver: 8 stages
- 01Appointment & review
- 02Mobilisation & approvals
- 03Planning
- 04Engineering & shop drawings
- 05Procurement & execution
- 06Monitoring & reporting
- 07Quality inspection
- 08Testing, commissioning & handover
Why clients appoint Manolia
Manolia Group has delivered MEP and building contracts in the UAE since 2001: more than 100 projects and over AED 1.1 billion of completed work, including towers above 50 floors. Delivery follows an 8-stage process under a QMS structured to ISO 9001 requirements, with HSE controls and in-house engineering for shop drawings, coordination and commissioning.
Relevant Manolia projects
Hassani Group factories & HQ, DIP
Dubai Investments Park (DIP) · MEP · Completed
Factory complex, HQ and staff accommodation, all served from one central cooling station.
Al Salam Tower, Sharjah
Sharjah · HVAC · Completed
Chiller plant and roof chilled-water network for a 52-typical-floor tower.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between testing and commissioning?
Testing proves individual components and installations meet requirements, such as pipe pressure tests or cable insulation resistance. Commissioning proves whole systems operate together as designed, such as an AHU delivering design airflow at the right supply temperature under BMS control. Both are needed before handover and authority completion.
Why is air and water balancing important?
Without balancing, rooms closest to the fan or pump receive too much flow and distant rooms too little. Balancing adjusts dampers and valves so each space receives its design flow, which removes hot spots, cuts pump and fan energy, reduces noise complaints and gives chillers the design temperature difference.
When should commissioning be planned?
Commissioning should be planned during design and installation, not at the end. Test points, flow-measuring stations, balancing valves, access panels and BMS points need to be built in. Late planning usually means missing measurement points, retrofitting valves in finished ceilings and a delayed handover.
What is an integrated systems test?
It is a test where a fire alarm event is triggered and the response of every connected system is checked together: AHUs stop, smoke fans and pressurisation start, dampers move, lifts home and access doors release. It is usually witnessed by the consultant and Civil Defence before the building receives completion.
What documents does the client receive after commissioning?
Typically commissioning reports, air and water balancing sheets, test certificates, equipment start-up records, O&M manuals, as-built drawings, warranty documents and training records. These are needed for authority completion and form the performance baseline the maintenance contractor uses for years afterwards.