Name: Tara Takayedi
Job title: Commissioning Consultant
Company: Kane Consulting
Kane Consulting is a team of sustainability consultants specializing in helping to build and operate better, smarter buildings. Kane focuses on three main services: building commissioning (mechanical and electrical), TAB (testing, adjusting, and balancing), and LEED sustainability consulting.
My job as a commissioning consultant comprised of supporting the delivery of high-performance buildings through mechanical and electrical system commissioning, including design reviews, site inspections and installation checks, functional performance testing, and coordination with project stakeholders and engineers. I worked on projects ranging from residential high rises to high-tech data centers and university labs and facilities.
The main objective of my position was quality control and inspection. This involved identifying installation and wiring deficiencies, troubleshooting Building Management System (BMS) programming inconsistencies, verifying equipment compliance, and reviewing mechanical and electrical drawings to identify issues such as incorrect or inconsistent flow rates.
To address these issues, I first identified and verified that a deficiency was present. Confirmed issues were then documented in the Site Visit Report or formal Issues Log. Once compiled, the Issues Log was distributed to the project team, typically alongside commissioning meeting minutes. During functional performance testing, I worked directly with the controls engineer to troubleshoot and resolve issues on the spot.
During my 8-month co-op term, I learned a multitude of things. More specifically, this role helped me gain a more general understanding of the building process from start to finish on the mechanical and electrical side. I came to understand how mechanical systems such as chillers, heat pumps, air handling units, fluid coolers, and heat recovery ventilators work, and how they integrate with the rest of the building’s HVAC distribution. Additionally, I learned about life safety systems related to fire alarms are interfaced into the HVAC system through Integrated Systems Testing (IST). This role helped me develop skills to spot discrepancies early into the construction process to avoid extra costs and labour down the road.
Future employees at Kane would gain lots of valuable experience. Here are some things to note:
– Expect lots of independent learning and training early on, as many of the principals are busy onsite.
– Ask lots of questions – especially early on into the position. This shows the principals your interest and engagement with the material. It will set you up for success by doing more interesting projects later on.
– Be proactive and don’t be afraid to ask for work when you’re done all your tasks. Feel free to ask more experienced colleagues in addition to the principals as they may have a high workload that they could use help with.
Some photos from my co-op:
Measuring temperature ranges coming from in – suite heating/cooling during suite checks
Posing in front of one of the buildings I worked at with my safety gear.
Some cool sites I’ve visited:
Data Centers
Generators
Mechanical Rooms
Fluid Coolers