Third-party commissioning of new buildings is standard practice in the institutional sector and is becoming more common in commercial and high-rise residential. Design-phase and construction-phase commissioning is also a required component within programs like LEED, Toronto Green Standard Tier 2, BOMA, and ENERGY STAR® Multi-Family.

Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) is a key process that includes the comprehensive investigation of a building’s operations to identify opportunities for improving building performance. It focuses on "tuning up" existing equipment and systems and identifying low-cost or no-cost performance improvements to help buildings operate as expected and improve occupant health and comfort. EBCx helps meet current facility requirements in building types including commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential buildings.

EBCx is a broad term that includes recommissioning (RCx), retro-commissioning, and ongoing commissioning (OCx).

Organizations such as Natural Resources Canada and Ontario’s IESO currently provide financial and technical support to owners that are interested in undertaking an EBCx program.

Integrated Systems Testing, required under CAN/ULC-S1001 and Ontario Building Code Section 3.2.10.1 for all construction permits issued after January 1, 2021, verifies that fire protection and life-safety systems work together seamlessly during emergencies. This testing confirms that sprinklers, alarms, elevators, and other critical systems are fully integrated and function as designed when lives depend on them. Integrated Systems Testing can be efficiently combined with base building commissioning services, allowing one qualified third-party agent to provide both.