Who works directly for the owner and is independent of designers, contractors, vendors, and suppliers on the project?

• A. The commissioning authority
• B. The project manager
• C. The design consultant
• D. The facilities manager

Answer: (A)

The key idea is independence in overseeing the project’s testing and verification on behalf of the owner. The commissioning authority is the party contracted by the owner specifically to lead the commissioning process and to verify that systems perform according to owner requirements. This role remains independent of designers, contractors, vendors, and suppliers, which ensures objective testing, proper documentation, and clear acceptance criteria. The commissioning authority develops the commissioning plan, reviews installation and performance, coordinates testing, and tracks issues to resolution, all while reporting back to the owner or the owner’s representative.

In contrast, a project manager tends to coordinate the overall project activities and cost/schedule control, often within the project team. A design consultant is part of the design process and helps create the project plans, not independently verifying performance. A facilities manager focuses on operations and maintenance after occupancy, not on the independent commissioning oversight during construction.