The Commissioning Specialists Association (CSA) Training and Career Development Framework has been designed to enable trainees, technicians, and engineers in our industry to fully realise their potential in the building services commissioning field.

Over the last few months, the CSA has been working to develop and adapt that framework to include pipework system water treatment activities. The CSA are delighted to announce that our Water Treatment Pathway of Development Framework has now been recognised by SKILLcard. Following this pathway allows water treatment personnel to not only achieve a good standard of education in the theory and practice of water treatment procedures, but also helps them to obtain the SKILLcard they need to operate on the vast majority of construction sites in the UK.

For further information please read the PDF

The Commissioning Specialist Association (CSA) are delighted to launch the grade 4 exam online in conjunction with the BESA Academy.

Things to know:

• You need to be a current grade 3 member of the CSA with 7 years commissioning experience to sit both the technical and theory exams.
• If this applies to you email the CSA office with your full name, email address and membership number.

How it works:

• The CSA office will check you are eligible to sit the exams and notify you accordingly.
• The CSA will upload you into the online platform and send you out your guide to the exam and proctoring. (please note you will need to do an ID check before sitting the exam)
• Besa will send you an email you your login details to the academy. (Full instructions are within the guide that the CSA emailed to you along with helpline information)
• Simply add to basket, purchase your exam/s, complete the ID check and you are ready to go.
• If you are using a work PC it is advisable to speak with your IT department as you will need to download the proctoring programme and your IT department may have placed restrictions on downloads.

Still have a question?

Email Jo or Kate in the office for assistance on: office@csa.gov.uk

The CSA are delighted to announce we have reached the phasing-in stage of our online exams!

The original "paper examinations" are being phased out as we pave the way with our online exams. At this stage, those already within the system are being contacted about this switch. We will make an announcement in the coming weeks regarding the “how to guide” in preparation of the next phase – full scale roll-out!

2022 DATES FOR ITCM 2-DAY COURSE, for more information please click here.

After lengthy discussions with the committee to confirm and agree this, the CSA will be increasing their prices in July 2023. The CSA have not increased their prices since 2016 and we want to assure our members we still operate as a not-for-profit Association, these price increases only reflect cost of living increases and the cost of what it takes to keep the CSA modern, relevant, and providing our best service to you.

Please see the latest prices HERE

Position: CSA Technical Manager

Location: Flexible
Hours: Full time, we may agree on a part time role i.e 3 or 4 days a week depending on the candidate.
Salary: TBD

Commissioning Specialist Association Technical Manager
View the full Job Specification HERE

Due to growth in the Commissioning Specialist Association (CSA) an exciting position has become available for a full-time Technical Manager. The ideal candidate will be remotely based but will be expected to travel as part of their job role for meetings, seminars and promotion within the industry when required, with quarterly visits to the CSA main office is based in Horsham West Sussex.

The ideal candidate will have great communication skills, passion and drive, a great work ethic, attention to detail and the ability to work on their own initiative in a friendly but professional environment.

This role is vitally important to the CSA in helping develop, promote, and expand the CSA both here in the UK and in the Middle East where it has a burgeoning GCC Chapter. It is a fantastic opportunity for a competent senior commissioning engineer/ MEP commissioning manager, who would like to take a step away from the front line, but still make an impact in the commissioning world.

If you’re the ideal candidate we’re looking for, please send your CV to jo@csa.org.uk

2023 CSA Awards saved on next year's calendar - Thursday 5th October 2023

As we head towards the end of the year, we wanted to make sure you have the date of the 2023 CSA Awards saved on next year's calendar!

The Commissioning Specialists Association takes a great deal of pride in bringing together the industry each year, to celebrate achievements across the sector. Since launching its industry-wide awards programme back in 2015, the CSA Awards Ceremony has become a significant celebration where talent, drive, determination and contribution to the industry is recognised.

Take another look at our 2022 Winners. Next year the lavish gala awards dinner will take place in London on Thursday 5th October 2023.

Further information please click here

Next Grade 4 exam will be 20th May 2023 - If you would like to sit the exam, please e-mail Jo or Kate at the CSA office - e-mail: office@csa.org.uk.  We will send you a "Mock" Grade 4 Exam paper which gives a selection of the type of questions asked in the exam.  Please note that a better pass rate is achieved if you have worked through the Distance Learning Courses.

Finalists of the 2022 Commissioning Specialist Association Awards
More information please visit the awards website

PROJECT OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by BSRIA INSTRUMENT SOLUTIONS

• One Za'abeel - AESG
• Battersea Power Station Phase 2 - Ashford Environmental Services
• University of Salford, School of Science, Engineering and Environment Building - Banyards
• The Person-Environment-Activity Research Laboratory (PEARL) - Banyard Consultants
• Alexander Stadium Redevelopment - Beech Technical Services
• T Zone, King's Cross London - Crosscount / ISG / Meta
• Soho Place - Crown House Technologies
• Project Jupiter, Leamington Spa - End Systems

PRODUCT / SERVICE INNOVATION OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by MEDIA CONTROL MANAGEMENT

• AESG's Data+ Cloud-Based Data Management Platform
• BAPI BA/PM-D-BB Particulate Matter Sensor
• Belimo Energy Valve™4 and Thermal Energy Meter
• Bluerithm Technical Project Management Software
• Duct Clean Services Aeroseal
• Siemens QBM7300 Air Pressure Sensor with added I/O

COMMISSIONING PROVIDER OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by MODERN BUILDING SERVICES

• Ashford Environmental Services
• Banyards
• Media Control
• RED Engineering

COMMISSIONING MANAGER OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by HDR

• Thomas Townley, AESG
• Patrick Barry, Banyards
• Jamie Collins, Crown House Technologies
• Conor Kavanagh, L&P Group
• Kieran McArdle, L&P Group
• Jason Reynolds, RED Engineering

INVESTMENT IN TRAINING AWARD - Sponsored by VEXO

• Ashford Environmental Services
• Banyards
• End Systems
• H&V Commissioning Services

STUDENT OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by RED ENGINEERING

• Jack Gibson, Beech Technical Services
• Thomas Miller, End Systems
• Giovanni Mezzullo, Sutton Services International
• Sajid Khan, TAB Engineering Services

COMMISSIONING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by ASHFORD ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

• Jack Gibson, Beech Technical Services
• Thilanka Thilakarathne, Core Emirates
• Declan O’Connor, End Systems
• Kalimulla Palekar, RED Engineering

We would like to invite you to join us at the CSA Annual General Meeting on Thursday 6th October 2022 at 3.00PM in the Britannia Room. (This room is directly opposite the Great Harry Room where the previous AGM was held)

The AGM will be presented by the CSA Chairman Mr Neil Burdess and Vice Chairman, Mr Andrew Watkin, who will highlight the successes of the past 12 months as well as focus on plans and key objectives 2022/2023.

Each sub-committee chairman will also report on their committee.

Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you.
CSA TEL: 01403 754133
Email: Office@csa.org.uk

As some of you may be aware, CSCS SKILL Card have changed their requirements associated with selecting Commissioning as a trade when applying for a new SKILL card through BESA, the requirements of NVQ qualified have been noted in communications from SKILL card, so the CSA have actioned this issue with upmost importance and held a meeting with the correct team in BESA, in which we will be looking to get our current CSA grading system including DLC’s, Grade 4 Exam, G5 Senior Commissioning Engineer and the new Commissioning Management grades CM1-3 recognised by CSCS/BESA, there are other challenges within our industry and we are aware that some of our corporate members also undertake water treatment which we have noted below.

We have another meeting set up at the end of August with BESA and an update to you all will follow that meeting.

Points addressed on the BESA Teams meeting were:

1. Commissioning engineers cards – BESA are going away to check what they already have in place surrounding the CSA’s previous agreement and will report back. It may be a simple case that the CSA need to re-present our training and competency systems so that these will once again be recognised by CSCS

2. Immediate issue of trainee commissioning engineers not being able to apply for a SKILL card was discussed in length, BESA have took this away and will report back.

3. Water Treatment companies and associations currently don’t have any formal solution to grade individual water treatment engineers at present, this requires the many professional industry specialists to work together on a solution as a matter of importance to our industry, which the CSA will lead if required.

The CSA will work on two solutions:-

• Short term - Is the “Related Discipline Card” route, for this the CSA will produce a document of what good looks like, years’ experience, technical competency and H&S training.
• Long term - Create a set of DLC’s or Exams for a Trainee WT Engineer, WT Engineer, Senior WT engineer, and get these recognised by BESA/CSCS, along with a path of development, Grades and training and career handbook.

As soon as we know more we will update you in the meantime if you have any queries in relation to this please email Jo on; office@csa.org.uk and we will do our best to address your concerns.

To make it quick and easy for clients and customers to identify members on site and in tenders and bids the CSA have decided to colour code our membership certificates. Click the members tab above and then the appropriate membership title.

The following changes will start now with any new members and all current members will receive the new colour coded certificates when membership expires for 2022 on 31st December.

For more information, please see this PDF

CSA CONFERENCE - 22ND JUNE 2022 AT THE GHERKIN, LONDON EC3

Commissioning - the progressing of a completed installation to full working order.
But when does the process begin?

People often think of commissioning as the final exercise in bringing a building into use. However, to ensure occupants can properly use any building, commissioning needs to be considered at the very outset of the project and throughout each stage.

At the 2022 CSA Conference: Making Buildings Work speakers from across the commissioning and construction industry will provide insight into the correct way to design, plan and install building services to ensure optimum best practice and in turn a successful commissioning phase, leading to an effective and efficient building.

Join us on Wednesday 22nd June 2022 at The Gherkin, London.

Find out more at www.csa-conference.co.uk

Introduction to Commissioning Management 2-day Course

Established in 1990, the CSA is an association for the commissioning industry within the construction world. Its membership comprises commissioning industry companies, individual commissioning engineers and associated companies (such as equipment manufacturers and instrument suppliers), who have a vested interest in ensuring that the commissioning function in today's complex built environment is carried out to a uniformly high standard.

With an already established and renowned portfolio of training courses, the CSA has constructed the ‘Introduction to Commissioning Management’ course to give real life insight and guidance to the entire Commissioning Management Process.

This 2-day course is split into 8 sessions, providing exercises to assess and guide Delegates through specific activities.  Each session contains:

• the source material
• detailed guidance through the process
• an interactive session “exercise” to end each session

On successful completion of all 8 sessions each delegate will be awarded a CSA Introduction to Commissioning Management certificate and CSA members who are a Grade 5 and have the relevant path of development experience would then be able to apply for their Grade 6.

Course Location
Various Locations – see course dates.

Course Dates 2022
Tuesday 27 & Wednesday 28 September - Milton Hill House, Oxford
Tuesday 15 & Wednesday 16 November - Milton Hill House, Oxford

Course Pricing

This unique 2-day course is priced at £650.00 + VAT for CSA Members and £750.00 +VAT for non-members.

For further information and to express interest in attending this important training course, please contact Jo or Kate at the CSA on

+44 (0)1403 754 133 or by email at office@csa.org.uk.

Now available online.

Click here to order

NEW TM 17

This Technical Memorandum is intended to explain the theory and practice of:

How Differential Pressure Control Values (DPCV) control water flow rates.  The effect on flow rates as 2 port control valves open and close.  How DPCVs are commissioned.

By understanding how a DPCV works and how flow rates can vary in zones controlled (protected) by a DPCV, the Commissioning Engineer should be better equipped to understand and interpret commissioning results in relation to DPCV systems.

Available free to CSA members as a download from the CSA Website or £24.00 to non members.  Contact the CSA office 01403 754133 e-mail: office@csa.org.uk