Portsmouth RI Schools

Project Overview

Portsmouth, RI –

Sustainable Engineering Solutions (SES) served as Commissioning Authority for a district-wide HVAC, building automation, and envelope improvement program for the Portsmouth School Department, encompassing Melville Elementary School, Hathaway Elementary School, Portsmouth Middle School, and Portsmouth High School.

At Melville and Hathaway Elementary Schools, SES commissioned newly installed unit ventilators and associated building automation system upgrades, and verified new low flow plumbing fixtures and independent lighting controls. At Melville, SES also commissioned a new roof system and performed infrared thermographic testing to confirm envelope performance. At Portsmouth High School, SES commissioned two new air handling units serving the athletic fieldhouse, along with low flow fixtures and lighting controls, and coordinated renovated bathroom facilities as part of the same capital program. At Portsmouth Middle School, the commissioning scope covered plumbing fixture, lighting, and controls upgrades within four renovated bathrooms.

Across all four buildings, SES developed commissioning plans, reviewed design and construction documents, built and executed functional performance test procedures, and tracked deficiencies through the SES Commissioning Portal until each item was resolved and closed. One recurring challenge was verifying sequences of operation on packaged rooftop equipment, where SES coordinated directly with manufacturer technicians and the mechanical contractor to confirm operation that was not otherwise visible to the commissioning team. SES worked closely with the design engineer, owner’s project manager, and construction managers throughout design and construction to keep the commissioning schedule aligned with an active school calendar, and delivered final commissioning reports, with post-occupancy or near-end-of-warranty reviews, confirming that each school’s systems met the district’s project requirements with a consistent focus on energy savings and efficient operation.