“When I joined EAB in 2002, I didn’t know what I was joining, but I needed a job. I quickly realized it was a good fit for me, a place where integrity and quality defined all actions and the team takes pride in serving a client’s needs with unparalleled technical expertise. I have been truly blessed through my career at EAB and have been given opportunities to shape the industry in ways that I would have never imagined.”
– Justin Garner, P.E.,TBE, LEED AP, CxA
Justin’s History at EAB
Justin has served for the past 18 years at EAB. In 2002, Justin graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and began his career at EAB as a TAB Technician-in-Training.
In 2011, Justin became an instrumental leader at EAB, and helped to move EAB into the Building Commissioning industry. Justin led the commissioning team in Houston and helped develop the process and procedures for the EAB Commissioning Group separate from Testing, Adjusting and Balancing.
In 2015, Justin was promoted to Branch Manager of the Houston office, and was named Vice President of EAB in 2016, both positions he holds to this day.
Committed to bettering the TAB and Building Commissioning industry, Justin led the design and construction of the first EAB corporate Technical Training Center located in Houston in 2018. Along with his team, Justin developed the curriculum and technical training setups to provide TAB and Building Commissioning training services.
Milestone projects
Looking back at his time with EAB, Justin has a series of memorable projects that furthered his experience and expertise in the TAB and Building Commissioning industries.
In 2004, Justin had the opportunity of working on the BSL4 laboratory at UTMB in Galveston, now known as The Shope Lab. As the first BSL4 lab in the Houston area, this was a highly sophisticated project with unique requirements that shaped Justin’s professional career.
Another notable project occurred in 2009, when Justin oversaw the Testing and Balancing and, ultimately, the Building Commissioning of the South Campus Research Building 3 & 4 at MD Anderson. Under the original scope, EAB was responsible for Testing and Balancing only, but was requested to support other commissioning activities when the out-of-town commissioning provider was not available. Because of demonstrated knowledge and thoroughness, EAB was asked to develop and facilitate the Integrated Systems Test for both facilities, their first full MEP commissioning scope.
Due to the success of the MD Anderson project, EAB was awarded the full MD Anderson Zayed Building Total Building Commissioning scope. Justin led the commissioning team on this project. You can read more about this project on our laboratories page.
In 2010, Justin served as the project manager for the Testing and Balancing of the Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. The project timeline was heavily compressed due to excessive construction delays. To successfully complete the project, Justin managed multiple TAB teams from all EAB branches working long hours and 6-7 days per week to complete the necessary work within the time constraints. Already accomplished as a TAB engineer, Justin credits this project with teaching him how to test a complete hospital.
Personal Certifications & Industry Accolades
Licensed as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Texas and Certified as a LEED Accredited Professional by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2019, Justin became a member of ASHRAE and began his involvement in technical and standards committees.
In 2010, Justin was certified as a Test and Balance Engineer (TBE) by the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC) and became a Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA) through the AABC Commissioning Group (ACG) in 2011.
Justin served on the newly formed ACG Certification Council in 2014 and helps rewrite the exam and certification process to be ANSI accredited and compliant with the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Workforce initiative for certified commissioning providers.
Justin currently serves as the Secretary of ASHRAE SSPC 300, the parent committee for all commissioning related guidelines and standards and is a voting member of TC 7.9: Building Commissioning. Justin also had the privilege to serve on the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force – Building Readiness Sub-Committee in 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak.
More About Justin
Which of these core values (Integrity, Quality, Consistency and Teamwork) do you most identify with, and what does it mean to you?
To pick one core value above the others is exceedingly difficult, because they are all part of who we are at EAB. I think Integrity is the foundation of the other values and without it, the others have difficulty existing. From the very beginning here at EAB, I was taught to do things with integrity, because that is what our reputation is based upon. Even today, I do not make a decision without thinking about what is morally right and praying about what God wants me to do in each situation.
What is your ideal room temperature, and why?
You are opening a bigger discussion here when you ask that to our folks. Temperature does not play as much of a factor in thermal comfort as humidity and EAB folks know this. Warmer dry air can actually be more comfortable than cooler humid air. Personally, I like it between 70 and 72 degrees if the humidity is around 50%. I can tell immediately in my house when the humidity creeps up because suddenly 73-74 degrees seems warm to me, when normally that is comfortable.
What is your absolute favorite thing about working for EAB?
My favorite thing about working at EAB is serving our clients and our team. I never imagined when I joined EAB that I would be blessed with the opportunity to serve in my current position with so many great members of our team. I enjoy being in a position to help our clients and influence the industry in a positive manner through our involvement in various organizations and our Training Center.