Commissioning Process: Pre-Commissioning and Commissioning

Introduction

Purpose: Ensures no damage to equipment during shipping/installation; aligns on-site test results with factory results.
Mechanical Completion: Marks handover from construction to commissioning teams.
Key Testing Terms:
- Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT): Conducted by the manufacturer before shipping.
- Site Acceptance Testing (SAT): Conducted on-site either by vendor or commissioning team to confirm no shipping/install damage.
- Site Integration Testing (SIT): Confirms equipment functions as a system.
Mechanical Pre-Commissioning Activities:
- Pipe flushing, leak testing, pressure testing.
- Verification of rotational equipment.
- HVAC testing.
Electrical Pre-Commissioning Activities:
- Grounding and bonding checks.
- Cold loop and mega checks.
- Hot loop checks, AC phase checks.
- Transformer checks and protection relay testing.
- Interlock verification, AC and DC hipot tests, battery discharge tests.
Completion: Ensures all individual equipment is ready for commissioning tests.

Purpose: Tests multiple equipment pieces together as a system.
Example: Chemical dosing skid system involving pumps, piping, valves, gauges, etc.
Process:
- Each subsystem tested to verify proper function.
- Integration of subsystems for the project's overall system.
- Completes with plant startup for intended operation.

Importance of a well-planned commissioning sequence including all necessary tests.
Skipping pre-commissioning tests can lead to significant problems.
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