Datacenter Commissioning Levels

 

What is meant by Commissioning?

Commissioning is the process of ensuring the quality and reliability of the installed electrical / mechanical equipment’s in the datacenter by testing and validating. During the commissioning works, the checklists and test procedures will be used to validate the testing and record the results.

Why Commissioning is required?

• Verifies each equipment installed at the site for proper operation
• Ensures the quality and reliability
• Examine and mitigate the potential failure modes
• Provides assurance to the systems and components of the datacenter
• Ensures proper integration of the system

 

Who creates the Cx Plan document?

Commissioning plan is created by commissioning agent who defines the project testing and commissioning levels methods. Cx Plan will also include all the roles, responsibilities and deliverables of an individual vendors / suppliers involved in the project.

How to create the Cx plan and levels of Cx plan?

Commissioning engineer should be familiar with all system level operations of the datacenter and Vendor/supplier information who manufacture and supply the equipment’s.

Let’s have a look on the levels of commissioning.

There are five levels of commissioning involved in the Cx process.

Level 1 Commissioning:  Factory Acceptance Testing

In level 1, the equipment supplier will perform the FAT at supplier’s factory and validate the equipment and makes sure it works as per design and expected operations. Cx Agent will witness the Level 1 and record the test results. Method of procedures (MOP) / Testing checklist will be submitted by supplier prior to Level 1 testing.

Level 2 Commissioning:  Site/Field Installation and Verification/Static Testing (Red Tag)

After completion of level 1, the equipment will be shipped to actual site / owner’s place. General/Installation contractor will coordinate and support with supplier and perform static testing. Contractor will make sure installed device is free from any damages during shipment and operates as per design. Cx agent will observe and record the results during this phase.

Level 3 Commissioning:  Pre-Functional Testing and Start Up (Yellow Tag)

After completion of level 2, General/Installation will perform the pre-functional testing by coordinating with equipment supplier technicians. They will assure all the equipment’s are started up properly. Level 3 testing procedure will be approved by owner prior to testing. Cx agent will support and record the results.

Level 4 Commissioning:  Functional Performance Testing (Green Tag)

Level 4 and 5 are the final phases of commissioning which will be performed by Cx Agent. In Level 4, all equipment and system operations including failure modes will be verified. At this stage, there should not be any major issues.

Level 5 Commissioning:  Integrated Systems Testing

In level 5, all facility operations including sub-systems will be validated and make sure site is ready to handover to owner. After successful completion of level 5, Sign-off and close out procedures will be followed.

Below Image illustrates simplified Cx process on the flow chart.

Let’s assume Owner is “A” – Owns the Datacenter

Equipment Supplier is “X” – Supplies Electrical Switchgear

General / Installation contractor is “Y” – In charge for Switchgear installations

Cx Agent is “Z” – Performs Level 4 and 5 commissioning and sign off

 

During the all levels of Commissioning, in case any expected operations did not verify, the root cause will be identified, fixed and re-validated.