Data Center Commissioning and Handover Checklist
A working checklist for the electrical side of commissioning, from the plan to handover. Adapt it to your project's own commissioning plan and specification.
1. Before testing starts
☐Commissioning plan agreed: levels, responsibilities, test scripts and acceptance criteria.
☐Latest single-line diagrams, protection settings and sequences of operation issued to the commissioning team.
☐Test access and load-bank connection points exist and are labelled.
☐Safety procedures, permits and lock-out arrangements agreed.
2. Factory and delivery checks
☐FAT witnessed for switchgear, UPS, generators and transformers, with records filed.
☐Equipment inspected on delivery against the order and for transit damage.
☐Open FAT and delivery punch items logged with owners and dates.
3. Installation checks
☐Equipment installed and labelled as drawn; torque, phase rotation and earthing checked.
☐Insulation resistance and continuity tests recorded for cables and busbars.
☐Protection settings loaded and verified against the coordination study.
☐Cable and panel schedules reconciled with what is installed.
4. Functional tests
☐Each breaker, ATS and STS operated and the transfer behaviour recorded.
☐UPS tested for transfer to battery, return to mains and bypass operation.
☐Generators tested on load, including start time and step load response.
☐Alarms and monitoring points verified at the control system.
5. Integrated systems testing
☐Utility failure with generator start and transfer, under load-bank load.
☐Loss of a single component or path, to confirm the redundancy works as designed.
☐Cooling restart and sequencing checked through the power transition.
☐Results compared against the design intent and failures re-tested after correction.
6. Handover and close-out
☐As-built drawings, test records and settings handed over.
☐Operations and maintenance manuals and emergency procedures issued.
☐Training for the operations team completed and recorded.
☐Outstanding items listed with owners and a closure date.
A general checklist, not a substitute for the project specification or the commissioning authority's procedures. See commissioning levels explained and FAT, SAT and IST.
Learn the full process in the Electrical Design – Data Center Specialist program.
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