What is Commissioning?

Commissioning is a systematic process of verifying the performance of

facilities, systems, and assemblies to ensure trouble-free outcomes and
mitigate the risk of unplanned outages or downtime. Project managers,
contractors, and construction engineers also perform pre-commissioning to
confirm that equipment installation and function follows client specifications.

What is a Commissioning
Checklist?
A commissioning checklist is used to easily perform comprehensive
installation, functional, and operational inspections, resolve any detected
failures and prevent costly project delays. This article features:

1) how to determine pre-commissioning and commissioning activities;

2) mobile inspection app to instantly assign corrective actions for failed
items; and
3) free commissioning checklists you can download, customize, and use.

At What Point Does Pre-

commissioning End and
Commissioning Begin?
There are regional differences when it comes to common parlance in pre-
commissioning and commissioning. Pre-commissioning is sometimes referred
to as Cold Commissioning, Static Commissioning, or Mechanical Completion;
on the other hand, commissioning is sometimes referred to as Hot
Commissioning, Live/Dynamic Commissioning, or Start-up. Therefore,
 commissioning teams experience difficulty in determining the proper
procedure. Here is a run-down of what needs to be done during pre-
commissioning and commissioning, respectively:

Pre-commissioning Procedure
1. Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) Check, also known as
System Check or Walkdown, should be performed by the commissioning team to
identify engineering and construction errors. Create a P&ID Punch List and address
identified issues before pre-commissioning.
2. Pre-commissioning activities start from mechanical completion, where
running-in of equipment such as control system sequence tests (Dry Commissioning),
water or solvent introduction to closed-loop pumps (Wet Commissioning), and other
operating scenarios where process fluids are NOT YET used.

The Defining Point: Pre-Startup

Safety Review (PSSR)
PSSR is a thorough safety inspection of a new or modified facility to be
conducted before commissioning. This is the point where pre-commissioning
ends and commissioning begins. Correct any system failure, resolve all
safety risks, and re-take the PSSR to comply with health and safety
regulations prior to commissioning.

Commissioning Procedure
1. Commissioning is the overall performance testing of the facility and its systems
such as HVAC, pumps, piping, and lighting. Outstanding punch points should be
resolved before routine operation. During a manufacturing plant commissioning,
process conditions are established and process fluids (the actual raw materials to be
used for routine production) are introduced into the system.
2. Initial Operation, or the first production run, aims to determine if the production
process manufactures output that meets design requirements. Easily identify non-
conformance and adjust the system or optimize the process by performing a first article
inspection prior to routine production.

Commissioning Checklist App

 Adhering to pre-commissioning and commissioning procedures can be
challenging and drafting the commissioning report can be time-consuming.
iAuditor, the world’s most powerful inspection software, can enable project
managers, contractors, and construction engineers to perform trouble-free
pre-commissioning and commissioning activities.

 Capture photo evidence of detected failures and assign corrective actions

 Easily create and use checklists anytime, anywhere, and on any mobile device
 Send/receive notifications for scheduled installation, functional, and operational
checks
 Automatically generate and share commissioning reports before leaving the
facility. Preview sample report.
 Use for free with small teams. Unlimited reports and storage, integrations, and
real-time analytics for premium accounts.

The Ultimate Collection of

Commissioning Checklists
1. Commissioning Checklist
A commissioning checklist is used to ensure the safety and functionality of
new or modified systems in a facility. Efficiently validate the performance of
HVAC, pumping, piping, and lighting systems using this comprehensive
checklist. This checklist includes installation checks and testing, adjusting,
and balancing (TAB) items. Commissioning teams should take advantage of
this mobile-ready checklist to easily perform the following:

1. Specify the project details

2. Check systems installation and operation
3. Take/attach photos of compliance, detected failures, and more
4. Assign corrective actions with a due date and priority level
5. Sign off with digital signatures and auto-generate the commissioning report

 Download Template

 Preview Web Report

 Preview Report

2. Pre-commissioning Checklist
A pre-commissioning checklist aims to prepare a manufacturing plant for
start-up, or when all new or modified systems are going live. Use this
checklist to easily inspect control systems, wiring, sensors, field control
devices, and the site communications network. Identify non-compliance,
address systemic issues, and lessen start-up problems with this pre-
commissioning checklist.

 Download Template

3. Plant Commissioning Checklist

This plant commissioning checklist is used for the commissioning of
wastewater projects or treatment plants. This checklist has been designed to
make it easier for inspectors to verify the installation, function, and
documentation of pumping systems and the preliminary, secondary, and
tertiary treatment process equipment. Use this checklist to automatically
generate a comprehensive plant commissioning report and deliver it to
stakeholders with the tap of a finger.

 Download Template

4. Electrical Commissioning Checklist

This electrical commissioning checklist is used for the commissioning of low
voltage installations in a building. Use this checklist to verify the compliance
of the switchboard, main switch and circuit breaker, distribution board, and
final circuits with client specifications. This checklist has been designed to
make it easier for inspectors to check the working space and facilities and
conductors, cables and wiring.
 Download Template

5. HVAC Commissioning Checklist

An HVAC commissioning checklist aims to help commissioning engineers
prove the functionality of newly installed or upgraded heating, ventilation,
and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Effectively test programmable
thermostats, condensing units, and variable air volume (VAV) terminals and
handling units using this intuitive checklist. Every failed criterion triggers a
push notification via the iAuditor mobile app, email, and/or text message
(SMS).

 Download Template

6. Air Conditioning Commissioning

Checklist
An air conditioning commissioning checklist is used to validate that packaged
air conditioning units still conform with design specifications after installation
onsite. Use this checklist for appropriate design documentation with digital
signatures of your supplier/vendor and installer/contractor. You can also
take/attach photos of the air conditioning system as-built drawings in this
digital checklist.

 Download Template

7. Equipment Commissioning Checklist

This equipment commissioning checklist is used for the commissioning of
burners/boilers in an industrial or commercial power plant. Easily customize
or build your own checklist using iAuditor template editor to meet specific
equipment design requirements and fulfill company needs. Each inspection
 item can also be set to “mandatory” to make sure that every detail about the
equipment commissioning is checked.

 Download Template

8. Project Commissioning Checklist

This project commissioning checklist can be used by commissioning teams
during the planning, designing, construction, and post-construction phases of
a project to achieve desired outcomes. This checklist includes valuable
elements and success factors of project commissioning such as assisting the
owner (client) evaluate the facility’s requirements, backchecking mid-
construction documents, and more. Commissioning managers can type or
dictate additional recommendations within the iAuditor mobile app.

 Download Template

9. Building Commissioning Checklist

A building commissioning checklist aims to assess the HVAC, electrical,
plumbing, and building envelope systems and perform retro-commissioning
as needed. Use this checklist to determine if the efficiency of existing
equipment and systems of a building should be improved and create
corrective actions that send and receive real-time notifications when
complete, in progress, or still to do.

 Download Template

10. Substation Commissioning Checklist

A substation commissioning checklist is used by commissioning engineers to
test and evaluate the safety and operation of high voltage electrical systems.
This checklist has been built to make it easier for inspectors to check
 transformers/motors, direct current (DC) battery system, and the operation
and testing tools and equipment and perform efficient lightning protection
system, busbar trunking system, circuitry checks, and more.

 Download Template

11. Elevator Commissioning Checklist

An elevator commissioning checklist aims to clearly detail elevator
specifications and accurately measure the elevator ride quality. This
checklist includes general information of the elevator ride quality
measurements and their boundaries to provide evidence that it performs
according to its intended function. Start by specifying the elevator type,
capacity, rated speed, and more, then examine the elevator well and pit,
machine room, elevator car, and control station.

 Download Template

12. Piping Pre-commissioning Checklist

This piping pre-commissioning checklist can be used by pipeline engineers to
perform flooding spread set-up (dry commissioning), pipeline pig valve
launching sequence (wet commissioning), and pipeline flooding, pigging,
gauging, and chemical injection (commissioning). With iAuditor analytics,
you can view real-time data about inspections with most failed responses,
total inspections conducted, their performance, and the unique people
conducting them, and more.

 Download Template

13. Plumbing Commissioning Checklist

 A plumbing commissioning checklist is used to carefully examine the piping
system in a facility and prove it works according to its design. Use this
checklist to ensure the installation follows code compliance requirements
and the documentation, such as operation manuals, red line drawings, and
LOTO procedures, meets standards. When project managers use iAuditor’s
scheduling feature, key personnel automatically receives scheduled
inspection notifications via iAuditor mobile app, email, or text messages
(SMS).

 Download Template

14. Pump Commissioning Checklist

A pump commissioning checklist aims to validate the operation of pumps
through correct installation, proper lubrication, and simulation of
instrumentation and protection devices. This pump commissioning checklist
includes inspection items such as “Is the pump/engine rotating direction
correctly?” and “Are oil coolers, oil pipes, and cooling water pipelines
installed properly as per Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) and
General Arrangement (GA)?”.

 Download template

15. Chiller Commissioning Checklist

A chiller commissioning checklist is used to thoroughly record observations
before and after the start-up of chiller systems. Accurately capture suction,
discharge, oil, and brine temperatures using iAuditor temperature sensors.
Automate temperature monitoring of chiller systems, easily manage risks
through proactive alerts to the right people when something goes wrong,
and stay in control of your day-to-day operations.

 Download Template
 BONUS! PSSR Checklist
Before commissioning, the pre-startup safety review team (usually comprise
the project manager, construction engineers, and contractor) use a PSSR
checklist to ensure the facility is safe for employees and systems operate
according to design specifications.

 Download Template