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An important factor in achieving a reliable 7x24 facility is an
infrastructure Commissioning Process: a systematic process ensuring
that infrastructure systems perform as per design and planning
intent. Current industry practices, often shaped by the vendor-contractor
perspective, means the Equipment Start-Up Process can be insufficient
to detect latent failures and prevent costly operational incidents.
This white paper offers a comprehensive explanation of Commissioning
phases, levels of testing and benefits; and a sample protocol for
optimum system Commissioning.
Latent Failure Detection and Prevention
Commissioning is the umbrella process for all the verification
and risk management processes performed on critical facility infrastructure.
Based on a defined plan of review and testing throughout design,
construction, start-up and integration, Commissioning verifies
that actual facility operations satisfy the design intent.
Today, technology interfaces, communications platforms and operational
requirements are too complex to rely solely on design and construction
for failsafe functioning. Commissioning uncovers deficiencies in
design or installation using peer review and field verification.
More thorough Commissioning also accomplishes higher energy efficiency,
environmental health safety and indoor air quality requirements.
At its conclusion, Commissioning should deliver preventative and
predictive maintenance plans, tailored operating manuals and training
procedures.
Broader Process Delivers Valuable Results
Commissioning
is sometimes narrowly viewed as a set of activities that occur
during the final stages of construction. In Critical
and Hypercritical Facilities™, such a restricted view undermines
reliability. Ensured reliability results from a six-phase Commissioning
Process consisting of (1) Planning/Programming Phase; (2) Design
Phase; (3) Construction Phase; (4) Acceptance Phase; (5) Post-Acceptance
Phase; and (6) Occupancy Phase. Commissioning should not be limited
to new facilities but rather occur every time a new critical system
is installed or an existing system is modified.
Testing appropriate to a facility should be designed along four
hierarchal levels: (1) Factory device testing; (2) Field component
start-up; (3) System interface testing; and (4) Integrated system
testing, which tests the overall facility resilience, under all
probable risk scenarios, including failure mode.
Commissioning invariably produces long-term cost savings. Begun
at the earliest stages of a project, the process helps align design
with business uptime requirements, makes equipment vendors more
accountable for real-world operability, standardizes operating
processes and detects deficiencies during a planned work window
rather than an unexpected outage.
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