PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION: COMMISSIONING AND START-UP

Commissioning (sometimes called systems completion) is the final

step in preparing to start up a facility. It's generally carried out on a
system-by-system basis and in a certain order. For example, much of
the work done during commissioning requires electrical power. The
power system is, therefore, one of the first systems to be
commissioned, so that power is readily available on the site. Recall
that the prerequisite for starting the commissioning of the power
system is that it be mechanically complete—that the proper
certificates are signed or entered electronically into a mechanical
completion and commissioning database. This means that the
equipment is safely installed and tested, and that the wires are pulled
into place and terminated at the proper contacts. The circuits are then
loop-tested to verify correctness before the high voltage is turned on.
Often, a joint group, consisting of construction, commissioning, and
future operating personnel, walk the system, inspecting it, and
recording a punchlist of items that must be corrected by construction
workers. The commissioning team uses commissioning procedures
(prepared earlier by them and the engineering team) to ensure a safe,
systematic approach. Sometimes the commissioning team function
tests subsystems according to the procedures before eventually
operating the whole system. When the electrical system is running
stably, it's formally handed over to the operating team that keeps it
running and maintained. The project now has power to continue
commissioning the rest of the systems.
From a quality standpoint, commissioning is a significant step. It
validates the design with tangible inspections and tests of the entire
system under controlled operating conditions. It's the ultimate test that
the design is correct. Minor deficiencies are corrected on the spot.
Changes with overall systems’ impacts are engineered and
implemented (on a crash basis) through the project's change
management process.
From an operations standpoint, commissioning allows for the gradual
start-up and handover of the facility in a safe and controlled manner.
Operations personnel are often assigned to the project team to fill
positions on the commissioning team. The client's equipment
operators are sometimes mobilized to run major equipment in order to
benefit from the knowledge of project experts, at the same time testing
their operating procedures before operations actually start.
Once all the essential systems are commissioned, the start-up team
comes on the scene. The core start-up team often consists of
operations personnel who have been part of commissioning. The
leadership of the start-up team may transition from the project team to
the operating team, to avoid an abrupt hand-off. When the bugs have
been eliminated from the systems and the acceptance criteria are met,
control passes to the operating team. The project is essentially over,
except for some closeout activities, like delivering documents to
operations, and commercially closing out all the remaining contracts
and purchase orders (as discussed under engineering and
procurement)