Witnessed factory acceptance testing: what to check before equipment ships

Factory acceptance testing (L1) is the cheapest place to find a problem. Once equipment is on site, every fix costs access, time and programme. If you attend a witnessed FAT, this is what to look at.

Before the day

Agree the test procedure in advance: what will be tested, how, and what counts as a pass. Ask for the drawings the test will be checked against.

Build and labelling

Check the build against the approved drawings: component ratings, cable sizes, labels and the general arrangement. Labels should match the drawings exactly.

Electrical tests

Insulation resistance, continuity, functional checks of protection and interlocks, and the operation of control and monitoring. Ask to see the results recorded as the tests run, not afterwards.

Mechanical tests

For liquid cooling manifolds and pipework: pressure testing, leak checks and the cleanliness of the internals.

Records

You should leave with signed test records, a list of any open points and an agreed plan to close them before shipping.

After the day

Open points are closed and evidenced before the equipment leaves. The FAT records then become the first part of the commissioning file that continues through L2 to L5. See our guide to commissioning levels L1 to L5.

Download a sample FAT report