Our Commissioning Consultants have successfully completed a number of ‘virtual’ Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), enabling our client’s high-value projects to continue to be delivered, despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

So far we have managed to successfully witness FAT for: 

Air Handling Unit (AHU), including:

• Visual Inspection of construction and associated component parts
• Dynamic Performance tests (Supply / Extract Volumetric)
• Acoustic Performance testing (AHU casing Break-out Testing)
• Air Leakage Testing

Critical Air Conditioning (CRAC), including: 

• Visual Inspection of construction
• Control devices testing and front control panel testing
• Unit performance tests
• Acoustic Performance testing

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), including:

• Visual Inspection of construction
• Dynamic (Functional) Testing of UPS System 
• Dynamic (Functional) Modular Testing
• Simulation of Alarms & Overload
• Overload Testing

Trench Heating:

• Video Unit performance testing of air distribution

Our latest online FAT was for a 325kW UPS System that was completed by multiple stakeholders including FPC, the General Contractor, MSI and UPS manufacturer (Socomec in Italy) across a number of days. All tests were carried out by the manufacturer in real-time and streamed to a video conference call with the project professional team to assess the functional and performance testing of each unit. 

In addition to Factory Acceptance Tests, and in line with Government guidelines, we have also been able to successfully undertake online witnessing of onsite works for BMS Description of Operations (DesOp), BMS Snagging & Hydraulic/Ventilation Balancing. Needless to say this is only possible where the project has reliable IT connectivity and when structured well provides a quick and reliable option to short duration on site testing verification.

FPC Head of Commissioning, Neil Jeffrey, said ‘The use of online tools by FPC and project teams is enabling us to continue to support delivery of our client’s ongoing high-value projects without compromising the end result and maintaining key program dates. Unfortunate world events have enabled manufacturers to adapt to a new way of meeting the customer testing criteria and I am sure we will see this as the preferred option where applicable going forward in the foreseeable future ’.

To find out more about how FPC Commissioning Consultants can help deliver your project, please get in touch