Data center

Commissioning guide
— 2020

Why professional commisioning is key for quality,

sustainability and time to market while maintaining
continuous growth in digitisation
Content

1 The digital economy is the economy

2 Commissioning

3 Best practises & cases

- Appendices; further reading, about, colophon

1. THE DIGITAL ECONOMY
IS THE ECONOMY
1. Everything is data driven
Everything is data
driven
The world is rapidly changing
due to digital transformation

Data driven Smart Share As a Service

1. The digital economy is the economy

More and more revenue through

digitisation: top priority to go along
with

By 2022, more than 60% of global GDP1 will be

digitized with growth in every industry, driven by
digitally enhanced offers, operations and
relationships.

Management of each organisation must place digital

transformation at the top of their priority list. All
that happens online originates from data centers.
1. Growth in data centers is inevitable
Digitisation puts more trust in data centers

The ever-increasing digitization of our society and economy requires more and
more data centers. The speed in digital transformation is putting pressure on the
delivery of new data centers.

We need the growth of data centers to also control the use of energy.
Centralizing IT in data centers saves energy: Cloud computing brings much
better utilization of computer power next to the increased efficiency in running
the data center facilities.

To ensure the quality of new data center facilities while speeding up and
inproving the building process at the same time requires professional data center
standards.

Despite the enormous growth in data, energy

consumption has remained stable worldwide
2. COMMISSIONING,
BENEFITS & PROCESSES
2. Data Center Commissioning
Commissioning has now become a business necessity

When building a new data center, the owner of the data center has no guarantee that
the various physical infrastructure subsystems – power, cooling, fire suppression,
security, and management – will work together. Commissioning is the process that
reviews and tests the data center’s physical infrastructure design as a holistic system in
order to assure the highest level of reliability.
“Commisioning is verifying and documenting
Traditional commissioning is a daunting task. Since formal system operation doesn’t
begin until the system is commissioned, the commissioning team experiences intense that the facility and all of its systems and
pressure to complete the commissioning process quickly. Commissioning can involve assemblies are planned, designed, installed,
high expense and requires staffs from different departmental disciplines to work tested, operated, and maintained to meet the
together. For these reasons data center commissioning has almost uniquely been
associated with large data centers. needs of the owner.”
In the recent past, many data center managers chose to roll the dice and perform little
or no commissioning, relying only on start-up data to press ahead with launching the
new data center. Given the reality of 24x7 operations, however, the alternative of
exposure to major system failures and accompanying downtime is no longer an
economically viable option. Commissioning has now become a business necessity.
2. Data Center Commissioning
Commissioning definition & objective

Commissioning definition

Commissioning is the process of assuring that all systems and components of a building
or industrial plant are designed, installed, tested, operated and maintained according to
the operational requirements of the owner or final client.
Commisioning or simply abbreviated as “Cx”
Commissioning objective

The main objective of commissioning is to affect the safe and orderly handover of the
unit from the constructor to the owner, guaranteeing its operability in terms of
performance, reliability, safety and information traceability.

Additionally, when executed in a planned and effective way, commissioning normally

represents an essential factor for the fulfillment of schedule, costs, safety and quality
requirements of the project.
2. Benefits of commissioning
The benefits of tests & commissioning

Commissioning highlights what a system can do and how it will respond beyond the
original requirements and design features.

It provides a baseline for how the facility should perform throughout the rest of its life
and affords the opportunity for operations to become familiar with how systems Key focus on 3 critical phases:
operate and to test and verify their operational procedures without risking critical IT
Cooling systems, Air Flow direction, Power system
loads.

The commissioning process also determines the performance limits of a data center
and helps optimise the data center systems.

Failure to properly commission a data center leaves the door wide open for expensive
and disruptive downtime that could have been avoided.
2. Concept data center
ISAT Commissioning Simon Sinek’s Start with Why
The Golden Circle

Why?
Compliance, Proof of evidence, Guarantee, Liability
Customer and/or stakeholder driven and regulations
Owners delivery standards (Stress test / punches)

How? Why?
What’s your purpose?
Detailed planning What drives you?
Testing and inspection phases
Acceptance and Handover

What?
Critical infrastructure including full load tests How?
Building management systems How do you do what you do?

Facility / operational processes

What?
What do you actually do?
2. Commissioning process
The different commissioning steps

Data center commissioning can be categorised by different steps:

- Design input Sometimes referred to as Cx Level 0

1. Cx Level 1 Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)

2. Cx Level 2 Installation Testing (Dead test)
3. Cx Level 3 Startup Testing (Live test)
4. Cx Level 4 Functional Performance Testing (SAT)
5. Cx Level 5 Integrated System Testing (IST)

- Training Before and after handover

1 2 3 4 5
Cx Cx Cx Cx Cx
2. Commissioning process
Cx Level 1 and 2

Cx Level 1

• Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) including witnessing and reporting

1
• Off site software testing including graphics logics and communication Cx
• Verifying factory QA/QC

Cx Level 2

• QA/QC of equipment and building (snagging/punching)

2
• Visual inspection Cx
• I/O testing cabling
• Pressure testing piping
• Electrical pressure testing, primary and secondary injection testing, verifying discrimination settings, dead testing cables
• Pre-start (supplier) checklist completed and documented
2. Commissioning process
Cx Level 3 and 4

Cx Level 3

• Energizing
3
• Equipment start-up by vendor or main contractor Cx
• Verification and documentation of settings
• Point to graphic

Cx Level 4

• Full functional testing

4
• Full performance testing Cx
• Balancing of systems
• Testing of interfaces, including controls
• Testing of failure conditions
• Full (heat) load testing
2. Commissioning process
Cx Level 5

Cx Level 5

• Integrated System Testing (IST):

5
o Integrated performance testing Cx
o Redundancy testing
o Black Building Test (BBT)
o Total Power Outtage Test (TOAT)
2. Toolbox
Toolbox for commissioning management

• Define roles and responsibilities

• Design freeze and change management
• Planning
• Cx Meetings
• Proper documentation (test scripts) and sign-off
• Snag - open items control
• Safety system (work permits)
2. Toolbox
Define roles and responsibilities

• Main roles (high level)

o Owner Customer
o Contractor Main Contractor
o Cx Agent Commissioning agent
o A/E of Record Architect/Engineer
o Vendor Subcontractor / ESSP
2. Toolbox
Design freeze and change management

• Proper tagging and coding of components

• Single line drawings
• P&ID
• Technical queries
2. Toolbox
Planning

• Commissioning plan
• Project schedule including commissioning
• Progress reporting
2. Toolbox
Cx Meetings

• Join monthly (?) meetings during the design phase

• Join weekly meetings during the construction phase
• Daily Cx meetings during the commissioning phase

Cx Documentation

• Commissioning plan
• Test method statements
• Vendor test sheets
• Visual inspection sheets
• I/O check sheets
• Instrumentation sheets
• Ready for energization sheets
• IST test script
2. Toolbox
Snag - open items control

• Snag - open items control

• Snag list (ED Controls)
• Issue Resolution Log (IRL)
• Including search functions per system or area
• All items should have a weight (priority)

Safety system (work permits)

• Site safety culture

• Work permits when systems are live
• Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO)
• Access control
2. Commissioning process
Steps to success

Step 1: Integration with the design

The ability to commission equipment should be considered at the earliest stage of every project. Building in a commissioning
schedule into the program, sequencing how you will access equipment during the build process is essential. Time spent
considering logistical challenges will be handsomely rewarded with seamless integration throughout the build program.

Step 2: Planning

Get your technical services teams engaged at the outset - providing their input and insight into the design of buildings services at
the initial stages where they can help develop a comprehensive schedule of the testing and commissioning process. Make the
testing regime system simple, efficient and standardized - and most importantly transparent, so that commissioning is readily
tracked and recorded centrally with a documentation output.

Don’t assume that technology will solve all challenges. Documentation is often grouped and not produced progressively resulting
in the late release of vital documents and project delays. A comprehensive plan must include a phased schedule and record of
necessary documentation.
2. Commissioning process
Steps to success

Step 3: The factory acceptance test

Never make assumptions that products and systems will operate seamlessly unless you have the hard data to back this up. Not
all products undertake a witnessed factory acceptance test, so unless you have verified data that you can successfully integrate
these within your network, then you must validate compliance before installation begins. Costly and time-consuming issues can be
avoided with a thorough interrogation long before any product arrives on site.

Step 4: Visual inspections

Sounds simple but it’s so often overlooked on a busy site. Make sure that any delivered equipment is visually inspected for signs
of damage. Any defects should be immediately reported, and a swift resolution sought. Smart tags should be fixed to equipment
to provide the unique identification of equipment and associated commissioning data during construction and post-completion.

Step 5: Site acceptance testing

Each product and service should be physically and independently tested on site to verify performance criteria and ensure
alignment with the design and specification. This is considered as the SAT (Site acceptance testing). Remember, the physical
testing operation is not synonymous with the release of the testing documentation, which needs to be independently tracked to
ensure the process is completed.
2. Commissioning process
Steps to success

Step 6: System operation verification

Data networks are at the heart of data center systems. All data transmission networks are to be independently certified ahead of
any joint systems testing to ensure the communication between equipment is functional. The isolation and certification of these
networks is the precursor to full operations testing, but it’s easy to get this sequencing wrong and create needless delays.

Step 7: Integrated system testing

The final integrated system test is the opportunity to observe the performance of a data center at maximum design load.
Absolute rigor and attention to detail is fundamental at this stage, measuring and accurately recording switch positions,
environmental conditions and failure scenarios to ensure operational compliance. Efficient progression to this stage marks the
operational handover of the data center.

Changing the conversation with customers and key project stakeholders about the importance of commissioning is pivotal if you
want to meet expectations for faster, day one operational data center facilities.

By identifying those critical pathways and processes that can have the most detrimental impact on program, one can enhance
project collaboration to deliver a better outcome. As technology advances, we can expect to see dynamic live reporting fall within
our arsenal - however our adage will always remain the same - ignore the importance of commissioning at your peril.
3. BEST PRACTICES
AND CASES
3. Best practices & cases
Rentaload – The wind rose

Allocate necessary budget upfront to support all aspects of

commissioning

• Commissioning budget should include large contingency reserve for Level

4 and Level 5

• Commissioning budget should include all items and personnel required to

support complete commissioning

“Budgets need to include all items and

personnel required to support commissioning.
This includes, but is not limited to, load banks,
calibrated measurement devices, data loggers,
technician support, engineering support, and
consumables such as fuel for engine-generator
sets.”
3. Best practices & cases
Rentaload – The wind rose

Fully test all critical components and systems

• Load bank tests of the engine-generator sets, UPS, and UPS battery
systems at design and rated capacities

• Minimum continuous runtime durations of up to 24 hours for all load

bank tests

• Ensure that load banks are distributed within critical areas to best simulate
the actual IT environment distribution, ideally physically located within
racks and with forced cooling on a horizontal path, which allows for more
accurate and realistic mechanical system testing
3. Best practices & cases
Rentaload – The wind rose

Focus on integrated test, the most informative and representative test

• Size load banks as small as reasonably possible for Level 5 activities to best
simulate the actual IT environment for more accurate and realistic
mechanical system testing

• At a minimum, take electrical load and critical area temperature readings

between each discrete test; where data loggers are used, measurements
should be logged every 30-60 seconds

• Test a variety of load conditions—10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% step
loads—in order to simulate the actual load conditions as a datacentre “ Datacenter systems may be simple, but their
gradually increases its critical IT load
interaction isn't. Level 5 testing verifies reliability
• Install aisle containment strategies that are to be utilized as part of the of design and compatibility among all critical
design to ensure the aisle containment strategies support the systems (Electrical Mechanical, Environmental).
infrastructure as required
You must test in all modes (Failure, Safety,
Emergency).”
3. Best practices & cases
Rentaload – The wind rose

Continuously improved the process using new technologies

• Use smart load bank that can be connected to a supervision software that
can run the whole fleet in different mode (load, switch from lane A to B,
etc.)

• Choose load banks that are capable to be feeded 50%-50% so to

precisely test 2N configurations

• Benefit from 3D software modelization to see on-live & to record all

datas captured during the test (P, U, I, T° on the load banks or in the
room)

• Gather information on dedicated data base to prepare I.A. operation

support
3. Best practices & cases
Vertiv - Best Practices for Critical Facility Commissioning

When it comes to designing, building, and implementing critical operating systems, the commissioning (Cx) process plays an instrumental role in
ensuring facility owners realize the greatest possible return on their investment. But like any other task, getting the most out of the Cx process
depends on what you put into it.

That said, Cx in no way needs to be an all-consuming or complicated ordeal for a facility owner. However, it is wise for the owner to put the right
person in charge of the process. In doing so, and adhering to a handful of industry best practices, owners, managers, and operating staff can launch a
Cx program that more than pays for itself through systems that operate as intended, and a design/build process that stays on time and on budget.
Here’s how to get the most from the Cx spend:

1. HIRE THE RIGHT COMMISSIONING AUTHORITY (CxA)

Owners rarely have the time to oversee all aspects of the Cx process. That’s why they hire a CxA. The right CxA can provide the guidance and advice an
owner needs to make informed, strategic decisions throughout the process. The intent of the organization serving as the CxA is to deliver the facility,
program, modification, or expansion while ensuring that meeting the needs of the owner is the top priority.

To avoid conflicts of interest, your CxA should be independent, especially from your general contractor and design consultant. Ideally, the CxA should be
under direct contract to the owner, have a direct line of communication to the owner, and have no other project responsibilities other than Cx activities.

Owners also want to make sure the CxA has the right credentials, such as experience Cx critical spaces or mission-critical facilities. If possible, work with a
CxA who is certified as a Qualified Commissioning Process Provider (QCxP) with training in Cx guidelines from the American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Ideally, your CxA will also be involved with major industry associations, such as the Building
Commissioning Association (BCA) and InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA).
3. Best practices & cases
Vertiv - Best Practices for Critical Facility Commissioning

2. COMMIT TO THE PROCES

The CxA will take charge of all the day-to-day Cx responsibilities. But owners can make that job a lot easier and ensure everyone else is on board by being an
engaged participant. In fact, the owner’s involvement and attitude will set the tone for all other participants. If owners make it clear that Cx is a priority and
take an active role in authorizing activities, then it’s more likely the design team, general contractor, subcontractors, and equipment vendors will follow suit and
be willing to collaborate to complete Cx activities per the project schedule.

3. TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO Cx

In practice, many facility owners only engage in Cx activities during the construction phase of their projects. They limit the scope of Cx to focus on
acceptance testing, equipment startup, and similar services that occur once the system or assembly has been built. As a result, they miss out on much of the
value that a broader approach to Cx provides. If limited to the construction phase of the Cx process, the CxA can only impact site responsibilities. Involving
the CxA earlier in the project, allows for a review of the design documentation to ensure what is given to a potential general contractors or vendors is an
accurate representation of the full scope of work, rather than leaving it open to interpretation. This also allows accurate proposals from competing vendors
to support the procurement, installation, and operation of a new or existing facility; ultimately resulting in a reduction in change orders or schedule delays, and
closer alignment to the dictated project schedule.

Many experts recommend engaging a CxA even before a design team or engineering firm. A properly vetted CxA will be an expert at helping owners
articulate their requirements for the data center and will assist in creating the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR). This critical step ensures that what the
owner needs and expects from their investment becomes the foundation upon which all subsequent activities are based. In other words, everything from
system design, to construction, to operation schemes will map back to the OPR, helping to ensure the owner’s ultimate satisfaction and return on investment
(ROI).
3. Best practices & cases
Vertiv - Best Practices for Critical Facility Commissioning

4. PRIORITIZE THE BUDGET

While the entire facility and all of its systems and assemblies can likely benefit from Cx, the budget will only stretch so far. That’s why owners will want to
work closely with their CxA to determine which activities will deliver the greatest ROI based on the OPR. From enabling facility availability, to promoting
safety and compliance, to ensuring energy efficiency, a CxA can guide owners in specifying and scheduling the Cx services that will best meet their needs—yet
another good reason to get the CxA involved early.

5. DON'T OVERLOOK THE POST OCCUPANCY PHASE

Just as early CxA engagement is a good idea, so is keeping the CxA onboard for the duration of a project. It is not until construction is completed and the
project if fully operational that the CxA can truly validate that systems are operating in accordance with the OPR. At this time, the CxA can oversee any fine-
tuning, deferred testing, or system optimization, as well as conduct the warranty review to make sure that critical infrastructure is primed to meet the
owner’s specific project needs for years to come.

At its foundation, Cx is all about ensuring owner satisfaction. By hiring the right experts and committing to a comprehensive Cx process, owners can rest
assured that their facility or system will operate exactly as intended.
3. Best practices & cases
TÜViT - Quality Assurance during the commissioning

The commissioning, which is prepared and carried

out in a structured manner, requires comprehensive
quality assurance in order to obtain reliable and
meaningful test results, guarantee successful
completion and provide evidence that the
contractually agreed availability level, e.g. TSI
(Trusted Site Infrastructure) Level 1-4, has been
reached. The assessment of any identified deviations
is essential.

Quality Assurance Steps

The following steps are useful and necessary for a
comprehensive quality assurance:
3. Best practices & cases
TÜViT - Quality Assurance during the commissioning

Conformity assessment / design evaluation (as offered within the framework of TSI or
the EN 50600)

As part of the conformity assessment or designevaluation, the planning documents, e.g.

mechanical and electrical systems, are used to evaluate whether and how the data center
or the supplying data center infrastructure reaches the intended availability level/class.

In addition, the result of the assessments represents the basis for the following tests and
quality assurance steps.

Evaluation of the commissioning program

The commissioning program is assessed with regards to its

• completeness of the planned audits and activities,
• sequence of scheduled assessment and activities and
• coverage of the load cases or of the expected event spectrum on which the planning is
based.
3. Best practices & cases
TÜViT - Quality Assurance during the commissioning

Assessment of commissioning-instructions and procedures

Commissioning instructions and procedures will be evaluated to ensure that:

• with the described procedures the intended availability class/level is achievable and
• the procedures described address the load cases and events on which the planning of
the data center or the data center infrastructure is based.

Assessment of the implementation of commissioning activities and tests

This includes checking whether the commissioning activities and tests are carried out in
accordance with the procedure laid down in the commissioning instructions and
procedures.

Assessments of test results and anomalies

The results obtained in the course of commissioning tests and activities are evaluated in
terms of the intended availability class/level. Among other things, acceptable tolerances are
evaluated in terms of the intended availability class/level and further measures are initiated
if necessary.
3. Best practices & cases
TÜViT - Quality Assurance during the commissioning

Assessment of the documentation

The documentation and protocols of the results obtained during the performance of the
commissioning tests and activities shall be reviewed with regards to its:
• completeness and
• correctness.

Contract-Compliance and Secure Transition to the Operation

The following groups of persons and project participants may be involved in the planning,
construction and operation of the data center; which usually involves contractual
agreements or obligations (customer and contractor) between the different parties:

• customer (possibly also the future operator of the data center),

• designer,
• general contractor,
• subcontractor,
• suppliers and manufacturers,
• authorities and experts.
3. Best practices & cases
TÜViT - Quality Assurance during the commissioning

In general, the contracting party wishes to receive a good or service which the supplier
provides in return for payment. In case of successfully completed commissioning activities
or assessments payment obligations will rise or represent a transfer of responsibility and
liability and mark the beginning of the warranty commencement.

Against this background, a third party participation in the context of quality assurance
during commissioning offers the following advantages:

• Independent confirmation of the provision of a contractual service, e.g. the function of

individual components or the availability of the supplying data center infrastructure, and
therefore provides
• performance assurance for both contracting parties and
• avoidance of legal disputes.

• Avoidance of anomalies or conditions in a certification audit, since obstacles that stand

in the way of certification can be identified and remedied early on. Many anomalies in a
certification audit are ultimately a result of failures during the commissioning of a data
center.

• Optimized data center operation through tested operating instructions and emergency
procedures as well as enabling maintenance on the actual state of the data center,
which can result in cost savings.
3. Best practices & cases
Zentrys – Keep commissioning simple

The design and construction process is only a limited period in the entire lifecycle of a
datacenter. In most projects we see the pressure cooker is on during this process and
commissioning is seen as a bottle neck towards hand-over to operations. The
commissioning process is however one of the most critical processes as it will be difficult,
not to say impossible to repair a number of punches during the commissioning.

What we learned and would like to share are the following basic principles:

1: Why: Start with why we do commissioning

What is the goal of the commissioning? This should translate in how and what we are
commioning. The reasons may vary (multiple answers possible):
• Proof of evidence
• Guarantee
• Agreement
• Liability
• Hand-over
• Stress test / punches
• Certifications
• (Inter-)National regulations
• Local regulations
• Training operational staff
3. Best practices & cases
Zentrys – Keep commissioning simple

2. How: create the concept commissioning plan

Now we have agreed the goal of the commissioning in the commissioning plan should be further defined:
• What are the specs
• Where do we plan to commission (factory, on site, etc)
• What are the perimeters to check
• What are the deliverables
• Who is involved and responsible
• When are we successful

Ideally you would like to test the entire site in your level 5 commissioning, but don’t forget the other
perimeters like the grid connection, availability of power, availability of water and other environmental and
financial thresholds that may impact the commissioning phases. This might be the reason to create
commissioning .

Example:

• 60 MW IT distributed redundant site commissioning

• Commissioning of the entire site would mean a 90 MW peak (including facilities)
• Effect on the utility costs is roughly 5 million EUR (*calculated over a year)
• Decission: Commission in blocks of 5 MW, so that peak will not exceed 7 MW and save 90%
3. Best practices & cases
Zentrys – Keep commissioning simple

3. What: What we do in the several levels

This questions contains the action plan in the different levels resulting in scenarios. Based on the
master commissioning plan wherein we have agreed budget, risk, time and minimum requirements
are described we carefully plan the different actions or scenarios.

The question that should be answered during the entire commissioning process is often forgotten:

When are we successfull in achieving our goal?

3. Best practices & cases
Deerns - Summary T&C process

This Commissioning Plan of Record (CxPoR) provides a structure for the commissioning process (Cx process). Cx is a quality process
which ensures, with documented confirmation, the proper installation and functioning of the building services as designed and specified.
Cx ensures the Data Centre facility (DC) meets MS’s project requirements, tender documentation and operational needs.
• Cx PM, main contractor.
• Cx A, Cx Agent.

Cx LEVELS

The Cx process comprises of 5 levels:

Level 0 : Review design
Level 1 : Factory Testing (FAT)
Level 2 : QA/QC Installation and civil inspections
Level 3 : Start-up witness testing
Level 4 : Site Acceptance Test (SAT)
Level 5 : Integrated Systems Testing (IST)

During every Cx level checks are performed to ensure that the building services are designed, installed and operate in compliance with
the design intent. This process is not to diminish the responsibility of the contractor nor is it intended to be a redundant testing or
inspection function. Cx is performed to document, validate and ensuring that the quality of the systems meet MS’s project requirements
as documented by the Detailed Design.

The transition from a lower to a higher Cx level can only be effected if all supplied quality and functionality meet the requirements for
that transition.
3. Best practices & cases
Deerns - Summary T&C process

Cx PLAN

Deerns(CxA) has developed an initial Cx plan that is based on this CxPoR and adapted for the specific parameters of the DC project.
The plan describes the extend of the Cx process to accomplish the project requirements and meet the basis of design. The Cx plan is a
living document and can be updated throughout the project if needed. It will be updated with regards to:
• Systems and assemblies to be verified and tested
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Commissioning schedule
• Project specific communication protocols
• Project Organization Chart

EQUIPMENT TAGGING

A colour coded equipment tagging system which corresponds with the current Cx status of the tagged equipment shall be implemented.
This provides a progressive visual indication at the equipment location stating at which level of Cx verification was successfully completed.

The CxPM is responsible for managing and implementing the tagging process and ensuring the equipment is signed off. The main
contractor provides the tags and is responsible for informing the CxPM on the Cx progress.

Following tagging stages shall be implemented

• Not ready for start-up (Red Tag)
• Ready for start-up (Yellow Tag)
• Ready for Level 4 Functional Testing (Green Tag)
• Ready for Level 5 IST (Blue Tag)
3. Best practices & cases
Deerns - Summary T&C process

Cx PUNCH, SNAG AND ISSUES LIST

The CxA shall provide in visual reporting tools for managing Punch, Snag and
Issues lists. Complete details in the comments section shall be listed
accompanied with pictures and / or drawing fragments.

Issues shall be assigned to the responsible party. Once the issue is corrected
the responsible party shall update the Cx punch list with the description of the
repair and supply photos as necessary to show the issue was corrected.

The final Punch list shall include all issues currently and the items will be
captured during the final Punch list walk.
3. Commissioning checklist
What to do in the different commissioning phases

1. PRE-DESIGN PHASE
One word: Research! Take time to do the proper research to ensure you build a
• Assemble the commissioning team competent team. Once you have found the right general contractor, design
team, commissioning agent and vendors, the likelihood of success has already
• Involve key stakeholders in the commissioning planning process
increased exponentially. The budget should cover all items and personnel
• Create the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) document needed to support the commissioning. Scheduling should be timely and covers
• Determine the initial commissioning scope, schedule, and budget all commissioning activities to avoid any delays. Allow room for flexibility.
• Define the commissioning plan
• Implement contingency plans for special circumstances
• Decide how to leverage load bank technology into the data center commissioning
• Focus on selecting innovative load testing services that improve set-up time, safety,
and operational efficiency
• Implement a load bank testing strategy into the commissioning plan that simulates
electrical and thermal load characteristics of the equipment used in the data
center
• Integrate power quality monitors to complete load tests in less time, collect more
data, reduce reporting time, and consolidate devices
• Integrate all load bank functions, controls, and operations so the load banks can
be operated remotely from the solution provider’s network operations center
3. Commissioning checklist
What to do in the different commissioning phases

2. DESIGN PHASE
This is the phase where all plans, checklists, and reports are reviewed by
your team. Ensure that the commissioning agent is involved in the design
• Communicate the data center commissioning requirements to project team reviews. This should be done at the initial stages. This facilitates effective
members communication, as the commissioning agent gains an understanding of how
• Verify design documentation consistency with the OPR the system works and your intention for the design of the system. The
• Include commissioning requirements in the construction documents commissioning agent may then offer beneficial insights.
• Build engagement and cooperation among project team members
3. Commissioning checklist
What to do in the different commissioning phases

3. CONSTRUCTION PHASE I
Check all pieces of equipment that arrive on site, is it the correct quantity?
Are there any scratches or dents? Any deficiencies? Best to know as soon as
• Update the data center commissioning plan as required possible! Keep track of all reported deficiencies and deal with them
• Ensure commissioning team members understand roles and responsibilities accordingly. Do not allow any deficiency to slip through the cracks as that is
• Install equipment, systems, and assemblies correctly detrimental to successful commissioning.

Start connecting the equipment. Check whether the valves and switches are
functioning. Of course, it is best the check the connection of equipment
together with the supplier, so no mistakes can occur upon setting-up the
equipment.

The staff operating within the data center must understand the “ins” and
“outs” of their facility. There’s no better way to do this than during the
Integrated and Functional System Testing. This is where they will get the
opportunity to test the system’s capacity (i.e. controls schemes, automatic
and/or manual transfers, etc).
3. Commissioning checklist
What to do in the different commissioning phases

3. CONSTRUCTION PHASE II
The Functional Commissioning scripts should be completed and reviewed by
the team. Get feedback from the team before “challenging” the system.
• Confirm functionality and maintainability Review progress and activities in a daily meeting. One should encourage
• Provide the operations and maintenance personnel with operations staff to be creative. Again, keep track of all deficiencies.
complete systems operating documentation
• Create training documentation This is where you determine whether your machine is properly calibrated or
• Train applicable personnel thoroughly needs tweaking. Validate all information that is received from the systems,
• Develop a plan for ongoing training like values, alarms, and notifications. Involve the operations team to ensure
that they learn how the system operates and how to manoeuvre it.

Lastly, ensure all documentation is provided upon completion. Operators can

effectively run the data center once all documents, namely the final
commissioning and as-built documentation, are accounted for.
3. Commissioning checklist
What to do in the different commissioning phases

4. OCCUPANCY AND OPERATIONS PHASE

• Complete any functional testing and training not completed during the
construction phase
• Finalize systems and commissioning documentation
• Confirm a successful turnover to operations and maintenance personnel
• Evaluate and optimize facility performance
• Implement a plan for ongoing commissioning of the data center over time
• Evaluate the project and measure the level of success
3. Commissioning checklist
What to do in the different commissioning phases

5. ONGOING MAINTENANCE

• Update the maintenance plan as required

• Use load banks to perform load testing on a regular basis to:
o Ensure subsystems in the data center operate as intended
o Reduce equipment and process failures
o Identify issues and corrective actions required
o Increase component life cycle
o Create energy savings
o Improve data center reliability and availability
o Enhance cost efficiencies for equipment-related tasks
4. APPENDICES
4. Appendices
Further reading

WHITE PAPER RENTALOAD – JUNE 2019

Load banks and Data Centre Commissioning Tips, Field Notes & Best
Practices.
https://rentaload.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Rentaload-White-Paper-
March-2019.pdf

WHITE PAPER VERTIV– 2017

Commissioning your data center for greater availability, safety and efficiency
while reducing costs throughout the lifecycle:
https://www.vertiv.com/globalassets/services/services/project-
services/commissioning-your-data-center-for-greater-availability-safety.pdf
4. About
About Rentaload

Rentaload is a Load bank services company, based in France with offices in the UK and Germany, covering projects across the
whole of Europe. Rentaload leverages its partners many years of experience in manufacturing load banks and as a result, offers its
clients rental and services solutions for resistive, inductive and capacitive load banks, built and optimized specifically for datacentres.
Rentaload provide banks, accessories, and services such as set-up de-mobilization, assistance in commissioning, commissioning for
multiple applications all over Europe: testing diesel generators, acceptance testing for server rooms, dummy load, unloading, etc.

Contact information

Rentaload UK
18 Lumen Road,
East Lane Business Park HA9 7RE Wembley,
London, UK

Rentaload FR
1, chemin de chaumour 21500
Montbard, FRANCE

[email protected]
www.rentaload.com
4. About
About Vertiv

With a history of industry-changing solutions and a well-earned reputation for innovation, Vertiv and its partners continue to raise
the bar in the areas of power, cooling, access and control, monitoring, and manageability.

We offer the expertise you need, the reliability you demand, and the resources only a global partner can provide. We trace our
roots back to the beginning of the information age, but our organization began to take shape in 2000 when Emerson brought its
critical infrastructure technologies together under the Network Power umbrella. By 2016 the solutions provided by Emerson
Network Power, as well as the people that stand behind them, were strong enough to stand alone as Vertiv.

To learn more about Vertiv’s services and certifications in the data center sector visit:
https://www.vertiv.com/
4. About
About Deerns

Consulting engineers over 90 years

We need ideas with vision. Ideas that meet our rapidly changing world, the growing standard of global prosperity and the increasing
need for people to have a healthy, safe and comfortable living environment. Ideas that also take into account stringent hygiene and
safety regulations and that address the concerns of climate change and CO2 emissions.

As an independent engineering firm with 500 specialists worldwide, Deerns has the skills to make those ideas a reality. Indeed, as
experts in the field of technical infrastructure for buildings and facilities in urban and industrial areas, Deerns has been doing this
since 1928, tailoring its approach to every client’s unique needs and specifications. From concept to design to supervision to
aftercare: Deerns brings concepts to life.

To learn more about Deerns services and certifications in the data center sector visit:
https://www.deerns.com/
4. About
About Unica Data Centers

Unica Datacenters is the number one Data Center Specialist based in the Netherlands that realizes intelligent, technologically
advanced Data Centers in Europe.

For more than 20 years Unica Datacenters has been engineering, constructing, commissioning, configuring, maintaining and
optimizing Data Centers. We also implement white space and infrastructure and facilitate secure storage of data. That is how we
contribute to a better and still growing digital world.

Large or small, simple or complex. We support our clients, as General Contractor, with all their Data Center solution challenges,
from A to Z, and ensure them that their Data Center satisfies their needs in years to come. Whether it is a greenfield turnkey
project constructing a Data Center for colocation, designing & engineering modifications for a telecom company or expanding
computer rooms within enterprises, Unica Datacenters is your Data Center Specialist.

To learn more about Unica Data Center services and certifications in the data center sector visit:
https://www.unica.nl/datacenters-en
4. About
About TUViT

TÜV Informationstechnik GmbH (TÜViT) is a worldwide-recognized evaluation and certification service-provider for data centers,
colocation- and cloud-infrastructures, with more than 500 data center certifications issued globally since 2002.

With vast experience TÜViT is an unbiased and competent partner in the assessment and certification of data centers in terms of
their availability aspects and energy efficiency in context of the EN 50600/ ISO 22237 , the TSI.STANDARD (Trusted Site
Infrastructure) and ISO 50001. TÜViT provides neutral assessments and supports in every important phase of the data center life
cycle, such as concept, design, construction, commissioning and operation.

Its portfolio also includes topics like cyber security, software and hardware evaluation, IoT/Industry 4.0, data protection, ISMS, Smart
Energy, mobile security, automotive security, eID and identity verification services. TÜViT founded in 1995 and headquartered in
Essen, Germany, is a member of the TÜV NORD GROUP, one of the world's largest technology service providers with over
10,000 employees and business activities in 70 countries worldwide.

To learn more about TÜViT’s services and certifications in the data center sector visit:
https://www.tuvit.de/en/services/data-centers-colocation-cloud-infrastructures/
4. About
About Zentrys

Zentrys is a 100% datacenter services company active throughout the lifecycle of datacenters and active in Europe with offices in
the Netherlands, Ireland and Germany. The main pilars in our services are Consulting, (Re-)Design+Development and Operations.

Over 40 Zentrys professionals count over 200 years of expertise datacenters and are responsible for over 100 MW. Datacenters
are built in months to last decades. The mix of standardised in-house operational excellence, engineering and development
knowhow create excellent results of our projects. The kind of projects vary from end-to-end design and development till
independant third-party services like compliancy and commissioning wherein we always focus on long term relations with our
customers.

Zentrys and it’s sister company Elektrys have reviewed, created and managed multiple commissioning plans for it’s customers
varying from hyperscalers till colocation-parties. Herein a professional, pragmatic, reliable and less time consuming approach has
provided excellent results.

To learn more about Zentrys and certifications in the data center sector visit:
https://www.zentrys.com
4. About
About Dutch Data Center Association

The Dutch Data Center Association (DDA) is the trade associations of data centers in the Netherlands, the bedrock of the Dutch
economy. The DDA unites leading data centers in the Netherlands in a common mission: the strengthening of economic growth
and the profiling of the data center sector to government, media and society.

The DDA expresses industry views on regulatory and policy issues. It demonstrates leadership by facilitating and encouraging
members to implement operational improvements in the form of best practices.The DDA promotes education and contributes to
technical standards, which enables the data center industry in the Netherlands and abroad to further distinguish itself.

The DDA closely collaborates with Digital Gateway to Europe, which promotes the Netherlands as international data hub.The
DDA also actively collaborates with market operators, the government and other interested parties.

Contact information
Dutch Data Center Association
Anthony Fokkerweg 61
1059 CP Amsterdam
The Netherlands
+31 20 3037860
[email protected]
www.dutchdatacenters.nl
4. Colophon
The Dutch Data Center Commission Guide is an study initiated by the Dutch Data Center Association, Rentaload,
Deerns, Vertiv, Unica Datacenters and TÜViT.

Edition Editor-in-Chief
Dutch Data Center Commission Guide Stijn Grove
January 2020
Marketing & artwork
Contributions Zoë Derksen
DDA
Rentaload Print quantity
Deerns
Unica First release, April 2020: 100
TÜVIT
Vertiv Availability
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