Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1036193
8 | THE DATA CENTER JOURNAL www.datacenterjournal.com B ecause it's an unconventional change in the schedule—and mindset—all parties must buy in from the beginning. e method is a shi in the approach to commissioning, not only in the timing but also in the process, so expectations must be set in the beginning to ensure all partners find the greatest success. Once green lighted, the first step is to find a testing integrator and an associated warehouse to use as a staging area. e closer to the jobsite, the better, as it reduces ship- ping costs and allows more schedule flexibility by eliminat- ing transit time. Shorter delivery distances also reduce the risk of damage in transit. When evaluating potential integra- tors, it's critical that the space is both climate controlled to meet the manufacturer's storage requirements and large enough to hold and hook up all the necessary testing equip- ment. It must have access to temporary power sources, have access to false loads for testing (i.e., load banks—water or air-cooled) and meet security requirements. Last, analyzing the risk strategy to determine whether the warehouse must be bonded is extremely important. To see the most success, include the electrical testing agency, construction agent, vendor support and the power- monitoring system (PMS) integrator for electrical equip- ment. is is where the magic happens. ough it may seem similar to factory witness testing (FWT), note the differ- ences—differences that make shaving time off the schedule possible. e le-shi approach expands the FWT to include all physical and electrical testing of buses, breakers and components, as well as fully integrated sequence testing, so you know what you get before it shows up. It doesn't just simulate compatibility between control devices, monitoring devices and hardware; it fully incorporates all the smarts and parts associated with an integrated group of equipment. is enhanced testing involves a lot of coordination with multiple vendors, not just the single vendor for one piece of equip- ment. is coordination may be challenging up front, but the reward of reduced system modifications thanks to fully testing the equipment up front will pay off substantially in the long term. A good example of this method in action is a switch- board with generator controls. A standard FWT of a switch- board or generator will showcase a standalone test that provides some benefit. But if you take the generator control- ler to the switchboard factory and simulate the generator (or better yet, get a complete generator to the switchboard factory), you can simulate real-life sequences with load to determine start time, transfer time, failure scenarios and so on. Doing this task in the factory before the building is ready removes potential troubleshooting during equipment startup. Additional coordination that requires consideration for this effort includes NETA testing of the equipment. is step requires the coordination study to be completed early as well. And last, the PMS can be fully set up and tested with the appropriate technical experts available. Doing so elimi- nates the confusion that PMS integrators face when trying to set up these systems on site. Configuring mechanical equipment off site well ahead of typical commissioning activities affords opportunities that are unavailable using traditional FWT. An example is a building-management system (BMS) in a chiller plant. Like the electrical component, this process also requires exten- sive coordination with many partners. e requirements for this test would include the testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) contractor; the construction agent; the vendor startup technicians; and the BMS integrator. e test would also re- quire equipment controllers from all vendors to be at the test location for complete integration off site (i.e., the chiller con- troller or a variable-frequency drive). e BMS network and hardware must be fully developed and programmed with graphics screens live for the test. is process is inherently different from how the BMS integrator typically deploys the scope, so you must make this effort clear. But it's where you can save time on the back end—by coordinating all points and ensuring a complete product before you deploy the system in the field. In some instances, bringing the device to the site is im- practical. I'd make it a limited exception, but to supplement these devices, a graphics board with lights and switches can manually simulate these machines. It can only be used for hard-wire signals, not BACNet or other networked devices. Including TAB technicians during this test setup is important, so they will be able to better understand what and how they will be testing the system. Make sure the TAB technician provides a written notation from the test. Once the setup is complete, the test can commence by running through all the sequences of operation (SOO) and making sure the points are mapped back to the controller. A common issue you'll find in this process is a deviation from the points list provided with the project specifications. Make sure you work with the owner and document the changes accordingly. Seeing the benefits of these examples, it's safe to say most recognize the advantage of the le-shi concept. So,