Chapter 19: Testing and Commissioning

19.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter describes the testing and commissioning necessary before power transmission and distribution equipment is ready for service. Consideration is given under the following headings:

• Quality assurance: From the start of manufacture to the end of its useful life equipment is subjected to quality controls (QC) by a series of planned and controlled inspections and checks to achieve quality assurance (QA). Particularly useful frameworks for such quality assurance schemes and quality control checks which ensure that the equipment is fit for purpose are defined in ISO 9000. (Note ISO 9000 is published as a European norm EN 9000 and most sections of BS5750 have been superseded by the national equivalent BSEN 9000).

• Works inspection and testing: Works tests are intended to check the design characteristics of the equipment against specified standards. This may involve tests to destruction in order to gauge the extreme capabilities of equipment (e.g. new overhead line tower designs).

• Site inspection and testing: Site tests are less severe and cover both the individual items of plant and the complete system.

• Testing and commissioning methods: Whatever the method, it is essential that commissioning staff have a good understanding of the equipment involved and the modes of operation of the system. Safety of personnel and plant during commissioning is also vital; this is best addressed by good planning and procedural and safety documentation. The planning must take account of the risk of slippage in the earlier parts of the project programme, since a...