LEVEL 4 - DATA CENTER Cx | Functional Testing

Level 4, managed and delivered by the Owners Commissioning Provider, with support from the General Contractor, focuses on bringing the systems together for functional testing. A series of rigorous tests will be performed to ensure their alignment with the Owner’s Project Requirements [OPR], Basis of Design [BOD], and relevant contract documentation such as drawings, specifications, and control logics, prior to the Level 5 Integrated Testing.

This stage plays a pivotal role in verifying the functional performance of these integrated systems with the following providing a high-level overview of the works:

Operating Modes of Equipment Performing as Expected,
Interlocks of Equipment and Systems Performing as Expected,
Sequence of Operations of Equipment and Systems Performing as Expected,
Documenting All Level 4 Tasks and Activities,
Closure of Issues and Observations,
Readying Systems for Level 5 Integrated Testing,
Conducting Training,
Attaching the Appropriate Level 4 Tag.

Level 4 is where the Owners Commissioning Provider takes over the commissioning activities from the General Contractor and completes the Functional Testing of the Equipment and Systems...

Table of Contents

⬛ Additional Resources

To help navigate around the site and provide additional resources, we’ve added plenty of helpful links throughout this article to help you complete your data center commissioning, also below is a list of other articles that we have written that you may find helpful:

🟩 Sampling Rate

As the delivery of this level is managed and completed by the Owners Commissioning Provider [other levels were the General Contractors’ responsibility], they will witness 100% of all tasks and activities, including documentation and onsite works.

🟩 Using the RASCI Matrix

For the roles and responsibilities, we will utilize the RASCI format, which helps with defining and communicating the required roles and responsibilities within the process and will dictate, via a structured framework, who is Responsible, Accountable, Supportive, Consulted, and Informed for each task, activity, or decision.

Using the matrix will enhance management and teamwork, promoting clarity, reducing confusion, and fostering effective communication.

Responsible	[R]	This is the person that is responsible for doing the work ensuring the activities are completed by the relevant team members, they can also provide comments as well.
Approve	[A]	This person comments, approves and signs off and owns the activity.
Supportive	[S]	Persons who will provide support to the Responsible party, aiding in completion of the task.
Consulted	[C]	Opinion sought, where required.
Informed	[I]	This person is informed when a decision is made, or an activity is performed. They may be required to act because of the outcome.

🟩 Roles of Team Members

The following participants will be involved in the delivery of the Level 4 – Commissioning Tasks and Activities:

Owner	[O]	The owner is the person who will own/occupy or run the facility once it is complete; they have the final say in the overall expectations of the project and finance it.
Building Operator	[BO]	The company and people responsible for operating the facility once handed over.
Project Manager	[PM]	The project manager, employed to represent the owner, running and managing the overall project and programme. [where owner is not fully involved in the day to day running of the project].
Commissioning Provider	[CxP]	The consultant employed by the Owner to ensure that the project is verified to meet their expectations,
Designer	[DES]	Responsible for taking the Owner's expectations/requirements and creating a design that works in line with them,
General Contractor	[GC]	The company employed to construct, build and commission the project,
Sub-Contractor	[SC]	Works for the General Contractor delivering specialist services
Vendor/Supplier	[VEN]	Supplies goods, materials and equipment for the project.

Full Detailed Document	Data Center Commissioning Guideline [MS Word] Use Straight Away Insert in Tender Documents Industry Wide Process from Level 0 to Level 6 Detailed Responsibility and Roles Includes Commissioning Checklist Aimed at anyone who needs a detailed delivery plan and checklist for deploying Commissioning within a Data Center Project, this document is formatted in Microsoft Word/Excel and written so that it can be deployed quickly and easily with minimal updating to suit your specific needs. *[Once through to the shop there is a sample of the document to view]*	Buy Here \| $29.99
Quick Checklist	Data Center Commissioning Checklist [MS Word] & [MS Excel] Easy Quick High Level Tracker Here is our open copy [MS Word] & [MS Excel] of the Data Center Commissioning Checklist, for making life a little easier...	Buy Here \| $1.99
Buy All Our Documents	Buy All 126No. Site Commissioning Documents 126No. Documents Use Straight Away Amazing Value We have been asked several times to create a complete document package covering everything we have uploaded to the site. So it's taken some time, but here it is....126No. Documents for you to download in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel & PDF Formats. CLICK THE BUY HERE TO SEE/DOWNLOAD A FULL LIST OF DOCUMENTS INCLUDED...	Buy Here \| $129.99

Full Detailed Document

Data Center Commissioning Guideline [MS Word]

Use Straight Away
Insert in Tender Documents
Industry Wide Process from Level 0 to Level 6
Detailed Responsibility and Roles
Includes Commissioning Checklist

Aimed at anyone who needs a detailed delivery plan and checklist for deploying Commissioning within a Data Center Project, this document is formatted in Microsoft Word/Excel and written so that it can be deployed quickly and easily with minimal updating to suit your specific needs.

[Once through to the shop there is a sample of the document to view]

Buy Here | $29.99

Quick Checklist

Data Center Commissioning Checklist [MS Word] & [MS Excel]

Easy
Quick
High Level
Tracker

Here is our open copy [MS Word] & [MS Excel] of the Data Center Commissioning Checklist, for making life a little easier...

Buy Here | $1.99

Buy All Our Documents

Buy All 126No. Site Commissioning Documents

126No. Documents
Use Straight Away
Amazing Value

We have been asked several times to create a complete document package covering everything we have uploaded to the site.

So it's taken some time, but here it is....126No. Documents for you to download in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel & PDF Formats.

CLICK THE BUY HERE TO SEE/DOWNLOAD A FULL LIST OF DOCUMENTS INCLUDED...

Buy Here | $129.99

🟩 Level 4 – Tasks, Activities, Roles, and Responsibilities

🟧 Level 4 – 21 Step Matrix

The below table has been written to allow the planning of Level 4 tasks and activities, and we have included a purchasable resource that can be downloaded at the end of this article.

⚠️ Note: These works move the project from the management of the General Contractor to the Owners Commissioning Provider. The General Contractor will generally support.

Level	Task/Activity	O / PM	BO	CXP	DES	GC	VEN
L4-01	Write and Issue Scripts that will be used to facilitate the testing works.	A	I	R	I	S	I
L4-02	Write and Issue Work Permits as noted in Level 0 that will be used to facilitate the works.	A	C	R	I	I	I
L4-03	Ensure that Temporary Equipment and Instruments are installed in line with the approved Load Bank & Equipment Plan as noted in Level 0 works.	I	I	A	I	R	S
L4-04	Operate Temporary Equipment and Instruments to facilitate the testing works.	I	I	A	I	R	S
L4-05	Plan and Manage Testing and Acceptance of plant, equipment, and systems in line with approved procedures, scripts, and programme.	A	S	R	I	S	S
L4-06	Complete Thermographic Studies and create report as noted in Level 0 works.	I	I	A	I	R	S
L4-07	Download Data and Information for review after testing.	A	I	R	I	S	S
L4-08	Update Commissioning Tracking to reflect actual status and progress. [Manually or as per Commissioning Electronic Platform]	A	I	R	I	S	S
L4-09	Manage the Overall Programme for the Commissioning Tasks and Activities.	A	I	R	I	S	S
L4-10	Add any issues to Observation Register and managing to close.	A	I	R	I	S	S
L4-11	File and manage documentation and records within the Project electronic filing system	A	I	R	I	S	S
L4-12	Issue regular 2 Week Look Ahead Schedules for Commissioning Team Resource Planning.	A	I	R	I	I	I
L4-13	Conduct Daily Morning Coordination Workshop.	A	I	R	S	S	S
L4-14	Provide Daily Commissioning Updates.	A	I	R	I	I	I
L4-15	Conduct Commissioning Focused Weekly Meetings and Workshops.	A	I	R	S	S	S
L4-16	Provide to Owner, Commissioning Focused Reports [Level 4 / Monthly / Weekly]	A	I	R	I	S	I
L4-17	Issue Final Operation and Maintenance Manuals.	C	C	A	I	R	S
L4-18	Start Facility Operatives Training in line with the documents noted in Level 0 works.	I	S	A	I	R	S
L4-19	Install all Blue Tags where applicable.	I	I	A	I	R	S
L4-20	Provide to Owner, Level Close Out Reports.	A	I	R	S	S	S
L4-21	Sign off Level.	A	I	R	I	I	I

🚀 Below is an overview of each step noted in the above table.

🟧 L4-01 Write and Issue Scripts

The Owners Commissioning Provider will write, develop and issue the Level 4 Scripts to the Owner for approval before any activities occur.

🟧 L4-02 Write and Issue Work Permits

‘Work Permits’ should be written and issued by the Owners Commissioning Provider to the Owner / Building Operator, where authorization is required to conduct and complete any specific tasks and activities. They will generally cover multiple types of works, for example:

General Power On [Lock Out/Tag Out],
Energization of Equipment,
Integration of New Chilled Water Systems with Existing,
Integration of New Equipment with Existing Systems,
General Testing Activities.

The format of these permits should have already been discussed and agreed upon during the Level 0 – Design & Planning Stage.

🟧 L4-03 Check Temporary Equipment and Instruments Installed

The General Contractor, overseen by the CxP, should ensure that all temporary equipment, instruments, and components required for the Level 4 works are installed and ready.

Buy Here | $29.99

🟧 L4-04 Operate Temporary Equipment

Throughout the Level 4 activities, the temporary equipment will be operated by the General Contractor and their vendors under the instruction of the Owners Commissioning Provider.

🟧 L4-05 Plan & Manage Functional Testing

The Owners Commissioning Provider manages and oversees the Level 4 works, focusing on the planning, reporting, coordinating, and testing activities, with all works aligning with the approved Level 4 Scripts.

🟧 L4-06 Complete Thermographic Studies

The thermal scanning proposed and discussed during the Level 0 – Design and Planning works should be conducted by the General Contractor if the temporary load allows on the Electrical Infrastructure.

🟧 L4-07 Download Data and Information

Once the functional testing has been completed, and upon confirmation from the Owners Commissioning Provider, the General Contractor should manage and oversee the downloading of all data and information collected by the various equipment and systems/BMS.

Once downloaded, it should be provided to the CxP for review and consolidation in their reports.

🟧 L4-08 Maintain Commissioning Progress Tracking

Throughout the Level 4 tasks and activities, the Owners Commissioning Consultant should consistently update the Commissioning Progress Tracking Schedules.

🟧 L4-09 Manage and Update Cx Programme

Throughout the Level 4 tasks and activities, the CxP should consistently update the Commissioning Program.

🟧 L4-10 Manage Punch Lists and Closure of Issues

Any observations or issues noted during the works should be inputted individually by the CxP into the Punch List in the format agreed upon during the Level 0 – Design & Planning Stage. The General Contractor is responsible for closing them out with the Vendors before the Owners CxP approves.

All observations should be closed before the Level 5 tasks and activities commence.

🟧 L4-11 File and Manage Information

Once all documentation for the Level 4 works has been completed and approved by the Owner, the CxP should ensure it is filed and stored in the location as agreed during the Level 0 – Design & Planning tasks and activities.

🟧 L4-12 Maintain 2-Week Look-Ahead Schedules

Based on the format agreed upon during the Level 0 – Design & Planning Stage, the Owners Commissioning Provider should issue [weekly] a 2-week look ahead schedule that fully represents the progress of the commissioning works and future activities.

🟧 L4-13 Conduct Daily Morning Coordination Workshops

Morning Coordination Workshops should be held daily, led by the CxP, to provide a forum where the commissioning team [Owner, Building Operator, CxP, Designer, General Contractor, Vendors, and Subcontractors] can be aligned, helping to keep commissioning efforts moving forward proactively.

These workshops should be used to review the status of commissioning activities, with the key objectives being to coordinate that day’s tests and tasks, address any issues or roadblocks, update commissioning checklists and documentation, review action items, and discuss and prepare for the next day’s activities.

🟧 L4-14 Issue Daily Commissioning Updates

A simple daily update on the progress made and any problems or issues encountered should be provided by the CxP. The format of this report should be based upon the agreement during the Level 0 – Design & Planning Stage.

This ‘Daily Report‘ should be issued to the Owner and Commissioning Team for information.

🟧 L4-15 Conduct Commissioning Meetings & Workshops

Commissioning meetings and workshops will be conducted throughout the Level 4 stage to ensure alignment and coordination among the members of the project commissioning team [Owner, Building Operator, CxP, Designer, General Contractor, and Vendors/Subcontractors].

These meetings & workshops should help facilitate discussions around the commissioning processes, documentation, schedules, observations, Level 4 works, and the future tasks and activities that need to be addressed and planned in the following stages [Level 5 & 6].

🟧 L4-16 Issue Owner Commissioning Reports

The Commissioning Provider should issue to the Owner, where required, their Weekly/Monthly commissioning reports.

🟧 L4-17 Issue Final Operating & Maintenance Manuals

At this stage, the Operating and Maintenance Manuals will have been updated from the ‘Draft’ manuals that were issued in the Level 3 activities and be issued in their final form by the General Contractor to the Owners Team.

⚠️ Note: these would only be for the Building Services Systems.

🟧 L4-18 Start Building Operator Training

Before the Level 5 works commence, the General Contractor should conduct all training that has been agreed on the facilities, equipment, and systems with the Building Operator and their team.

The training should align with the training plan, programme, and materials as agreed in the Level 0 – Design & Planning Stage.

🟧 L4-19 Attach Blue Tag

Once the Owners’ Commissioning Provider has verified that all Level 4 tasks and activities have been completed with all punch list items closed for each piece of equipment, component, or system, meeting the Level 4 expectations, the General Contractor should attach the required project ‘Blue Tag.’

🟧 L4-20 Provide Closeout Report

The Owners Commissioning Provider should issue a comprehensive ‘close-out report’ as a final summary of the Level 4 commissioning process, capturing the results, findings, and outcomes of the various steps.

This report should be provided to the Owner for review and acceptance.

🟧 L4-21 Sign-Off Level

Once the ‘Closeout Report’ has been received, reviewed, and approved by the Owner, the Level 4 works will be deemed complete and a Certificate Issued.

🟩 Level 5 Tasks and Activities

Click on the above for Level 5 – Integrated Testing Tasks and Activities.

Level 0 to Level 6 Data Center Commissioning Checklist Template [Open / PDF]

⬛ Author

If you would like to know more about the author, here is my Personal Linkedin Account

LEVEL 4 – DATA CENTER Cx | Functional Testing