What is commissioning?
The stage that proves the installed system works — tested, recorded and accepted before it goes into service.
Commissioning starts from a completed and inspected installation. After pre-commissioning checks, the circuits, equipment, lighting performance and controls and monitoring are tested, first item by item and then as a whole system.
Every result is recorded. A failed test is corrected and repeated, and the record shows the system met its requirements. Acceptance then hands an accepted system to operations. Without it, a latent fault may only appear once the lighting is in use.
- Pre-check. Confirm the installation is complete, records are available and the system is safe to energise.
- Circuits. Test continuity, insulation resistance and earthing.
- Equipment. Prove regulators, fixtures, signs and transformers operate correctly, including regulator output current at each intensity step.
- Lighting. Check light output, alignment and intensity steps where required.
- Control. Test switching, zoning, monitoring and fault indication, check changeover to the secondary power supply where one is provided, and run a trial operation.
- Accept. Review results, close defects, and hand over to operations with the records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is commissioning in airfield ground lighting?
The lifecycle stage that proves the installed system works as designed before it is used operationally. It checks and tests circuits, equipment, lighting performance and controls, records the results and leads to acceptance and handover.
Q2What does commissioning start from?
A completed and inspected installation, with as-built drawings, equipment data and installation records. Pre-commissioning checks confirm the system is safe and ready to be energised and tested.
Q3What is tested during commissioning?
Typically circuit continuity, insulation resistance and earthing, equipment operation such as regulators (including output current at each intensity step) and fixtures, light output and alignment where required, and the control and monitoring functions, including intensity steps, fault indication and changeover to the secondary power supply where one is provided.
Q4Why test the system as a whole, not only each item?
Individual items can pass on their own yet fail when connected: circuits, regulators, controls and monitoring have to work together. Whole-system tests show the lighting responds correctly to commands and fault conditions.
Q5What happens if a test fails?
The cause is found and corrected, and the affected checks are repeated. Results are recorded each time, so the final record shows the system met the requirements and not only that it was tested.
Q6What does commissioning hand over to operations?
An accepted system with test and acceptance records, as-built drawings, operating and maintenance information, and any outstanding items listed. Operations and maintenance then take responsibility for running the system.
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