Why Electrical Commissioning Exists
Electrical systems are unique compared to other disciplines:
- Errors are often invisible
- Failures are often catastrophic
- Many defects only appear after energization
- Rework after energization is expensive, risky, and disruptive
Electrical commissioning exists to answer three fundamental questions:
- Is the system electrically safe to energize?
- Does it comply with design, standards, and acceptance criteria?
- Can it operate reliably over time without hidden degradation?
These questions cannot be answered with drawings, checklists, or visual inspection alone. They require measured data, captured in the field, under controlled conditions.
The Two Critical Phases of Electrical Commissioning
Electrical commissioning is not a single moment. It is divided into two fundamentally different phases:
1️⃣ Pre-Energization Electrical Commissioning (Risk prevention phase)
This phase ensures the system is safe to energize. Once voltage is applied, mistakes become dangerous. Pre-energization commissioning exists to eliminate those mistakes before power is introduced.
Typical objectives:
- Detect wiring errors
- Verify insulation integrity
- Confirm mechanical connections
- Prevent short circuits, ground faults, and flash events
Typical tests performed:
- Continuity
- Insulation resistance
- Torque verification
- Visual + mechanical checks
Why this phase matters:
- Prevents unsafe energization
- Avoids damage to equipment
- Reduces startup delays
- Protects personnel
In real projects, most critical electrical failures originate from issues that should have been caught in pre-energization.
2️⃣ Post-Energization Electrical Commissioning (Operational validation phase)
Once systems are energized, commissioning does not stop. Post-energization commissioning verifies that electrical paths behave correctly under load and operating conditions.
Typical objectives:
- Validate low-resistance electrical paths
- Detect hot spots and contact degradation
- Confirm system performance over time
- Establish a baseline for future maintenance
Typical tests performed:
- Contact resistance
- Ductor / high-current resistance
- Functional measurements
- Monitoring and trend validation
This phase is critical for long-term reliability, especially in systems where failures develop gradually rather than immediately.
Recommended Electrical Commissioning Flow (Based on real field practice)
Electrical commissioning follows a logical sequence designed to reduce risk and rework.
- Continuity — Verify wiring integrity before applying voltage.
- Insulation Resistance — Confirm insulation quality before energization.
- Torque Verification — Ensure mechanical connections meet specified torque.
- Contact Resistance / Ductor — Validate final electrical paths under controlled current.
Tests can be executed independently, but following this sequence significantly reduces failures, delays, and unsafe conditions.
Electrical Commissioning and EPMS (Where measurement meets operation)
An Electrical Power Monitoring System (EPMS) does not replace commissioning — it depends on it.
EPMS data is only trustworthy if:
- Electrical paths are correct
- Sensors are properly installed
- Connections have low and stable resistance
- Baseline values are known and verified
Electrical commissioning provides the reference state that EPMS systems rely on.
Without proper commissioning:
- EPMS alarms become noise
- Trending loses meaning
- Root cause analysis becomes guesswork
Commissioning + EPMS together:
- Commissioning validates the physical system
- EPMS validates operational behavior
- Together they enable real reliability engineering
Statria bridges this gap by linking field measurements with structured, traceable data that aligns naturally with EPMS interpretation.
Why Electrical Commissioning Fails in Practice
Despite its importance, electrical commissioning often fails due to:
- Fragmented tools
- Paper-based workflows
- Manual pass/fail decisions
- Missing traceability
- Late data consolidation
- Inconsistent acceptance criteria
This leads to:
- Rework after energization
- Disputed results
- Delayed handover
- Incomplete records
- Reduced confidence in the system
How Statria Supports Electrical Commissioning
Statria is designed around how commissioning is actually executed, not around generic form entry.
Core principles:
- Field-first execution
- Mandatory acceptance criteria
- Automatic PASS / FAIL logic
- Locked, audit-ready reports
- Clear separation between execution and certification
What Statria automates:
- Measurement capture
- Acceptance logic enforcement
- Result consistency
- Report locking
- Traceability between test, criteria, and outcome
UI / UX Philosophy Behind Electrical Commissioning
Electrical commissioning software must respect how engineers think:
- Sequential logic
- Clear status visibility
- Minimal ambiguity
- No hidden states
- No editable results after certification
Statria’s UI reflects this by:
- Separating In Progress, Completed, and Finalized
- Locking results after finalization
- Clearly showing PASS / FAIL states
- Exposing incomplete and delayed tests
- Making project progress visible at a glance
Good UX in commissioning is not aesthetic — it is risk control.
Electrical Commissioning Is Not Documentation
It Is Risk Management
At its core, electrical commissioning exists to reduce risk:
- Risk to people
- Risk to equipment
- Risk to schedules
- Risk to long-term operation
Software that treats commissioning as simple documentation fails to address this reality.
Statria treats electrical commissioning as what it truly is: a controlled engineering process with measurable consequences.
Explore how Statria supports real electrical commissioning workflows.