Which of the following is the first phase of commissioning?

• A. Pre-Design
• B. Design
• C. Construction
• D. Post-Acceptance

Answer: (A)

Commissioning begins in the planning stage, and the earliest phase is the pre-design period. This is when the owner’s goals and performance expectations are defined and documented, typically through the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) and the Basis of Design (BOD). In this phase the commissioning plan is created, responsibilities are assigned, data and testing needs are identified, and the overall verification strategy is outlined. By setting these criteria before design work starts, the project can be designed and built to meet the intended performance, and potential issues can be foreseen and planned for rather than discovered later.

During the design phase, the team works to translate those requirements into detailed systems and specifications. The construction phase involves building to the design and conducting tests, and the post-acceptance phase handles final verification, commissioning closeout, and handover to operations.