Commissioning checklist for commercial refrigeration

Before power is connected

• Unit undamaged; any transit damage photographed and reported.
• All transport packaging and internal blocks removed.
• Positioned with the manufacturer's clearances; condenser intake and exhaust clear.
• Level in both directions; castors locked or feet adjusted.
• Doors open fully and close on their own; gaskets seal all round.
• Away from heat sources and direct sunlight.
• Standing time after transport completed as per the manual.

Electrical checks (licensed electrician)

• Dedicated socket and circuit, matching the plug type and rating.
• Earth continuity confirmed at the socket; earth electrode resistance recorded.
• Residual current protection in place and trip-tested.
• Supply voltage measured and inside the unit's operating range; time of reading noted.
• Stabiliser or protection device, if specified, rated correctly and installed.
• For three-phase equipment: phase sequence, balance and phase-failure protection checked.

First run

Run the unit empty until it reaches its setpoint, then let it cycle. Use a calibrated independent thermometer or data logger in the centre of the cabinet, and for larger cabinets in more than one position, to confirm temperature distribution.

• Controller powers up; compressor start delay works.
• Compressor, condenser fan and evaporator fan (if fitted) run.
• Pull-down time noted.
• Cabinet reaches and holds setpoint; compressor cycles off.
• At least one defrost cycle observed; temperature recovers afterwards.
• Defrost water drains or evaporates with no leaks.
• No abnormal noise, vibration or smell.

Controls and alarms

• Setpoint correct for the product to be stored.
• High and low temperature alarms set and tested (warm the probe or open the door for a controlled test).
• Door-open alarm, if fitted, works.
• Remote alarm or monitoring, if used, receives the alert.
• Staff know how to read the display, acknowledge an alarm and whom to call.
• Controller settings photographed or written down.

Extra checks for cold rooms and remote systems

These are the refrigeration technician's tasks. Ask for the results in writing.

• Pressure test and vacuum completed before charging, with readings recorded.
• Refrigerant type and charge quantity recorded on the unit.
• Operating pressures, superheat and subcooling within the design range.
• Compressor current draw on each phase recorded.
• Door heaters, drain heaters and pressure relief valve (freezer rooms) working.
• Inside door release and trapped-person alarm tested.
• Condensing unit secure, with clearance, shade and a lockable isolator.

Handover pack

Keep everything together in one folder, physical or digital. This is what an FSSAI-minded auditor, an insurance assessor or a new technician will ask to see.

• Invoice, warranty card and serial numbers.
• Manual and spare parts information.
• Electrical test record and commissioning readings.
• Controller settings and alarm limits.
• Maintenance schedule: condenser cleaning, gasket checks, drain cleaning.
• Service contact and the process for raising a complaint.

Problems commissioning often uncovers

Commissioning exists because some problems only show when the unit runs in its real position. Catching them now, while the installer is still on site, is far cheaper than a service call later.

• A socket with no earth, reversed polarity or voltage well below the unit's range at peak time.
• A unit pushed back against a wall after the installer left, closing the clearance gap.
• Doors that do not self-close because the floor slopes or the feet were never adjusted.
• Display case or cold room drains that hold water because of a flat section or missing trap.
• A controller probe reading several degrees away from the independent thermometer.
• Alarm limits left at factory values that do not suit the product stored.

In the first week

Record temperatures at least twice a day, including at the busiest time. Check for water on the floor, listen for changes in noise and watch whether the unit keeps up during peak service. Small problems found in week one are far easier to resolve with the supplier than the same problems found months later.