Glossary · Safe work, maintenance and competence
Commissioning
German: Inbetriebnahme
In machine safety, commissioning comprises the activities that verify installation, configuration, function and safety of a machine or system before its operational release. It is a distinct life cycle phase with its own hazards.
- Machine safety
- Technical documentation
In one sentence
Commissioning verifies installation, configuration, function and safety before a machine is released for production use.
Example
Before an integrated packaging line goes live, the commissioning team checks wiring, parameterizes the safety PLC, tests every emergency stop and interlock, measures stopping times and signs the release record.
How it applies
- Machine safety: During commissioning, safeguards are often incomplete and special modes are active. The risk assessment must cover this phase, and temporary measures must be removed before release.
- Integrated systems: For an integrated system, commissioning is where interfaces between machines are tested together for the first time, including cross-machine stop functions.
- Technical documentation: The instructions for use describe commissioning steps the user performs, and the commissioning record captures parameter values, test results and deviations.
- Evidence: Safety function validation and functional tests at commissioning feed the release decision. Commissioning does not by itself show conformity; it provides part of the evidence.
Commissioning vs. validation
Validation confirms that safety functions meet their requirements. Commissioning is the broader set of activities before release, of which validation tests are a part.