Data centre commissioning checklist: free L1 to L5 level tracker (Excel and PDF)
Deskely Completions team Singapore
A data centre commissioning checklist tracks every piece of critical equipment, such as UPS, generators, switchgear, PDUs, cooling units and controls, through the five commissioning levels, from factory witness testing to the integrated systems test, so the team can see which assets have passed each level and what still blocks the next.
This page gives you a free tracker in Excel and PDF: one row per asset with a status and witness for each level from L1 to L5, percent complete per level, a gate check that flags any asset marked passed at a level before it passed the one below, open issues per asset, and an issues log.
- Each asset moves through five levels: factory, installation, start-up, functional test, integrated systems test.
- A level is passed only when the level below it is passed or not applicable.
- Witnesses matter: record who saw each level pass, not only that it did.
- Issues belong to an asset and a level; open issues hold the asset at its level.
The five levels, asset by asset
| Level | Name | Done when | Usual witness |
|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | Factory witness test and delivery | Factory tests passed, equipment received undamaged and matching the submittal | Owner or CxA at the factory |
| L2 | Installation | Installed and inspected against drawings and submittals; installation checklist signed | Contractor, CxA spot checks |
| L3 | Start-up (pre-functional) | Pre-functional checklist complete, energised and started, often by the vendor | Vendor and contractor, CxA |
| L4 | Functional performance test | The system runs through its sequences, alarms and failure modes to the test script | CxA, owner |
| L5 | Integrated systems test | All systems tested together under load bank, including loss of utility power and failover | CxA, owner, operations |
Owners and commissioning agents name and split the levels differently, and the commissioning process itself usually follows the owner's commissioning plan and ASHRAE Guideline 0. The progression from one item of equipment to the whole facility is common to almost all of them. The data centre commissioning guide explains each level and the IST in detail.
What goes on the tracker
One row per asset that the commissioning plan covers. A typical list for one data hall and its plant:
- Power: utility and medium voltage switchgear, transformers, standby generators, ATS and STS, low voltage switchgear, UPS modules and batteries, PDUs, RPPs and busway.
- Cooling: chillers, cooling towers or dry coolers, pumps, CRAH and CRAC units, fan walls, in-row and liquid cooling where fitted.
- Controls and monitoring: BMS and EPMS points, leak detection, and the sequences that tie them together.
- Life safety: fire alarm, detection and suppression, with interfaces to power and cooling.
Not every asset needs every level. A CRAH unit may have no factory witness test (L1 not applicable); a sensor may only be checked point to point. Mark those N/A so the percentages stay honest.
The gate between levels
The commonest error on a level tracker is a functional test marked passed for equipment whose start-up never closed. The template checks every row: if an asset is marked passed at a level while the level below it is not passed or N/A, the gate column shows, for example, L4 passed before L3 in red. The level reached column shows the highest level with every level below it complete.
What is in the template
| Sheet | Fields |
|---|---|
| Cx level tracker | Project, document number, revision, phase or hall, CxA, date; progress by level (passed, failed, in progress, not started, N/A, percent complete of applicable); per asset: tag, equipment type, description, hall or area, then status (Not started, In progress, Passed, Failed, N/A) and witness for L1 to L5, level reached, gate check and open issues from the log; three worked example rows; sign-off |
| Issues log | Issue number, asset tag, level, issue, raised by, raised, owner, due, status (Open, Closed), closed, days open; counts of open issues by level and past due |
How it fits the project flow
L1 and L2 overlap with construction: factory tests run while the building goes up, and installation checks follow each trade. L3 and L4 run hall by hall as power and cooling become available, and L5 closes each phase. The commissioning checklist covers the per-system checks, the single line diagram guide the electrical side, and the commissioning report template the evidence at handover.
Data centre commissioning in Deskely
Deskely runs pre-functional checklists and functional tests on tablets against each asset, tracks every issue to closure with photos, and shows live progress per hall towards IST and handover.
The Deskely products for this
Frequently asked questions
What are the 5 levels of data center commissioning?
L1 factory witness testing, L2 delivery and installation verification, L3 pre-functional checks and start-up, L4 functional performance testing and L5 integrated systems testing.
What is a pre-functional checklist?
The installation and start-up checks for one item of equipment, completed before it is functionally tested. It is the core of level 3.
What is the difference between L4 and L5?
L4 tests each system on its own through its sequences and failure modes. L5, the integrated systems test, tests all of them together as one facility, including loss of utility power.
Can an asset skip a commissioning level?
Only where the level does not apply to it, for example no factory test for a small item. Mark it N/A; otherwise each level should pass before the next.
Who witnesses data center commissioning tests?
Usually the commissioning agent or authority (CxA), with the owner at key factory tests, functional tests and the IST.
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