A Site Acceptance Test protocol provides documented evidence that a piece of equipment, system, or integrated process that has been delivered to the end user has not been affected in the transportation and has been adequately tested at the end user’s facility and performed to the end user’s expectations after installation. The SAT document will complete a series of verifications to ensure that what was ordered has been supplied by verifying the original purchase order and all specifications (URS, FRS, DDS) outlined, prior to the manufacture of the equipment, have been respected and incorporated on the installed product.

Control system verification will also be executed and documented in the SAT protocol. Performance testing will also be outlined and the results documented to provide assurance that the piece of equipment, system, or integrated process being tested meets the end user’s expectations and requirements and can move on to the next stage of qualifications required to validate the piece of equipment, system, or integrated process.

Why is a SAT required?

Site Acceptance Tests are required to protect both the end user and the manufacturer. The end user will only close an order once evidence that the piece of equipment, system, or integrated process is operating to their expectations once installed at their facility. Documented evidence is provided by the SAT protocol to permit final acceptance of a piece of equipment, system, or integrated process by the end user. Failure of an SAT allows the manufacturer the opportunity to make the required changes at the end user’s facility during the installation phase. Failure to complete an SAT document could result in added costs to all parties involved due to service costs to the manufacturer and losses to the end user due to downtime and loss of production time. The SAT ensures that all questions and problems have been resolved prior to any final acceptance of the piece of equipment, system, or integrated process.

What does an SAT contain?

Site Acceptance Test Protocols include (but are not limited to) the following common sections:

Identification of Writer, Approvers:

Provides documented evidence on the personnel involved in preparing and approving the document.

Revision History:

A revision history is maintained to record any changes to the document and the date they occurred.

Objective, Acceptance Criteria, and Identification of Test Equipment Required:

Defines the intent and limitations of the protocol and specifies the quality critical functions of the equipment. Specifies the criteria for a successful implementation and provides the customer with a list of test equipment to supply.

Equipment/Process Description:

A detailed written description of the entire system is included so as to provide the less-informed reader with the level of information required to gain comprehensive understanding of how the system as a whole is designed to operate.

Operation Testing:

This section includes all the verifications and testing performed to the piece of equipment, system, or integrated process that include Equipment Identification, Purchase Order Verification, Design Specification Verifications (Functional, Hardware, Software, etc.), I/O Hardware Verification, and Performance Testing.

SAT Notes, Appendices, and Test Incidents:

These sections are provided to allow for proper documentation of any unforeseen occurrences during protocol execution.

Close Out and Sign Off:

Final approval of the executed document by authorized personnel is required in order to close out the document.