The bridge between installation completion and operational acceptance. Division 18 verifies that the installed AGL equipment and complete site system conform to the approved design, installation, electrical, functional, control, and safety requirements under actual site conditions — integrating the results of the preceding divisions into a single acceptance decision, rather than repeating every individual test.
Philosophy: FAT proves the equipment was acceptable before dispatch. SAT proves the equipment was correctly installed and performs correctly at the airport. Division 18 is the formal installed-system acceptance gate — it draws on Divisions 01–17's records where already verified, and adds site readiness, integration, photometric, performance, safety, and witness testing that can only be confirmed once the system is complete, installed, and operating together at the airport.
Every SAT activity moves the installed system through the same overall sequence — from confirming the site is actually ready to test, through to a signed acceptance certificate.
Division 18 consolidates ten stages into one acceptance gate — each stage builds evidence toward the final SAT decision rather than standing alone.
| Stage | What It Confirms |
|---|---|
| Planning & Readiness | SAT is scoped and resourced, and the actual verified site condition — not the schedule — establishes readiness to test |
| Installation & Equipment | Installed equipment, cables, and connectors are verified against approved drawings and schedules |
| Electrical Testing | Installed circuits and equipment are electrically sound, referencing prior verified records where applicable |
| Functional & Integration | Installed equipment performs correctly, and CCR, series circuit, transformer, fixture, ALCMS, PLC, and HMI operate correctly together |
| Control & Alarm | The control hierarchy and complete alarm chain behave to the approved control philosophy |
| Photometric & Performance | As-installed optical output and system performance meet specified criteria under actual site conditions |
| Safety & Documentation | The installed system can be operated safely, and as-built records match the field |
| Client Witness | Designated tests are completed and recorded in the presence of the client/consultant |
| Punch, Snag & NCR | Outstanding items are logged, classified, corrected, and retested to closure |
| Acceptance & Certification | Objective evidence is consolidated into a SAT report and a formally signed acceptance certificate |
Two requirement groups should be closed out before formal Division 18 testing starts.
Grouped by acceptance focus, in the order SAT normally runs — click any topic to expand its verification checks and acceptance criteria.
Acceptance Criteria: an approved SAT procedure, schedule, and acceptance criteria are in place, with test equipment, personnel, and permits confirmed before SAT begins.
Hold Point: SAT does not start on a nominal completion date — the actual verified site condition, not the schedule, establishes SAT readiness.
Acceptance Criteria: installed equipment matches the approved drawing and schedule in location, orientation, quantity, and configuration, with no unauthorized modification outstanding.
Acceptance Criteria: every applicable item traces cleanly from FAT record through delivery to installed nameplate data, with no unresolved discrepancy.
Acceptance Criteria: the installed cable system matches the cable schedule and drawing in identification, route, and termination, with circuit association confirmed.
Acceptance Criteria: all applicable electrical test results meet the required values, with any prior verified record referenced rather than needlessly repeated.
Acceptance Criteria: every command produces the correct equipment response, field response, and feedback, on the actual installed equipment at site.
Hold Point: this is one of the most important SAT activities — an unresolved break anywhere in the command-to-feedback chain is not carried forward to acceptance.
Acceptance Criteria: every control function at site follows the approved control philosophy, with correct field response and status feedback confirmed.
Acceptance Criteria: every applicable alarm condition is correctly detected, displayed, and logged along the complete alarm chain.
Acceptance Criteria: the as-installed optical performance meets the applicable photometric criteria, independent of factory photometry results.
Acceptance Criteria: measured site performance falls within the specified deviation tolerance for every recorded parameter.
Hold Point: safety verification is completed before any operational test that requires energization — it is never sequenced after functional or performance testing.
Acceptance Criteria: the installed condition matches the as-built documentation package, with any difference formally recorded.
Acceptance Criteria: every test designated for client witness is completed and recorded with a clear witness status.
Acceptance Criteria: every punch-list item has a named responsible party, corrective action, and tracked status.
Hold Point: a Critical (A) classified snag may prevent safe or system acceptance and is resolved before SAT proceeds toward sign-off.
Acceptance Criteria: every NCR carries a documented cause, corrective action, responsibility, and final disposition.
Hold Point: correction of a defect does not by itself mean the test has passed — the affected function is retested where required before closure.
Acceptance Criteria: the retest result meets the original acceptance criterion, and no new defect has been introduced by the corrective action.
Hold Point: SAT acceptance is based on the complete body of objective evidence across every preceding topic — not on any single test result in isolation.
Acceptance Criteria: the SAT report provides complete, traceable evidence supporting the stated final conclusion.
Acceptance Criteria: the SAT Certificate is signed by client, consultant, and contractor, formally closing Division 18 and handing the system to final handover.
When a SAT test fails, the same sequence applies across every topic in this division.
A test result does not meet the acceptance criterion.
Log against the punch-list, snag-list, or NCR register.
Determine the root cause, not only the symptom.
Correct, repair, reconfigure, or replace as required.
Confirm the corrective action was properly implemented.
Repeat the affected test and any linked function.
Confirm the retest result meets the original criterion.
Update the register and proceed toward SAT acceptance.
Quick answers about Division 18 — Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) in the AGL Testing & Commissioning Manual.
Division 18 of the AGL Testing & Commissioning Manual covers Site Acceptance Testing (SAT). It is the bridge between installation completion and operational acceptance. Division 18 verifies that the installed AGL equipment and complete site system conform to the approved design, installation, electrical, functional, control, and safety requirements under actual site conditions — integrating the results of the preceding divisions into a single acceptance decision, rather than repeating every individual test. It contains 23 topics (TC-SAT-001 to TC-SAT-023) organised into 12 groups (A–L), each topic with its own verification checks.
FAT proves the equipment was acceptable before dispatch. SAT proves the equipment was correctly installed and performs correctly at the airport. Division 18 is the formal installed-system acceptance gate — it draws on Divisions 01–17's records where already verified, and adds site readiness, integration, photometric, performance, safety, and witness testing that can only be confirmed once the system is complete, installed, and operating together at the airport.
Every SAT activity moves the installed system through the same overall sequence — from confirming the site is actually ready to test, through to a signed acceptance certificate. Steps: Site Readiness → Installation & Equipment → Electrical & Functional → Integration, Control & Alarm → Photometric & Performance → Safety & Documentation → Client Witness → Punch/Snag/NCR Closure → Acceptance & Certificate. Focus areas: Installation & equipment readiness; Electrical & functional readiness; Performance & safety readiness; Documentation & quality readiness.
Division 18 has 23 topics in 12 groups. A — Planning & Readiness: SAT Planning, Site Readiness Verification. B — Installation & Equipment Verification: Installation Verification, Equipment Verification, Cable Verification. C — SAT Electrical Testing: Electrical Testing. D — Functional & System Integration Testing: Functional Testing, System Integration Testing. E — Control & Alarm: Control Testing, Alarm Testing. F — Photometric & Performance Verification: Photometric Testing, Performance Testing. G — Safety Verification: Safety Verification. H — Documentation: Documentation Verification. I — Client Witness: Client Witness Testing. J — Punch List & Snag Management: SAT Punch-List, SAT Snag-List. K — Non-Conformance Management: Non-Conformance Management, Corrective Action, Retesting. L — Final SAT Acceptance: SAT Acceptance, SAT Report, SAT Certificate.
Division 18 consolidates ten stages into one acceptance gate — each stage builds evidence toward the final SAT decision rather than standing alone. Planning & Readiness: SAT is scoped and resourced, and the actual verified site condition — not the schedule — establishes readiness to test; Installation & Equipment: Installed equipment, cables, and connectors are verified against approved drawings and schedules; Electrical Testing: Installed circuits and equipment are electrically sound, referencing prior verified records where applicable; Functional & Integration: Installed equipment performs correctly, and CCR, series circuit, transformer, fixture, ALCMS, PLC, and HMI operate correctly together; Control & Alarm: The control hierarchy and complete alarm chain behave to the approved control philosophy; Photometric & Performance: As-installed optical output and system performance meet specified criteria under actual site conditions; Safety & Documentation: The installed system can be operated safely, and as-built records match the field; Client Witness: Designated tests are completed and recorded in the presence of the client/consultant; Punch, Snag & NCR: Outstanding items are logged, classified, corrected, and retested to closure; Acceptance & Certification: Objective evidence is consolidated into a SAT report and a formally signed acceptance certificate.
Two requirement groups should be closed out before formal Division 18 testing starts. Reference Package: Approved drawings, equipment schedule, and cable schedule; Approved SAT procedure and defined acceptance criteria; FAT reports and prior commissioning/electrical test records; Control philosophy, alarm matrix, and photometric criteria; Outstanding installation punch-list and snag records. Safety & Coordination: Confirm test personnel authorization and required permits are in hand; Confirm ATC/airport operations coordination and test windows are agreed; Confirm calibrated test equipment is available for the SAT scope; Do not assume construction completion equals SAT readiness — verify site condition independently.
When a SAT test fails, the same sequence applies across every topic in this division. (1) SAT Failure — A test result does not meet the acceptance criterion; (2) NCR/Snag — Log against the punch-list, snag-list, or NCR register; (3) Cause Identification — Determine the root cause, not only the symptom; (4) Corrective Action — Correct, repair, reconfigure, or replace as required; (5) Inspection — Confirm the corrective action was properly implemented; (6) Retest — Repeat the affected test and any linked function; (7) Verification — Confirm the retest result meets the original criterion; (8) Closure — Update the register and proceed toward SAT acceptance.
Site Acceptance Testing is where factory-proven equipment meets the real installed environment.
Build the technical knowledge to understand how SAT protocols validate equipment performance under actual site conditions, and how it bridges the gap between FAT results and full system commissioning.
Test with precision. Accept with confidence. Commission with certainty.
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