FAT & SAT Checklist for Refrigeration Equipment
FAT and SAT are the formal gate reviews that transfer ownership and risk from supplier to buyer. Skipping them costs 5–15% in warranty disputes and rework a year later.
FAT verifies equipment against contract in the factory before shipment. SAT verifies performance at the installed site under real conditions. Both need documented pass/fail criteria and sign-off.
FAT — Factory Acceptance Test
Performed at the manufacturer's plant before shipment. Verifies design compliance, functional operation, safety devices and documentation. Attended by buyer or buyer's inspector.
- Visual and dimensional inspection vs approved drawings
- Nameplate data vs PO and specifications
- Refrigeration circuit pressure test (leak, strength)
- Electrical continuity, insulation and earth-bonding tests
- Controller and alarm functional test (all setpoints)
- Safety device operation (HP cut-out, oil pressure, level)
- No-load run at design conditions where practical
- Documentation review (as-built, wiring, P&ID, manuals)
SAT — Site Acceptance Test
Performed at the installed site after commissioning. Verifies performance under actual load, ambient and integration with site utilities. Sign-off starts the warranty clock.
- Site pre-conditions check (power, water, drainage, ventilation)
- Refrigerant charge verification and leak check
- Cool-down curve to design temperature
- Steady-state hold at design load (24–72 h)
- Energy consumption vs guaranteed SEC
- Noise and vibration measurement
- Defrost cycle validation
- Alarm and safety trip verification on real inputs
- Operator training completion
- Punch list issued and closed
Pass/fail criteria
Every test needs a numeric or binary pass criterion agreed in the PO. Vague criteria ('operates satisfactorily') always lose in warranty disputes.
Documentation deliverables
FAT and SAT reports signed by both parties, with test data, photos, deviations and corrective actions. Store with the equipment file for the full warranty period.
Copy this checklist into your project workspace
- FAT and SAT scope defined in the PO
- Test procedures approved by both parties before FAT
- Buyer or inspector attendance confirmed
- Pass/fail criteria numeric and unambiguous
- Test instruments calibrated and certificates available
- Deviations logged with corrective action deadline
- Signed reports with photos filed
- Warranty clock starts on SAT sign-off, not shipment
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip FAT if I do SAT?
Not recommended for capital equipment. FAT catches manufacturing defects when rework is cheap and shipment can be delayed. SAT alone puts you in the weakest negotiating position — the equipment is already installed.
How long should SAT run?
Cool-down + 24–72 h steady-state is typical. For seasonal or complex loads, extend to 7–14 days. Publish the duration in the PO so both parties plan for it.
Who pays for FAT failures?
Supplier — including inspector travel and rework. Publish this in the PO. Most disputes come from ambiguous cost allocation, not from the defect itself.