Site Acceptance Test (SAT) Checklist

What is a Site Acceptance Test (SAT)?

A Site Acceptance Test is the on-site verification that newly manufactured equipment operates correctly after Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), delivery, and installation. FAT tells you the equipment worked at the factory; SAT tells you it still works once it has been delivered, installed, and connected at your site. This checklist has 17 items across two sections, Inspection and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT). It is designed for equipment such as dispenser systems and covers visual inspection, verification of main components, ventilation and pressure adjustments, functional and safety checks, hot testing, calibration, and operator training.

Why site acceptance testing matters

Equipment can pass every test at the factory and still arrive at your site with a component disturbed, a connection loosened, or a setting changed. Moving, installing, and connecting equipment introduces conditions that were not present during FAT. Site acceptance testing exists to close that gap. It confirms that the equipment operates correctly in its final installed position, so that the handover from installation to operation is based on evidence rather than assumption. When SAT is done thoroughly and documented well, the client and the quality manager both have a clear record of what was tested and what the results were.

What a good SAT checklist covers

A complete site acceptance test moves through several kinds of checks, from visual confirmation to operation under real conditions. This checklist is organised to cover the following areas: - **Context and traceability.** The checklist records the date it was conducted, who prepared it, and the location, so the test can be tied to a specific site, day, and responsible person. - **Visual inspection.** A complete visual inspection and a visual verification of the main components confirm that the equipment and its parts arrived and were installed as intended. - **Ventilation and pressure.** Internal box ventilation and pressure are adjusted and checked, which supports stable operating conditions. - **Functionality and settings of services.** The services the equipment depends on are checked for correct functionality and settings. - **Locking devices.** Mechanical and software locking devices are checked for functionality, alongside a review of safety devices and locking mechanisms. - **Hot testing.** Dispenser systems are hot tested under operating conditions, followed by verification of dose calibration. - **Operator training.** Operators are trained so the people who run the equipment understand how to use it. - **Documentation handover.** The completed FAT protocol and documentation package is delivered, and the checklist is signed and the finish time recorded.

How to carry out the inspection

Work through the checklist while the equipment is in its installed condition, and record what you actually observe rather than what you expect based on the factory test. 1. **Record the context first.** Note the date conducted, who prepared the checklist, and the location, then capture the inspection start and end dates so the test window is clear. 2. **Inspect visually before touching settings.** Carry out the complete visual inspection and verify the main components. This establishes a baseline of what is physically present before any adjustments are made. 3. **Adjust and verify ventilation and pressure.** Adjust internal box ventilation and pressure, and confirm the services the equipment relies on function correctly with the right settings. 4. **Check locking and safety.** Confirm that mechanical and software locking devices work as intended, and review the safety devices and locking mechanisms. 5. **Test under operating conditions.** Perform hot testing of the dispenser systems and verify dose calibration, so performance is captured under real use rather than at rest. 6. **Train the operators.** Conduct operator training so the equipment can be used correctly after handover. 7. **Close out the documentation.** Deliver the completed FAT protocol and documentation package, sign the checklist, and record the time finished. Each check is answered against a simple pass or fail scale. Where an item fails or cannot be confirmed, the completed checklist is the record that lets you raise it for follow-up before the equipment is formally accepted.

Common mistakes and what to avoid

> **A completed SAT is not a repeat of FAT.** The conditions have changed since the factory test, so the on-site results should be recorded on their own merits. - **Relying on the FAT result.** Assuming the equipment will behave as it did at the factory means installation-related issues can be missed. - **Skipping the visual pass.** Starting with settings and adjustments before confirming the physical condition of the equipment and its components loses the baseline. - **Testing only at rest.** Ventilation, pressure, locking devices, and dispenser systems all need to be checked in the conditions in which they will be used, including hot testing. - **Leaving training until last-minute.** Operator training is part of acceptance, not an afterthought; it needs to be conducted and recorded. - **Incomplete documentation.** Failing to deliver the FAT protocol and documentation package, or to sign and timestamp the checklist, leaves the handover without a complete record.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Site Acceptance Test (SAT) is the on-site verification that newly manufactured equipment operates correctly after Factory Acceptance Testing, delivery, and installation. While FAT confirms the equipment works at the factory, SAT confirms it still works once it has been installed and integrated at your site.

FAT takes place at the manufacturer's facility before the equipment is shipped. SAT takes place at your site after delivery and installation, and it covers site-specific steps such as visual inspection once installed, adjusting internal box ventilation and pressure, hot testing of dispenser systems, and operator training.

When the equipment dispenses product, the accuracy of that dispense matters. The checklist includes hot testing of dispenser systems and verification of dose calibration, so that the equipment is checked under operating conditions rather than only inspected while idle.

Yes. The checklist covers adjustment of internal box ventilation and pressure, functional checks of mechanical and software locking devices, a review of safety devices and locking mechanisms, and operator training. These steps document that both the equipment and the people who use it are ready.

The checklist records key context such as the date it was conducted, who prepared it, and the location, and it captures inspection real start and end dates along with the time finished. It includes a signature field so results can be confirmed and used to generate a clear report for both the client and the quality manager.

Written by

Arne Reis

Founder

Process optimizer with 25 years of expertise, focused on operational excellence in quality, maintenance, EHS, and commissioning. Emphasizes innovative solutions and top-quality standards.

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