During commissioning, who verifies system performance against the specified criteria prior to handover?

• A. Contractor teams
• B. USACE QA inspectors and commissioning agents
• C. Third-party auditors
• D. Owner representatives

Answer: (B)

During commissioning, verification of system performance against the specified criteria before handover is done by USACE quality assurance inspectors working with commissioning agents. This pairing provides independent, objective verification that the installed systems meet the design intent and performance requirements outlined in the project criteria. They review the commissioning plan, witness and document tests, compare results to the defined criteria, and ensure all performance, safety, and functional requirements are achieved before acceptance and handover.

Contractor teams handle construction and initial testing tied to their scope, but they don’t certify that every criterion is met for handover. While third-party auditors or owner representatives may participate in oversight, the formal verification and acceptance testing responsibility rests with USACE QA inspectors and commissioning agents to ensure an unbiased assessment and complete documentation, including operating manuals and training as part of the handover package.