Commissioning & Handover
Testing every system, closing defects, securing the SLF, and handing over an operational building.
Phase 08 in short
Handover is not the moment keys change hands, it is the sequence of tests that proves the building performs as designed. Each system goes through pre-commissioning, then is tested alone, then tested together with adjacent systems, and finally tested alongside the client’s production machinery. On a parallel track we close out the Certificate of Fitness for Occupancy and the statutory safety inspections so the building can legally operate. After first handover the defects liability period runs, and we remain responsible for defects that appear.
What we do
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Pre-commissioning: system cleaning, pipe flushing, pressure testing, insulation resistance testing, and installation checks.
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System commissioning: generator load test, HVAC balancing, hydrant and sprinkler pressure test, WWTP start-up, dust collector test.
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Integrated testing alongside the client’s production machinery to confirm utility capacity actually holds.
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Statutory safety inspections by the authorised body for electrical installations, pressure vessels, lifting equipment, and lifts where present.
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Securing the Certificate of Fitness for Occupancy (SLF) from the building fitness assessment.
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Compiling and closing the joint punch list, with each item’s status open to client inspection.
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Provisional handover (PHO) with the full document set: as-builts, O&M manuals, warranties, and certificates.
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Training the client’s operators and maintenance team on the main utility systems.
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Defects liability period, defect rectification, and final handover (FHO) at the end of it.
What you receive
- Provisional (PHO) and final (FHO) handover certificates
- Certificate of Fitness for Occupancy (SLF)
- Statutory safety inspection certificates
- Complete as-built documentation across all disciplines
- Operation and maintenance manuals with a maintenance schedule
- Material and equipment warranty certificates
- Closed punch list with evidence of completion
| Fitness for occupancy | SLF |
|---|---|
| Statutory inspection | Electrical, pressure vessels, lifting equipment |
| Handover | PHO then FHO |
| Defects liability | 6–12 months |
| Typical duration | 4–10 weeks, plus a 6–12 month defects liability period |
Questions about this phase
- What happens if a defect appears after handover?
- During the defects liability period, defects arising from our work are rectified at no additional cost. We provide a single reporting channel so the client’s maintenance team does not have to work out which subcontractor is responsible.
- Can the building be occupied before the SLF is issued?
- It should not be, and it is a real exposure for the owner in the event of an incident or an insurance claim. That is why we start the SLF track back in Phase 03 rather than waiting for construction to finish.