Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)

Definition:
A Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) is a formal test conducted at the manufacturer’s site to verify that systems and components meet design specifications before shipment. Often applied to control systems but can be applied to mechanical.

For a SIS, this would be a test on all three portions of each SIF: instruments, final elements, and the logic solver.

Expected to be done per the most excellent IEC 62381.

Key Points:

• Often includes SIS panels, logic solvers, and critical instrumentation.
• Envisioned to reduce issues during Site Acceptance Test (SAT).
• Often would be a FAT procedure and a report
• For a facility with a SIS, there could be multiple FATs executed. Such as on the Final Elements and then the Logic Solver. It would depend on the complexity and the procurement strategy.

Example:
A FAT verifies that a SIL 2 emergency shutdown panel responds correctly to input simulations.

See Also: SAT, SIT

Cited Source:

• IEC 61511-1:2016, Clause 14.2.
• IEC 62381
• Method FS – Installation, Commissioning and Validation