The Institution's Engineering Practice Committee is to be warmly commended for commissioning the updating of this excellent user guide.
Successful project execution demands the highest professionalism from all members of the project team. Many current projects are 'commissioning driven' as a means of reducing the overall project schedule. On these projects, all the preceding activities -that is, engineering, procurement and, indeed, construction itself -are directed not just towards the construction or mechanical completion of the plant, but also through the specific commissioning sequences required to overall final acceptance.
All appropriate contractual arrangements must identify and facilitate activities that cross the complex interfaces between construction, precommissioning and commissioning. The additions to Chapter 2 are welcomed, in palticular the emphasis placed on ensuring good scope definition and the establishment of clear responsibilities, so that appropriate documentation and procedures can be put in place. Lack of definition in the split of work between contractors and client often causes misunderstanding and potential conflict between the various parties, at a time in the project, when, more than ever, a collaborative team effort is required.