Practical engineering guide

Agreeing FAT, SAT and handover documentation

Acceptance should verify requirements agreed in advance. Defining tests and records only at handover can create disagreement about what the delivery was actually meant to include.

Different locations allow different checks

FAT is factory acceptance testing at the manufacturer or integrator before shipment. It verifies agreed functions under prepared conditions, sometimes using simulated signals. SAT takes place at the installation site and checks agreed functions in the installed configuration. A successful simulation does not by itself confirm field connections or the behaviour of the complete process.

Test against a clear specification

Each scenario needs prerequisites, expected results, a recording method and responsibility. Agree customer participation, simulation scope, deviation handling and retesting after relevant changes. IEC 62381:2024 provides a framework for automation acceptance; each project still needs its own agreed plan. Contracts may assign different scope to the same abbreviations.

Handover goes beyond a signed report

The document list should match the supply: as-built information, equipment schedules, manuals, inspection results, backups and settings, plus material or calibration records where applicable. Agree software formats, licences and usage rights. Final acceptance records the status of outstanding items and responsibilities. An acceptance signature alone does not replace all other conditions for safe commissioning.

Expected engineering outputs

Agreed FAT/SAT plan and recorded results.
Deviation list, corrective actions and closure status.
Organised documents matching the delivered configuration.

Technical sources and further reading

Reviewed on 18 October 2026. Product limits and applicable requirements are confirmed for each specification.

Selection in context

Which verification and document to request

Acceptance testing, calibration, statutory inspection and conformity assessment serve different purposes, so agree their scope and expected documents before supply.

On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare the selection criteria.

Which verification and document to request
Principle or option	Typical application	What to agree and which output to expect
FAT: factory acceptance test	Verification of agreed functions and requirements before shipment, for example for a control system or assembly.	Approved procedure, criteria and simulated interfaces; the output records results, deviations and open items within the tested scope.[1]
SAT: site acceptance test	Verification after installation, considering actual connections and agreed operating conditions.	Site and utility readiness, interfaces and criteria; the output is a site test record and a list of outstanding actions.[1]
Calibration	Establishing the relationship between instrument indication and reference values under specified conditions.	Measurement points, traceability and uncertainty; the output reports calibration results, not adjustment or an automatic pass/fail decision.[2]
Statutory inspection, e.g. electrical equipment in Czechia	Assessment of equipment safety within the scope of applicable requirements.	Equipment type and extent, documentation and inspector qualification; the output is an inspection report with findings and a conclusion on the inspected condition.[3]
Product conformity assessment	Demonstrating compliance with applicable legal requirements before placing a product on the market or putting it into service.	Applicable legislation and procedure; the manufacturer prepares technical documentation and the relevant declaration, with notified-body involvement where the required procedure calls for it.[4]

Sources for this comparison

Reviewed on 18 October 2026. Selection is confirmed for the specific operating conditions and equipment design.

Before we start

Questions that shape the project.

Is FAT always mandatory and identical?

Its scope follows the equipment, project and contract. The plan should address actual requirements and risks rather than repeat a generic list unrelated to the delivery.

Does a successful FAT remove the need for SAT?

Not automatically. Transport, installation and connection introduce different conditions. Agree in advance what needs site verification and which factory results can be accepted without repetition.

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