Why this phase matters
Installation and commissioning sit between the purchase decision and clinical use. Handled well, they confirm the equipment performs as specified, protect the warranty and set up the maintenance baseline. Handled poorly, they produce disputes, delays and equipment whose performance was never formally verified.
Pre-installation preparation
Most installation problems are visible in advance. Before the equipment arrives, confirm:
- The site is ready — utilities, ventilation, structural provisions and space per the manufacturer's installation requirements
- Access — how the equipment reaches the room, including doors, corridors, lifts and any hoisting needed
- Personnel — who will perform the installation, and whether they are appropriately qualified for the equipment
- Timing — the installation window is agreed with the departments affected
Delivery and handling
Confirm delivery against the order, inspect for transport damage at handover, and store equipment in appropriate conditions if installation does not follow immediately. Documentation of the equipment's condition at delivery protects the buyer if problems are discovered later.
Installation
Installation should follow the manufacturer's requirements, by personnel qualified for the equipment. Where site conditions differ from the documented requirements — power quality, water quality, environmental conditions — resolve the discrepancy before rather than after installation.
Commissioning and acceptance testing
Commissioning confirms the equipment is installed correctly and works as intended. Acceptance testing verifies performance against the agreed specification — often including functional tests, safety checks and, where applicable, calibration or verification. Acceptance should be documented and signed off before the equipment enters routine clinical use. This record is the baseline for future maintenance and any warranty discussions.
Training and handover
Ensure the handover includes operator training, technical orientation for the staff who will support the device, and the complete document set: manuals, warranty terms, service contacts and acceptance reports.
After commissioning
Register the equipment in the facility's asset and maintenance records, schedule its first preventive maintenance, and file the acceptance documentation where it can be found years later.
The takeaway
Commissioning is where the buyer confirms — not assumes — that what was purchased is what was delivered, installed and performing. Insist on documented acceptance testing for every significant equipment purchase.
