This International Standard defines specific phases and milestones (see Figure 1) in the commissioning of electrical, instrumentation and control systems in the process industry. By way of example, it describes activities following the “completion-of-erection” milestone of the project and prior to the “acceptance-of-the-plant” phase by the owner. Such activities need to be adapted for each type of process/plant concerned.

For application in the pharmaceutical or other highly specialized industries, additional guidelines (for example, Good Automated Manufacturing Practice (GAMP)), definitions and stipulations should apply in accordance with existing standards, for example, for GMP Compliance 21 CFR (FDA) and the Standard Operating Procedure of the European Medicines Agency (SOP/INSP/2003).