Cold-chain specifications and commissioning course
One-day designed to strengthen the technical capacity of participants to correctly specify, procure, and commission cold-chain equipment
Introduction
The Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain (ACES) invites applications for the One-day cold-chain specifications and commissioning course. This intensive workshop is designed to strengthen the technical capacity of participants to correctly specify, procure, and commission cold-chain equipment, ensuring systems are efficient, reliable, and adapted to local conditions.
Getting specifications right is critical: poorly defined requirements lead to equipment that fails to perform, wastes energy, or quickly breaks down. Similarly, commissioning is the last but very vital step before handing a system over for operation. It verifies that the installed equipment functions according to design and meets performance targets. Skipping or mishandling commissioning can result in higher lifecycle costs, safety risks, premature failures, and future conflicts between the client and the contractor.
Programme Dates
No Dates Scheduled
Course Fees
Course Description
The main focus of this course are the tools and methodologies for developing robust specifications and ensuring proper commissioning of equipment such as cold rooms, refrigeration units, and related infrastructure. By the end of the course, participants will be able to understand the aspects of a good specification as well as understand the process of commissioning of cold-chain systems.
Who Should Apply?
This course is ideal for individuals involved in the procurement, design, installation, or oversight of cold-chain systems, including:
• Cold-chain consultants and engineers
• Procurement officers and project managers
• Standards and quality assurance officers
• Equipment suppliers and manufacturers
• Facility managers in cold-chains
• Technically inclined entrepreneurs entering the cold-chain sector
• Sustainability and strategic foresight manager in cold-chain sector
Syllabus Outline
Introduction to specification and commissioning
- Why specification and commissioning matter for system reliability and sustainability
- Common risks and cost implications of poor specification or skipped commissioning
Developing effective specifications
- Core elements of a cold-chain equipment specification
- Translating operational needs into technical requirements
- Performance versus prescriptive specifications
- Avoiding vague or non-verifiable requirements
Tendering and acceptance process
- Information given to potential suppliers
- Assessing the tender (checklist and interviews where relevant)
- Placing the order (contract, payment terms, time scales, break closes, closes for delays, expectations from both sides, risk assessments, method statement)
Commissioning processes and best practices
- Steps in the commissioning process
- Pre-commissioning checks and validation
- Checklists for commissioning cold rooms, refrigeration units, and related systems
- Ongoing checks and maintenance
Practical applications
- Case studies: successful versus failed specifications and commissioning processes
- Group exercise: identifying gaps in a sample specification/commissioning checklist
How To Apply
Applicants must submit a single PDF document containing the following:
- A cover letter addressed to the Academic Head, ACES, stating your motivation for attending the training
- A Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Short responses (maximum 150 words each) to the following questions:
- What experience do you have in cold-chain specification and commissioning?
- Are there any particular aspects of cold-chain specifications and industry standards that you find challenging or would want to learn more about?
- Do you have any dietary requirements or mobility restrictions that you want us to be aware of? (This will be treated confidentially to support your attendance.)
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their applications online by the designated deadline to ACES through [email protected], with the subject line:
"Cold-chain specifications and commissioning – [Your Name]"