What Is It?
A heating system commissioning checklist is a working document used at the end of a central heating installation or upgrade. It records the cleanliness of the system, the inhibitor and any other chemicals dosed, the system pressure, the operation of controls and thermostats, the balancing of radiators, the boiler commissioning settings, and the handover to the customer. It complements the manufacturer's commissioning instructions and the Benchmark Commissioning Checklist supplied with the boiler, providing an auditable record that the system was correctly set up before it was put into service.
About This Template
Commissioning is the final stage of any central heating installation — the structured process of filling, flushing, balancing, and proving a system before it is handed to the customer. Getting it right protects the boiler warranty, prevents early sludge and corrosion problems, and ensures the system actually delivers the comfort and efficiency it was designed for. The industry Benchmark scheme exists precisely so that this process is documented; completing the Benchmark Commissioning Checklist is a condition of many boiler warranties. This checklist mirrors that discipline, giving heating engineers a repeatable record of a properly commissioned installation.
When to Use
- After installing a brand-new central heating system, when commissioning is the final step before handover
- After a boiler swap or upgrade, where the existing system must be flushed and re-commissioned
- When extending an existing system with new radiators or pipework that changes the hydraulic balance
- When the manufacturer's warranty requires a completed Benchmark Commissioning Checklist as a condition
- Following a power flush, where the system is refilled, re-dosed, and re-balanced
- When taking over an unfinished installation and you need to commission and document it properly
What to Include
- Property address, customer details, installer name, and registration number (Gas Safe or OFTEC)
- Boiler and system details: make, model, type, and date of commissioning
- System cleaning and flushing: method used and confirmation the system was cleaned in line with BS 7593
- Chemical dosing: cleaner used during flushing and the corrosion inhibitor dose added on refill, with product and quantity
- Water test readings confirming inhibitor concentration is at the manufacturer's recommended level
- System pressure: cold fill pressure and confirmation the expansion vessel and pressure-relief valve are correct
- Controls: room thermostat, programmer or timer, TRVs, and any weather compensation or smart control set and tested
- Radiator balancing: flow and return temperatures checked across radiators so heat output is even
- Boiler commissioning settings: flow temperature, and gas rate or burner settings recorded per the manufacturer's instructions
- Combustion analysis readings where the appliance is gas or oil fired
- Customer handover: operating instructions explained, controls demonstrated, and the Benchmark checklist completed and signed
Tips
Always clean and flush the system to BS 7593 before adding inhibitor — dosing a dirty system simply suspends debris that will later settle and damage the boiler
Complete the Benchmark Commissioning Checklist in the boiler's installation manual on the day — many manufacturers will void the warranty if it is missing or undated
Use a water test kit to confirm the inhibitor is at the correct concentration rather than assuming the dose is right; record the actual reading
Balance the radiators properly so flow and return temperatures are consistent — an unbalanced system leaves rooms cold and forces the boiler to work harder
Spend real time on the customer handover: demonstrate the controls, leave the manufacturer's literature, and explain the annual service requirement so the warranty stays valid
