Factory Acceptance Test Checklist for Mining Containers Before Shipping

The most expensive factory defect is the one discovered after the mining container has crossed an ocean.

At the factory, a loose busbar connection may take one technician and one torque wrench to correct. At a remote mining site, the same defect can trigger crane delays, electrician callouts, customs complications, lost hashing time, and a dispute over whether the damage occurred before or after delivery.

That is why a mining container factory acceptance test should never be treated as a factory tour or a short power-on demonstration. It is a controlled shipping-release decision based on approved drawings, technical specifications, test procedures, recorded measurements, and closed corrective actions.

No evidence, no pass.

This guide gives mining farm owners, EPC contractors, and infrastructure buyers a practical mining container inspection checklist for air-cooled and liquid-cooled systems. It also explains which tests belong at the factory, which tests must be repeated on site, and what documentation should exist before the container is released for shipment.

A Mining Container FAT Is a Shipping Release Decision

A factory acceptance test verifies that the manufactured unit matches the agreed project requirements before it leaves the supplier’s control.

The test basis should include the approved general arrangement drawing, single-line diagram, wiring diagrams, bill of materials, cooling schematic, control logic, I/O list, alarm matrix, data sheets, technical agreement, and FAT method statement. The buyer should not approve a container against a sales brochure.

The FAT must answer five questions:

1. Was the mining container built according to the approved configuration?
2. Are the electrical, cooling, control, and safety systems functioning correctly?
3. Can the unit operate at the agreed simulated load without abnormal temperature, current, pressure, vibration, or alarms?
4. Are all defects documented and closed before shipment?
5. Is there enough evidence to support installation and site acceptance testing later?

FAT and SAT are not the same test. FAT verifies the factory-built module in a controlled environment. Site acceptance testing verifies the container after transport, placement, utility connection, field piping, grounding, network integration, and exposure to the real climate.

Factory approval does not remove the need for site commissioning.

 Pro Tip:

Bring the approved single-line diagram, wiring drawings, cooling schematic, and I/O list to the FAT. If the test team only has a product catalog, configuration errors will be debated instead of measured.

Step 1: Freeze the Test Basis Before the FAT Date

The FAT becomes unreliable when the buyer and manufacturer arrive with different assumptions.

At least several working days before the test, both parties should agree on the test script, witness points, instruments, acceptance criteria, test duration, simulated load, document format, and responsibilities. Calibration certificates should be available for the meters, insulation testers, pressure instruments, flow meters, temperature sensors, and load equipment used during the test.

The pre-FAT package should confirm:

– Container model, serial number, dimensions, and declared weight.
– ASIC model, quantity, rated power, and intended rack or shelf layout.
– Input voltage, frequency, phase arrangement, and maximum design current.
– Main breaker, branch protection, PDU, cable, connector, and socket configuration.
– Airflow or liquid-cooling operating point.
– Redundancy philosophy, such as N, N+1, or duty/standby operation.
– Alarm, shutdown, and emergency-stop logic.
– Fire detection and release logic included in the contracted scope.
– Required labeling, documentation language, and shipping configuration.
– Applicable project standards, certification scope, and inspection responsibilities.

Acceptance values must come from the approved project documents and applicable code pathway. Do not invent universal test voltages, pressure limits, or temperature thresholds during the FAT.

Step 2: Verify Documents and Configuration Control

The first inspection happens on paper.

Compare the physical mining container with the latest approved revision of every critical drawing. Check equipment manufacturer, model, rating, quantity, and location against the bill of materials. Record all deviations, including substitutions that appear technically equivalent.

The document review should include:

– General arrangement and equipment layout.
– Electrical single-line and wiring diagrams.
– Cable and terminal schedules.
– Cooling piping or airflow drawings.
– Control narrative and alarm matrix.
– Component data sheets and available certificates.
– Structural calculations or approved container modifications where required.
– Packing list, spare-parts list, and maintenance manuals.

A component substitution is not automatically acceptable because it has the same current rating or cooling capacity. The replacement may change short-circuit ratings, connector compatibility, control signals, pressure drop, service access, or certification scope.

Configuration control protects the buyer from receiving a container that is close to the quotation but different from the approved design.

Step 3: Inspect the Container Structure and Shipping Readiness

Mining containers are electrical and thermal systems, but they are also transportable structures. Shipping readiness must be inspected before delicate equipment is exposed to lifting, vibration, rain, salt air, and road shock.

Check the following items:

– Overall dimensions and identification markings.
– Corner castings, lifting points, fork pockets, and structural welds.
– Roof, wall, floor, frame, and equipment-support deformation.
– Door alignment, hinges, locks, seals, and emergency-release hardware.
– Penetrations around cables, pipes, louvers, sensors, and drainage points.
– Coating quality, corrosion protection, and damaged paint.
– Water drainage paths and signs of standing-water risk.
– Internal equipment anchoring and vibration restraints.
– Removable panels and service doors.
– Weight labels, center-of-gravity information, and lifting instructions.
– Valid CSC safety-approval information when the shipping method and container classification require it.

For international transport, the shipping plan should confirm whether the modified container remains within the required container approval and handling pathway. The IMO’s Convention for Safe Containers addresses testing, inspection, approval, maintenance, and structural safety for covered freight containers. The project team must verify how modifications affect the specific unit’s shipping status.

Do not assume that a standard-looking corner casting makes the completed mining container automatically ready for ocean transport.

Step 4: Test the Electrical System as an Assembly

Electrical FAT should verify the completed assembly, not only the certificates printed on individual components.

IEC 61439 addresses construction requirements and verification for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies. For North American projects, UL 508A is relevant to industrial control panels within its scope, while the final container approval pathway still depends on the complete project, the Authority Having Jurisdiction, and the documented certification scope.

The electrical checklist should cover:

Visual and Mechanical Verification

– Component ratings match the approved design.
– Conductors use the specified size, type, color, and identification.
– Terminations are complete and protected from mechanical damage.
– Busbars, cables, terminals, and protective devices have required clearance.
– Cable trays and penetrations do not create sharp-edge damage risks.
– Power and control wiring are separated where required.
– Protective covers, barriers, and dead-front panels are installed.
– Torque records exist for critical busbar and cable connections.
– Grounding and bonding conductors are complete and clearly identified.

Electrical Tests

– Protective-circuit continuity.
– Insulation-resistance or dielectric testing according to the approved procedure.
– Phase sequence and polarity.
– Main and branch breaker operation.
– Contactor, relay, and interlock operation.
– Emergency-stop circuit operation.
– Meter, current transformer, and sensor readings.
– PDU outlet mapping and branch identification.
– Auxiliary power supplies and control transformers.
– Alarm response to loss of phase, overcurrent signals, or other specified faults.

Record the instrument, serial number, calibration status, test point, measured value, and acceptance criterion. A box marked “pass” without measurement data is weak evidence.

Pro Tip:

For high-power Whatsminer or Antminer deployments, verify the real branch-current architecture and connector arrangement against the exact miner model. A container can pass a no-load power-on test and still fail when branch loading exposes an undersized cable, loose termination, or incorrect phase balance.

Step 5: Test Air-Cooled Mining Container Performance

An air-cooled container should not pass FAT merely because every fan rotates.

The objective is to prove that the airflow path works as a system. Intake restrictions, filter resistance, recirculation, fan direction, pressure imbalance, and poorly sealed openings can create hot spots even when total airflow appears sufficient.

The air-cooling FAT should verify:

– Fan quantity, model, rotation direction, and control sequence.
– VFD or staged-fan operation where included.
– Intake louvers, filters, water curtains, or evaporative sections.
– Filter fit, sealing, access, and differential-pressure indication.
– Cold-side and hot-side separation.
– Door, panel, and cable-opening air leakage.
– Static-pressure or differential-pressure readings at agreed points.
– Temperature distribution across representative miner positions.
– Fan-failure alarm and remaining-system response.
– High-temperature alarm and emergency shutdown logic.
– Noise and vibration observations when included in the specification.
– Drainage and water-control performance for wet-curtain systems.

If the actual miners are unavailable, the factory should use an agreed simulation method that represents both electrical load and heat release. Running empty racks with fans at full speed does not prove thermal performance.

The test should continue until temperatures and operating values are sufficiently stable for evaluation. The acceptance period should be defined in the FAT script rather than improvised on test day.

Step 6: Test Liquid-Cooled Mining Container Performance

Liquid cooling adds a different failure chain: leakage, trapped air, incorrect flow distribution, excessive pressure drop, pump cavitation, sensor error, poor water quality, or failed redundancy transfer.

The Open Compute Project’s liquid CDU test methodology highlights the need to evaluate CDU performance using controlled operating conditions and measurable thermal and hydraulic data. A mining container FAT should apply the same discipline to the contracted system boundary.

The liquid-cooling checklist should cover:

– Piping material, diameter, routing, support, and labeling.
– Hose, manifold, valve, fitting, and quick-disconnect compatibility.
– Pressure-hold or leak testing under the approved procedure.
– Flushing, cleanliness, and debris control.
– Filling, venting, draining, and air-removal functions.
– Coolant type, concentration, and material compatibility.
– Pump rotation, duty point, vibration, and abnormal noise.
– Total system flow and representative branch flow.
– Supply and return pressure at agreed measurement points.
– Flow balance between near and far branches.
– CDU heat-exchange response under simulated thermal load.
– Duty/standby pump changeover or N+1 operation where specified.
– Leak-detection cable or sensor response.
– Low-flow, high-pressure, low-pressure, and high-temperature alarms.
– Automatic shutdown and isolation logic.
– Sensor comparison against calibrated reference instruments.

Measure the difficult branch, not only the easiest one.

Pro Tip:

Record flow and pressure at the hydraulically farthest rack or manifold group. A strong total-flow number at the CDU can hide poor distribution, excessive branch pressure drop, or a partially closed valve downstream.

Step 7: Test Controls, Alarms, and Failure Modes

Normal operation proves only one operating state. Mining sites lose fans, pumps, phases, sensors, network links, and utility power.

Test the failure mode.

The FAT team should simulate the contracted alarms and interlocks one by one. Each test should record the input condition, expected action, actual action, alarm text, delay time where relevant, local indication, remote signal, and reset behavior.

Typical checks include:

– Fan or pump failure.
– Loss of phase or auxiliary power.
– High temperature.
– Low airflow or low coolant flow.
– High or low pressure.
– Leak detection.
– Smoke or heat detector input.
– Emergency-stop activation.
– Door or access alarm where provided.
– Communication loss.
– Sensor open circuit, short circuit, or implausible reading.
– Automatic restart behavior after power restoration.
– Manual and automatic operating modes.
– Local HMI, PLC, BMS, or remote-monitoring points.

The alarm text should tell the operator what failed and where. “System fault” is not enough for a remote site with limited technical staff.

Step 8: Verify Fire and Emergency Functions Without Overclaiming

Fire protection is project-specific. The FAT should verify the contracted detection, alarm, shutdown, release, and interface logic without claiming that a component-level test certifies the complete mining container.

Depending on the agreed scope, the test may include:

– Smoke and heat detector simulation.
– Audible and visual alarm operation.
– Alarm-stage sequence.
– Ventilation shutdown.
– Main-power trip or equipment shutdown logic.
– Release delay and abort function.
– Manual release and emergency stop.
– Door, damper, or pressure-relief interfaces.
– Signal transmission to the monitoring system.
– Fault and supervisory signals.

Actual agent discharge is normally replaced by a controlled functional simulation unless the project test procedure specifically requires a discharge test. The applicable code, extinguishing-agent design, protected volume, local AHJ, and final installation conditions must be reviewed separately.

Step 9: Run a Simulated-Load and Thermal-Stability Test

No-load testing creates false confidence.

A mining container should be tested at an agreed representative load using installed miners, electrical load banks, thermal simulators, or another approved method. The simulation must reflect the system being verified. Electrical load without realistic heat distribution may be insufficient for airflow testing. Heat without representative branch current may be insufficient for electrical verification.

During the stability test, record:

– Input voltage, frequency, and phase current.
– Main and branch current balance.
– Power factor and total power where metering is included.
– Critical connection temperature where thermal scanning is specified.
– Fan speed, pump speed, and control output.
– Air temperature or coolant supply/return temperature.
– Air pressure, coolant pressure, and flow.
– Representative rack or miner inlet conditions.
– Alarm history and control-state changes.
– Abnormal noise, vibration, odor, leakage, or condensation.

The test duration should be long enough for the system to reach a stable condition and demonstrate the agreed control sequence. The pass rule must be defined before testing begins.

Step 10: Close the Punch List Before Shipping Release

Every FAT finds observations. The issue is not whether a punch list exists; it is whether the open items are classified and closed correctly.

Use clear categories:

– **Category A:** Safety, structural, major functional, or performance failure. Shipment is blocked.
– **Category B:** Material deviation or functional issue that requires correction and evidence before release.
– **Category C:** Minor labeling, cosmetic, or documentation issue that may be closed through agreed evidence.
– **Observation:** Improvement or clarification that does not change acceptance status.

Each item should include a unique number, description, location, photo, responsible party, due date, corrective action, verification evidence, and closure approval.

Do not release a mining container with an open safety interlock, leak, overheating condition, incorrect protective device, missing ground connection, unresolved structural defect, or failed redundancy sequence.

Ship only after closure.

Pro Tip:

“Correct after arrival” is not a closure plan for a critical defect. Ocean freight transfers the problem to a location where labor, parts, access, and responsibility are all harder to manage.

What the Final FAT Package Should Contain

The buyer should receive a searchable, revision-controlled FAT package before or with the shipping release.

At minimum, request:

– Approved FAT method statement and completed test sheets.
– Signed attendance and witness record.
– Container identification and serial numbers.
– Final bill of materials.
– Approved drawings marked to the delivered configuration.
– Electrical measurements and torque records.
– Cooling pressure, flow, temperature, and performance records.
– Alarm and interlock test results.
– Instrument calibration certificates.
– Photos and videos of critical tests.
– Nonconformance and punch-list register.
– Corrective-action evidence and closure signatures.
– Available component certificates and inspection documents.
– Packing list and spare-parts list.
– Operation and maintenance manuals.
– Shipping dimensions, weight, lifting points, and center-of-gravity information.
– Formal shipping-release or “accepted to ship” record.

The FAT report becomes the baseline for the site acceptance test. If the container arrives with damage or changed settings, the factory records help isolate what changed during transport or installation.

FAT Does Not Replace Site Acceptance Testing

Several conditions cannot be fully verified inside the factory:

– Actual utility voltage quality and fault conditions.
– Field cable length, voltage drop, and terminations.
– Site grounding-electrode system.
– Final dry cooler, cooling tower, chiller, or water-loop performance.
– Outdoor ambient temperature, altitude, dust, humidity, and salt exposure.
– Network, pool, BMS, or remote-platform integration.
– Crane placement, foundation level, drainage, and site clearances.
– Performance after transportation and reconnection.

The site team should repeat critical safety and functional checks before energizing the miners. FAT proves the module was ready to ship. SAT proves the installed system is ready to operate.