Mission-Critical Site Commissioning
Executed startup commissioning for a new mission-critical data center, covering switchgear, UPS, PDUs, protection relay testing, SCADA/BMS integration, and full IST.
Commissioning & Field Services.
Energize on schedule with acceptance testing, transformer diagnostics, primary and secondary injection, and full LV-to-HV commissioning protocols.
installation & energization
The gate between
Acceptance testing is the gate between installation and energization — ATS protocols, P&C verification, and full system functional performance testing before equipment goes live.
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Structured Verification
Equipment is properly installed, tested, and confirmed to meet safety standards before energization.
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NETA ATS Compliance
Full compliance with design specifications and NETA ATS standards across scope.
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Factory to First Energization
FAT review, SAT, pre-energization inspections, P&C verification, functional tests.
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Third-Party QA/QC
Independent QA/QC and commissioning oversight common for mission-critical clients.
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Audit-Ready Handover
Calibration certificates and test reports ready to submit on-site, reducing the delay to startup.
and field service.
Transformer testing
Full transformer testing spectrum — electrical diagnostics, LTC service, oil and insulation testing, on-site oil reclamation, and turnkey repairs from distribution through HV step-up.
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Electrical Diagnostics
TTR, winding resistance, insulation, PI, power factor, SFRA, excitation testing.
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LTC Testing
Load Tap Changer testing, contact resistance, and timing across power transformers.
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Oil Diagnostics
Sampling, DGA, moisture, dielectric strength, and furans on transformer oil.
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On-Site Oil Processing
Portable totes and tanks for on-site oil reclamation.
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Turnkey Repairs
Transformer repairs and LTC replacements coordinated with Spark crews.
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NETA-Documented
Pre-energization and post-maintenance verification documented to NETA ATS/MTS.
built for PRC-005.
Relay & protection,
Relay and protection testing carries the highest NERC PRC-005 audit weight — primary and secondary injection, relay setting verification, and protection coordination across LV, MV, and HV.
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Primary & Secondary Injection
Across electromechanical, solid-state, and microprocessor-based protection relays.
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Setting Verification
Settings verified against the coordination study with as-found and as-left records.
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Breaker Testing
Timing, contact resistance, dielectric, and trip verification across LV, MV, HV.
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Modernization Commissioning
Replacement relays and upgraded schemes tested end-to-end before re-energization.
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IEC 61850 Digital
GOOSE message verification, sampled values, and digital signal validation testing.
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PRC-005 Documentation
Audit-ready test plans, results, and traceability to the protection coordination study.
caught early.
Power quality issues,
Power quality analysis identifies load and source issues that cause nuisance trips, equipment damage, and process disruption — measure, characterize, and recommend mitigation.
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Harmonic Distortion
Current and voltage THD measurement against IEEE 519 limits on plant systems.
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Sags & Transients
Voltage sag, swell, and transient capture with event log analysis to process events.
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Power Factor & Unbalance
Power factor measurement, load flow snapshots, unbalance characterization.
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Flicker & Inter-Harmonics
Flicker analysis for VFDs, electronic process loads, and arc furnace applications.
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Mitigation Recommendations
Passive/active filters, capacitor sizing, source impedance.
across asset life.
Oil & insulation
Lab diagnostics combined with field reclamation across transformers, bushings, and cables — DGA, insulation resistance, tan delta, and on-site oil processing cross-referenced to IEEE and IEC standards.
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Oil Sampling & Lab Analysis
DGA, moisture, dielectric strength, interfacial tension, acidity, furans, PCB screening.
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Insulation Resistance
Insulation resistance, polarization index, dielectric absorption ratio testing.
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Tan Delta Diagnostics
Power factor and tan delta on bushings, windings, and CTs for asset health checks.
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Cable Testing
VLF withstand and tan delta, partial discharge, and DC hipot where applicable.
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Field Oil Reclamation
Filter press trailers, portable totes and tanks, on-site degassing services.
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IEEE & IEC Benchmarking
Reports cross-referenced to IEEE C57.104, C57.106, and IEC 60422 for action plans.
tuning & testing.
VFD commissioning
Pre-energization checks, parameter tuning, harmonic analysis, and functional testing on drives — with as-tuned documentation handed over for ongoing maintenance and protection.
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Pre-Energization Checks
Wiring verification, parameter setup, and motor data alignment to drive nameplate.
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Parameter Tuning
Accel/decel ramps, current limits, slip compensation, PID loop tuning.
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Harmonic Analysis
Line-side THD measurement and corrective filter sizing where limits are exceeded.
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Insulation Resistance
Motor and cable insulation resistance testing before and after commissioning.
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Safety Circuit Testing
Functional testing of safety circuits, interlocks, and bypass arrangements.
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As-Tuned Documentation
Drive parameters and motor protection settings documented for ongoing service.
before downtime.
Catch failure modes
Predictive diagnostics — IR thermography, partial discharge, corona — identify failure modes early, with reports rolled into Spark preventive maintenance plans.
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Infrared Thermography
IR on switchgear, MCCs, transformers, terminations, and overhead distribution under load.
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NETA MTS & 70B Reporting
Reports against NETA MTS and NFPA 70B with severity ratings and corrective actions.
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Partial Discharge
TEV, ultrasonic, and HFCT methods on MV/HV switchgear, cables, and bushings.
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Corona & UV Inspection
Corona detection and ultraviolet inspection on overhead lines and substations.
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EMF Testing
Electromagnetic field testing where personnel exposure or interference is a concern.
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PM Plan Integration
Reports integrated with long term preventive maintenance plans.
grid-tied systems.
Solar, BESS, and
Spark Power handles all renewables commissioning work in-house.
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Cold Commissioning
Pre-energization verification of DC/AC, controls wiring, comms, and protection settings.
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Hot Commissioning
Staged energization, performance testing, ride-through verification.
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PCS Power-Up
AC then DC sequence with insulation resistance and ground fault detection.
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Grid Synchronization
Phase rotation, voltage, and frequency matching with utility grid characterization.
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OV/UV Protection
Setpoint, timing, and ride-through verification against the interconnection agreement.
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Ride-Through & Reactive
Frequency ride-through and reactive power response per IEEE 1547 requirements.
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BMS/EMS/PCS Mapping
Point-by-point comms, alarms, and control command verification across BESS stack.
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Round-Trip Efficiency
BESS round-trip efficiency testing against the contract performance guarantee.
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QA/QC & Owner’s Rep
Owner’s representative scope and warranty handover support to diagnose and remediate.
Solar Inverter Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance on 60+ Sungrow inverters at a Texas solar site.
Utility Scale 720MW Solar Project
Long-term O&M for a 720MW solar and BESS facility in Texas, covering preventive and corrective maintenance across every system, from PV modules to the substation.
Real questions,
real answers
The questions we hear most often, answered directly.
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Yes. Spark Testing is NETA-accredited in both Canada and the U.S., and our protocols are aligned to NETA ATS and MTS, IEEE C37 / C57 / 80 / 1547 / 1584, NFPA 70E, and NERC PRC-005.
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Within 24 to 72 hours for emergency response, dispatched from 16+ regional offices across Canada and the U.S.
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We have 16+ regional offices across Canada and the U.S. We are licensed across the U.S. and in 8 Canadian provinces. Our centralized supply chain enables national consistency; regional delivery enables local execution.
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Cold commissioning verifies the system pre-energization (DC and AC integrity, controls wiring, communications, protection settings). Hot commissioning is the staged energization, performance testing, and grid synchronization phase.
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Yes. All test instruments are calibrated to NIST-traceable standards, with calibration records available with every report.
Expertise across
every industry
Nine industries — Power Generation, Renewable Energy, Transmission & Distribution, Data Centers, Industrial Facilities, Food & Beverage, Material Handling, Mining & Aggregates, and EV & Automotive, served by the same in-house team. Backed by 16+ regional offices across Canada and the U.S., our experts offer full support across the product lifecycle.
Let’s talk power
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