From NETA testing technician to data center commissioning

Our glossary notes that electrical commissioning and NETA testing focus heavily on medium-voltage switchgear, and that NETA certification helps when applying for electrical Cx and testing roles. You already use the test sets, read the one-lines and write the test reports. You also work around energized equipment under NFPA 70E every day.

• ●Insulation resistance and dielectric withstand testing
• ●Transformer turns ratio, winding resistance and power factor testing
• ●Contact resistance testing on breakers and bus
• ●Primary and secondary injection testing of circuit breakers
• ●Protective relay testing and settings verification
• ●VLF or other cable testing, ground resistance testing, infrared scanning

NETA testing proves each piece of equipment is built and set correctly. Commissioning also proves the system works together. At Level 4 and Level 5 the team runs failure scenarios: a utility outage, a UPS module failure, an ATS transfer, generators synchronizing and picking up load, often with load banks standing in for the IT load. You need to follow that sequence from the one-line and the sequence of operations.

You also start seeing the mechanical and controls side, because a power failure test also checks that chillers and CRAH units restart. Our commissioning levels guide explains each level.

• ●Reading a sequence of operations for the electrical system
• ●EPMS and BMS screens during a test
• ●Load bank setup and load steps at the system level
• ●How mechanical equipment restarts after a power event
• ●Writing and running a test script, and owning the issues log

The realistic first role is electrical commissioning technician. Our role page lists NETA certification as helpful for that role and for commissioning engineer. Technicians at the higher NETA levels who have led crews and written test reports can apply for commissioning engineer, who writes and runs the Level 3 to 5 tests. The commissioning agent usually has 10 or more years in commissioning.

List your NETA level first, then your current safety training.

• ●Your NETA Electrical Testing Technician level, listed with the certification number. The experience required rises at each level.
• ●NFPA 70E electrical safety training, current
• ●OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 Outreach card
• ●Later, for commissioning engineer and agent roles: a commissioning credential such as ACG CxA, BCxA CCP or ACP, or NEBB Building Systems Commissioning certification. Our role pages list CxA, CCP or BCxP as required for commissioning agents.

List the equipment, the voltage class, the tests and the test sets. If you have done acceptance testing on a data center, list it first and say how many MW or how many lineups if you know. If you have supported a load bank test, integrated test or IST, say what your part was.

When you are ready, join our talent network. Tell us your NETA level, the equipment you test and the metros you would work in.

• ●NETA level and certification number
• ●Equipment and voltage class, such as medium-voltage and low-voltage switchgear, transformers and UPS output breakers
• ●Tests and the test sets you use, by brand and model
• ●Acceptance testing (ATS) versus maintenance testing (MTS) work
• ●Any load bank, transfer or integrated systems testing you supported