Short answer. A hold point is a step where work must stop until a named person checks and signs off. Hold points let QA and commissioning teams confirm critical results before the next step starts.
Definition. A hold point is a step in a procedure where work stops until a named person checks the work and signs off.
Hold point vs witness point
At a hold point, work cannot continue until the named person signs off. At a witness point, the named person is notified and may attend, but work can continue if they do not.
Commissioning levels L1–L5, as commonly used
- L1 factory testing.
- L2 site delivery and inspection.
- L3 installation and start-up checks.
- L4 functional performance testing.
- L5 integrated systems testing.
Definitions vary by project, owner and commissioning agent.
Where to place hold points
Place them before steps that are hard to undo, before energizing or loading equipment, and where a result decides the next step. Too many hold points slow work and become routine; too few let errors pass.
What evidence to require
- A reading against an expected value.
- A photo of the device state or label.
- A signature from the named person.
Where ICARUS Ops fits
The ICARUS Ops Error Elimination System (EES) adds QA sign-off gates at hold points. The crew cannot continue to the next step until the QA person signs off in the ICARUS Ops app, and every sign-off is time-stamped.
See a sample ICARUS Ops EES procedure
See a sample ICARUS Ops EES procedure
Demos are for teams actively evaluating software for deployment.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hold point?
A step where work stops until a named person checks the work and signs off.
What are commissioning levels L1 to L5?
A common way to describe commissioning stages, from factory testing (L1) to integrated systems testing (L5). Definitions vary by project.
What evidence should a hold point require?
Whatever the step needs to confirm the result: a reading, a photo, a signature, or a combination.