What does commissioning involve?

Commissioning is a critical process in ensuring that systems and equipment are set up as intended and function correctly within their operational environments. This process involves a thorough testing phase where systems are verified against specified performance criteria to confirm that they operate according to design intentions. Therefore, option C accurately captures the essence of commissioning by emphasizing the importance of testing systems to verify their functionality.

During commissioning, different types of tests are conducted, which can include performance testing, stress testing, and safety testing, among others. This helps to ensure that all components work seamlessly together within the overall system architecture. The commissioning process also often includes the documentation of results and any necessary adjustments or fine-tuning to achieve optimal performance.

The other options do play roles in asset management but do not specifically describe the commissioning process. Routine maintenance checks are conducted after commissioning to ensure ongoing reliability, while the installation of new systems pertains to the initial setup before commissioning takes place. Drafting new equipment designs belongs to the design phase, which precedes commissioning. Therefore, the focus on testing systems to verify functionality distinctly characterizes what commissioning entails.