How do you calculate SAT workload hours?

Divide SAT signoff items by your on-site closeout throughput to get base SAT time, then multiply by one plus the site delay and retest allowance. With 95 items at 7 items/hr and a 35% allowance, base time is 13.57 hr and required workload is 18.32 hr.

Why is SAT slower than FAT?

SAT runs in the customer's environment, where utilities, integration to upstream/downstream equipment, and site access all introduce delays you do not face on your own test bench. That is why the site delay and retest allowance (35% here) is usually higher than a FAT allowance.

What is a realistic SAT closeout throughput?

On-site closeout typically runs slower than factory testing: 5-10 items/hr is common because each item may require coordinating with the customer's operators and integration points. The 7 items/hr default reflects a moderately integrated machine.

What is a good site delay and retest allowance?

30-50% is typical for SAT, higher than FAT because site conditions are less controlled. Raise it for greenfield sites, deep line integration, or remote locations where parts and support are slow to arrive.

How many days should I budget on site for SAT?

18.32 hr is roughly two to three working days once you account for travel, customer availability windows, and downtime waiting on the line. Plan field trips around the workload, not just the raw test time.

Does SAT workload include installation?

No. This figure is the test-and-signoff effort only. Mechanical installation, rigging, alignment, and utility connection are separate activities that must precede SAT and be scheduled on their own.

Industrial Equipment, Machinery & Capital Goods calculator

SAT Workload Calculator

Site Acceptance Test (SAT) workload is the field-service time needed to verify and sign off a machine after it is installed at the customer's plant, once it is connected to real utilities, upstream lines, and the customer's network. Commissioning engineers and field-service planners use it to size on-site trips, since SAT runs slower than a factory test: site utilities lag, integration surprises appear, and the customer controls the floor. It matters because SAT is the gate to final payment and handover, and every extra unplanned day on site burns travel, per diem, and goodwill. This calculator turns a signoff-item count into realistic on-site hours including the site delay and retest buffer.

What this calculator does

Estimate site acceptance test workload from SAT checkpoints, closeout throughput, and site delay allowance.
Use it when planning customer site acceptance, process validation support, and handover for installed equipment.
It computes the total on-site hours to close out a SAT protocol, applying a site delay and retest uplift to the base closeout time.

Formula used

Base SAT time = SAT checkpoints and signoff items ÷ SAT closeout throughput
Required SAT workload = base SAT time × site delay and retest allowance multiplier

Inputs explained

SAT checkpoints and signoff items:
SAT closeout throughput:
Site delay and retest allowance:

How to use the result

Use it when planning a commissioning trip or installation closeout, after the machine is installed and before final acceptance signoff.
It assumes the machine is installed and powered; it does not include mechanical installation, rigging, or utility hookup time, which must be scheduled separately.

Current U.S. benchmarks

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Common questions

How do you calculate SAT workload hours? Divide SAT signoff items by your on-site closeout throughput to get base SAT time, then multiply by one plus the site delay and retest allowance. With 95 items at 7 items/hr and a 35% allowance, base time is 13.57 hr and required workload is 18.32 hr.
Why is SAT slower than FAT? SAT runs in the customer's environment, where utilities, integration to upstream/downstream equipment, and site access all introduce delays you do not face on your own test bench. That is why the site delay and retest allowance (35% here) is usually higher than a FAT allowance.
What is a realistic SAT closeout throughput? On-site closeout typically runs slower than factory testing: 5-10 items/hr is common because each item may require coordinating with the customer's operators and integration points. The 7 items/hr default reflects a moderately integrated machine.
What is a good site delay and retest allowance? 30-50% is typical for SAT, higher than FAT because site conditions are less controlled. Raise it for greenfield sites, deep line integration, or remote locations where parts and support are slow to arrive.
How many days should I budget on site for SAT? 18.32 hr is roughly two to three working days once you account for travel, customer availability windows, and downtime waiting on the line. Plan field trips around the workload, not just the raw test time.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.