Explain the importance of 'testing' before a piping system goes live.

The importance of testing before a piping system goes live is centered around ensuring safety, functionality, and reliability. Testing helps to confirm that there are no leaks within the system, which is crucial for preventing potential hazards like structural damage, environmental contamination, or safety risks to personnel operating in the vicinity. Moreover, ensuring that the system operates efficiently provides confidence that it will perform as intended under various conditions and during normal use.

Testing also allows for the identification of any defects or weaknesses in the installation that could lead to system failures in the future. This proactive approach is essential because the consequences of an untested system failing can be severe, leading to costly repairs, downtime, and safety violations. In industrial settings, failures can endanger lives and negatively impact production processes, underscoring the need for thorough pre-commissioning tests.

In summary, by verifying the integrity and performance of a piping system before it is put into operation, testing plays a critical role in maintaining high safety standards and operational reliability.