Alarm Annunciators are a vital tool in safety management. The need for functional safety assessment continuously pushes the technical performance of alarm annunciators upwards. Operator involvement puts a limit on reliability of safety functions but may be beneficial in managing complex demands.
Introduction
Within industrial applications an alarm can be defined as ‘indication requiring an immediate response by the operator’. Such indication normally reflects abnormal condition within the plant process. Alarm annunciators are devices which accept inputs from field sensors (typically via relay contacts eg, from trip transmitters) and provide visual indication, such that the illuminated light or screen can be immediately and uniquely associated with a specific input.
With the number and meaning of various alarms on the plants growing, the need for a systematic approach to alarm handling became evident. The earliest version of ISA18.1 standard [2] of 1977-79 already set the framework and concepts of processing of alarms and describes systematically the sequence of events that should be followed in the annunciator and performed by the operator, from alarm occurrence to eliminating the abnormal condition and resetting the alarm.
In the last two decades the issues of functional safety have also steadily gained importance. The IEC61508 standard [3] introduced a very broad but systematic framework which allows plant engineers to apply the functional safety concepts systematically to all modern control equipment. Following that generic standard, the process industry sector standard IEC61511 was introduced. Both these standards enjoy wide international acceptance. Because of reliability requirements defined for safety related alarms, standalone annunciators lend themselves to a rigorous assessment. This paper therefore focuses on the role of standalone annunciators in functional safety.
Transforming pulp and paper with automation and digitalisation ABB South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
The pulp and paper industry in South Africa is undergoing a significant transformation from traditional manual processes to embracing automation technologies. Automation in pulp and paper mills aims to improve various production stages, from raw material preparation to final product creation.
Read more...Protecting industrial networks with resilient defence RJ Connect
IT in Manufacturing
Network security is no longer just about preventing hacking or data breaches. For operational technology networks, resilient defence and consistent uptime are crucial. They are the core tenets that underpin Moxa’s guarded uptime and resilient defence (GUARD).
Read more...The metaverse is now: are you ready to reimagine your business?
IT in Manufacturing
The convergence of the digital and physical worlds, driven by spatial computing and the metaverse, is rapidly reshaping business landscapes. This transformation extends beyond the mere novelty of virtual reality headsets and augmented reality filters, signalling a fundamental shift in how organisations operate, collaborate and innovate.
Read more...AI and cyber security: South Africa’s next battleground
IT in Manufacturing
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a double-edged sword in the world of cybersecurity. In South Africa, where cybercrime is on the rise, AI presents both an opportunity and a threat.Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a double-edged sword in the world of cybersecurity. In South Africa, where cybercrime is on the rise, AI presents both an opportunity and a threat.
Read more...Addressing the cooling needs of the modern data centre Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
The rise in hardware density in data centres is gaining speed and is largely driven by the demands of artificial intelligence and machine learning, requiring more powerful servers and specialised hardware.
Read more...South Africa’s next cyber security frontier
IT in Manufacturing
AI-powered agents are rapidly transforming how South African businesses operate, from chatbots managing customer inquiries to automated systems processing financial transactions. While these AI-driven assistants increase efficiency and reduce operational costs, they also present a new, and often underestimated, cybersecurity challenge: identity management.
Read more...Improved networking technology for fire and gas detection Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Critical alarm and event management technology supplier, Omniflex has worked with the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation to upgrade equipment providing digital and analogue signals for its safety critical fire and gas alarm systems.
printer friendly version