UReason International B.V.

Pompoenweg 9, 2321DK Leiden, The Netherlands

DOCUMENT NUMBER
Date:
16-Sep-2011
Revision:
1.0

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ALARM PHILOSOPHY

Page: 1 of 42

UReason International B.V.

Pompoenweg 9, 2321DK Leiden, The Netherlands

DOCUMENT NUMBER
Date:
16-Sep-2011
Revision:
1.0

CONTENTS
Approval.............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
1
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 6
1.1 Background........................................................................................................................................................... 6
2
Purpose and Use of the Alarm Philosophy ................................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Alarm Management Lifecycle............................................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Relation to HAZOP Studies & LOPA Reviews ...................................................................................................... 10
2.3 Roles and responsibilities ................................................................................................................................... 11
3
Terminology & References ....................................................................................................................................... 12
3.1 Definitions .......................................................................................................................................................... 12
3.2 Acronyms............................................................................................................................................................ 16
3.3 References.......................................................................................................................................................... 17
3.3.1
Industry Standards and Codes .................................................................................................................. 17
3.3.2
Company Standards and Practices............................................................................................................ 17
3.3.3
Other Documents & References ............................................................................................................... 17
4
Alarm Identification .................................................................................................................................................. 18
4.1 Alarm Identification Methods ............................................................................................................................ 18
4.2 Alarm Identification and Alarm MOC Process .................................................................................................... 19
5
Alarm Documentation and Rationalization .............................................................................................................. 20
5.1 Alarm Rationalization Methodology................................................................................................................... 20
5.2 Alarm Priority Determination and Assignment .................................................................................................. 21
5.3 Maximum Time for Response and Correction.................................................................................................... 22
5.4 Alarm Limit Setting ............................................................................................................................................. 22
5.5 Alarm Documentation ........................................................................................................................................ 23
5.6 Alarm Classification ............................................................................................................................................ 24
6
Alarm Design Principles ............................................................................................................................................ 25
6.1 Alarms that Prevent Harm to Personnel and Environment................................................................................ 25
6.1.1
Flammable and Toxic Gas Detector Alarms .............................................................................................. 25
6.1.2
Safety Shower and Eyebath Activation alarms ......................................................................................... 25
6.2 Alarms for Redundant Sensors and Voting Systems .......................................................................................... 25
6.3 Process Optimization Alarms.............................................................................................................................. 25
6.4 Building Related Alarms ..................................................................................................................................... 26
6.5 Instrument Diagnostic Alarms ............................................................................................................................ 26
6.6 External Device Health and Status Alarms ......................................................................................................... 26
6.7 ESD Systems ....................................................................................................................................................... 26
6.8 Maintenance Override Switches - MOS (ESD Bypasses)..................................................................................... 26
6.9 Duplicate Alarms ................................................................................................................................................ 26
6.10
Consequential Alarms.................................................................................................................................... 26
6.11
Deviation Alarms ........................................................................................................................................... 27
6.12
Pre-Alarms and Trip (Cut-Out) Alarms........................................................................................................... 27
6.13
Alarm Handling for Programs ........................................................................................................................ 27
6.14
Alarms to Initiate Manual Tasks .................................................................................................................... 27
6.15
Control System Diagnostic Alarms................................................................................................................. 27
6.16
Point, Interlock and Program References to Alarms ..................................................................................... 27
6.17
Common Alarms ............................................................................................................................................ 27
7
Alarm Human Machine Interface ............................................................................................................................. 28
7.1 Role of the Operator .......................................................................................................................................... 28
7.2 Responsibilities Related to and in Response to Alarms...................................................................................... 29
7.3 Considerations for alarms routed to multiple operators / locations ................................................................. 29
7.4 Alarm Summary Display Characteristics and Usage ........................................................................................... 29

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UReason International B.V.

Pompoenweg 9, 2321DK Leiden, The Netherlands

DOCUMENT NUMBER
Date:
16-Sep-2011
Revision:
1.0

7.5 Proper Alarm Indication on Graphics ................................................................................................................. 29

7.6 Annunciated Alarm Priority ................................................................................................................................ 30
7.7 Navigation and Alarm Response......................................................................................................................... 30
7.8 Use of External Annunciators ............................................................................................................................. 30
7.9 Use of Hardwired Switches ................................................................................................................................ 30
8
Alarm System Implementation, Operation and Maintenance.................................................................................. 31
8.1 Alarm Commissioning & Testing practices ......................................................................................................... 31
8.2 Alarm Checkout practices................................................................................................................................... 31
8.3 Alarm Initial Testing............................................................................................................................................ 31
8.4 Alarm Periodic Testing........................................................................................................................................ 31
8.5 Transfer of alarms to a non-functional Maintenance state ............................................................................... 31
8.6 Alarm Shelving.................................................................................................................................................... 31
8.7 Alarm Suppression.............................................................................................................................................. 32
8.8 Alarm System Problem Detection and Resolution ............................................................................................. 32
8.9 Nuisance Alarm Handling and Resolution Work Practices ................................................................................. 32
8.10
Alarm System Initial Training......................................................................................................................... 32
8.11
Alarm System Refresher Training .................................................................................................................. 32
9
Alarm System Performance Monitoring, Assessment, and Audits ........................................................................... 33
9.1 Key Alarm Performance Indicators..................................................................................................................... 33
9.2 Alarm performance Assessment & Audits.......................................................................................................... 33
9.3 Alarm History Preservation ................................................................................................................................ 33
10
Advanced Alarm Handling .................................................................................................................................. 34
10.1
Advanced Alarm Handling Techniques .......................................................................................................... 34
10.2
When to Consider Advanced Alarm Handling Techniques ............................................................................ 35
10.3
Implementing Advanced Alarm Handling...................................................................................................... 36
11
Alarm System Management of Change.............................................................................................................. 37
11.1
Alarm Changes that Require an MOC Process............................................................................................... 37
11.2
The Alarm MOC Process ................................................................................................................................ 38
11.2.1 Requested Changes................................................................................................................................... 38
11.2.2 Unrequested Changes............................................................................................................................... 39
11.2.3 Change Authorization Rules...................................................................................................................... 39
11.2.4 Change History Preservation .................................................................................................................... 39
12
Control System Specific ...................................................................................................................................... 40
12.1
<<DCS1>>....................................................................................................................................................... 40
12.1.1 Alarm priorities ......................................................................................................................................... 40
12.1.2 Annunciation of Alarms ............................................................................................................................ 40
12.1.3 Presentation of Alarms ............................................................................................................................. 40
12.1.4 Alarm and Event Logging .......................................................................................................................... 40
12.1.5 Access to Alarm Configurations ................................................................................................................ 40
12.1.6 Specials ..................................................................................................................................................... 41
12.2
<<SCADA1>> .................................................................................................................................................. 41
12.2.1 Alarm priorities ......................................................................................................................................... 41
12.2.2 Annunciation of Alarms ............................................................................................................................ 41
12.2.3 Presentation of Alarms ............................................................................................................................. 41
12.2.4 Alarm and Event Logging .......................................................................................................................... 41
12.2.5 Access to Alarm Configurations ................................................................................................................ 41
12.2.6 Specials ..................................................................................................................................................... 41
13
Appendices ......................................................................................................................................................... 42
13.1
Revision History ............................................................................................................................................. 42

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