Appendix A

Instrumentation Symbols
and Labels

This appendix presents the symbols and labels used in this book for the instrumentation
diagrams. Most companies have their own symbols and labels, and even though most
of them are similar, they are not all identical. The symbols and labels used in this book
follow closely the standard published by the Instrument Society of America (ISA); see
the References. The appendix presents just the information needed for this book. For
more information, see the ISA standard.
In general, the instrument identification, also referred to as tag number, is of the
following form:

Typical Tag Number

LRC 101 Instrument identification or tag number
L 101 Loop identification
101 Loop number
LRC Functional identification
L First letter
RC Succeeding letters

Expanded Tag Number

20-TAH-6A Tag number
20 Optional prefix
A Optional suffix

Note: Hyphens are optional as separators.

The meanings of some identification letters are given in Table A-I.

Some symbols used in this book to designate the functions of computing blocks, or
software, are presented in Table A-2. Table A-3 presents some instrument symbols, and
Table A-4 presents some instrument line (signal) symbols.
699
 Table A-1 Meanings of Identification Letters (Courtesy of the Instrument Society of America)
First Letter Succeeding Letters
Measured or Readout or Output
Initiating Variable Modifier Passive Function Function Modifier
Analysis Alarm
Burner, combustion User's choice User's choice User's choice
User's choice Control
User's choice Differential
Voltage Sensor (primary
element)
Flow rate Ratio (fraction)
User's choice Glass,
viewing, device
Hand High
Current (electrical) lndicate
Power Scan
Time, time schedule Time rate of Control station
change
Level Light Low
M User's choice Momentary Middle,
intermediate
User's choice User's choice User's choice User's choice
User's choice Orifice, restriction
Pressure, vacuum Point (test)
connection
Quantity Integrate, totalize
Radiation Record
Speed, frequency Safety Switch
Temperature Transmit
Multivariable Multifunction Multifunction Multifunction
Vibration, mechanical Valve, damper,
analysis louver
Weight, force Well
Unclassified X axis Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified
Event, state, or Y axis Relay, compute
presence convert
Position, dimension Z axis Driver, actuator,
unclassified
final control element
 Table A- I Meanings of Identification Letters (Continued)
Controllers

Sell- Switches and Solenoids.

Initiating or Actuated Readout Devices Alarm Dcviccs Transmitters Relays, Well Viewing
First Measured Control Computing Primary Test or Device. Safety Final
Letters Variable Recording Indicating Blind Valves Rwording Indicating High Low Comb. Recording Indicating Blind Devices Element Point Robe Glass Device Element

A Analysis ARC AIC AC AR A1 ASH ASL ASHL ART AIT AT AY AE AP AW AV

B Burner BRC BIC BC BR B1 BSH BSL BSHL BRT BIT BT BY BE BW BG BZ
combustion
C User's choice
D User's choice
E Voltage ERC EIC EC ER El ESH ESL ESHL ERT EIT IT EY EE EZ
F Flow rate FRC FIC FC FCV. FR FI FSH FSL FSHL FRT FIT FT FY FE FP FG FV
FlCV
FQ Flow quantity FQRC FQIC FQR FQI FQSH FQSL FQlT FQT FQY FQE FQv
FF Flow ratio FFRC FFlC FFC FFR FFI FFSH FFSL FE FFV
G User's choice
H Hand HIC HC HS HV
I Current IRC IIC IR I1 ISH ISL ISHL IRT 11T IT IY 1E U
J Power JRC JIC JR JI JSH JSL JSHL JRT JIT JT JY JE JV
K Time KRC KIC KC KCV KR K1 KSH KSL KSHL KRT KIT KT KY KE KV
L Level LRC LIC LC LCV LR LI LSH LSL LSHL LRT LIT LT LY LE LW LG LV
M User's choice
N User's choice
User's choice
Ressure PRC PIC PC PCV PR PI PSH PSL PSHL PRT PIT m PY PP PSV. PV
vacuum PSE
Rcsrure PDRC PDlC PDC PDCV PDR PDI PDSH PDSL PDRT PDlT PDT PDY PP PDV
difierential
Quantity QRC QIC QR QI QSH QSL QSHL QRT QIT QT QY
Radialion RRC RIC RC RR RI RSH RSL RSHL RRT RIT RT RY
spscd SRC SIC SC SCV SR SI SSH SSL SSHL SRT SIT ST SY
f w w y
Temperalure TRC TIC TC TCV m TI TSH TSL TSHL TRT TIT IT TY TP TW TSE n
Temperature TDRC TDlC m TDCV TDR TDI TDSH TDSL TDRT TDIT TDT TDY TP 7W TDV
differential
Muhivariable UR UI UY
Vibnticm VR VI VSH VSL VSHL VRT VIT VT VY
machinery
analysis
Weight force WRC WIC WC wcv WR WI WSH WSL WSHL WRT WIT WT WY
Weight force. WDRC WDlC WDC WDCV WDR WDI WDSH WDSL WDRT WDlT WDT WDY
difierential
Unclassified
Event state YIC YC YR YI YSH YSL YT YY
pre=n'=
Positicm ZRC ZIC ZC ZCV ZR z1 ZSH ZSL ZSHL ZRT ZIT m ZY
dinrion
Gouging ZDRC ZDlC ZDC m v ZDR ZDI ZDSH WSL ZDRT WIT zm ZDY
deviaticm
704 Appendix A Instrumentation Symbols and Labels

Table A-2 Function and Symbols of Computing Blocks or

Software
Function Symbol Function Symbol
Summation Z Integral I
Multiplication X or * Division -
Square root ,f Function f(x)
High selector > or HS Low selector < or LS
High limiter > or HL Low limiter < or LL
Bias BO Lead-Lag L/L

Figure A-1 shows different ways to draw a control system, particularly a flow control
loop. Figure A-la shows a flow element, FE-10, which is an orifice plate with flange
taps, connected to an electronic flow transmitter, FT-10. The output of the transmitter
goes to a square root extractor, FY-IOA, and from here the signal goes to a flow-
indicating controller, FIC-10. The output from the controller goes to an I/P transducer,

Computer-based
0
Analog instrument. Analog instrument, 'Pneumatic-operated
algorithm accessible board-mounted mounted behind board globe valve

Pneumatic-operated Hand-actuated Control valve Motor

butterfly valve, control valve with positioner
damper, or louver

Solenoid Single-acting Double-acting Pressure-reducing

cylinder cylinder regulator,
self-contained

Back-pressure- Pressure relief or safety Pressure-relief or Temperature

reducing regulator, valve, angle pattern safety valve, regulator, filled-
self-contained straight through pattern system type
Table A-3. General instrument symbols.
 A Instrumentation Symbols and Labels 705

Three-way valve Orifice plate with Orifice plate with vena Orifice plate with vena
FO to path A-C flange or corner taps contracta, radius, or contracta, radius, or
pipe taps pipe taps connected to
differential pressure
transmitter

Venturi tube or Turbine flowmeter Magnetic flowmeter Level transmitter, external

flow nozzle float or external type
displacer element

Level transmitter, Temperature element Temperature element with well

diffeiential pressure without well
.type element
T a b l e A-3. (Continued)

FY-lOB, to convert the electrical signal to a pneumatic signal. The signal from the
transducer then goes to a flow valve, FV-10. Often the labels for the flow element and
valves are omitted for the sake of simplicity; the resulting diagram is shown in Fig.
A-lb. The signals drawn in Fig. A-lb indicate that the control system used is electrical.
Figure A-lc shows the control system when a computer control system is used; note
the difference in signals. Figure A-ld shows the symbols used in this book. The figure
shows the control concept without concern for specific hardware.

Pneumatic Electrical
Signal

Data Link Data Link

Table A-4. Instrument line (signal) symbols.

706 Appendix A Instrumentation Symbols and Labels

(c)
Figure A-1. Flow control system.

REFERENCES

1. "Instrumentation Symbols and Identification." Standard ISA-S5.1-1984. Research Triangle

Park, N.C.:Instrument Society of America.