Search
Synopsys, Inc. - Synopsys Verification Tool Chain
ISO 26262 in the Safety Automation Equipment List
Blog Entry: Back to Basics: Failure Rates - λ
The Greek symbol lambda, λ, represents failure rates in functional safety, usually expressed in the unit of measurement of FITS . λ can be expressed as a total failure rate for a device (λT), or it can be broken down into more specific groupings: Safe detected (λSD) Safe undetected (λSU)…
Recorded Webinars: The Philosophy Behind Effective Alarm Management
Development of an Alarm Philosophy document (APD) is one of the first and most important tasks in creating an effective alarm management program (and it is required by the ISA-18.2 and IEC 62682 standards). This webinar will discuss what topics should be addressed in an alarm philosophy (as required or recommended in the standards). It will also provide “tips and tricks” and “lessons learned” based on exida’s experience in the field and based on the ISA-18.2 Technical Report on Alarm Philosophy (which exida helped write). It will discuss which areas of the APD may depend on control system functionality and which areas are control system-agnostic. Specific examples will be covered such as prioritization, classification, use of Highly Managed Alarms, alarm suppression, and the use of alarm response procedures.
News Item: exida Enhances Customer Support Options in Response to COVID-19 Virus
Dear Valued Customer, We hope this message finds you, your family, and your colleagues well. At exida we appreciate the trust you place in our solutions and services to support you in achieving your functional safety, cybersecurity, and alarm management needs. We are committed to supporting you as we all…
Blog Entry: The CFSE Exam is Now Offered Online!
exida, the global leader in functional safety, industrial automation cybersecurity, and alarm management is thrilled to announce a new online testing platform for their CFSE (Certified Functional Safety Expert) and CACE (IEC 62443 Certified Automation Cybersecurity Expert) Certification programs. This also includes the CFSP and CACS exams. exida has teamed…
Blog Entry: Alarm Philosophy Development – Going to Great Lengths
Creating an alarm philosophy document is often the entry point into the ISA-18.2/IEC 62682 alarm management lifecycle. Many tasked with developing one are discouraged by its length and the barriers it creates. When it comes to using the philosophy document, a common concern is that if the document is too…
Recorded Webinars: SRA: Safety Reliability Analysis – Do You Engineer Above and Beyond?
When preforming an FMEDA, there are assumptions made that normal or typical engineering practices are followed. However, industry knows there are times when designers of a device or system will go above and beyond typical engineering practices or designs. That is where the SRA: Safety Reliability Analysis comes into play. The SRA allows the device designers to showcase their unique features or designs that improve safety. When there is extra safety designed into the device, it should be recognized; and the SRA can allow for that with a reduction in the failure rates for that device.
This webinar will look into what exactly a Safety Reliability Analysis (SRA) dives into, and what you can achieve with that closer look into safety.
News Item: Emerson DeltaV DCS AND SIS System Wins the 2019 exida Cyber Award
exida, the global leader in functional safety, cybersecurity, and alarm management for the process industries has presented Emerson Automation Solutions with the 2019 exida Cyber Award for their DeltaV DCS and SIS System . The DeltaV distributed control system is an easy-to-use automation system that works to simplify operational complexity…
Blog Entry: Back to Basics: Failure Rates - FIT
F ailures I n T ime or F ailure Un IT FIT is the number of failures per billion hours for a piece of equipment. It is mentioned in both IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 standards as a preferred unit of measurement expressed by 10 9 hours. Example: 5 FIT…
Baker Hughes - Nexus OnCore Safety System
IEC 61508 in the Safety Automation Equipment List
Recorded Webinars: Psychometrics – Another Reason CFSE remains the Gold Standard
In today’s day and age, functional safety certificate and certification programs are becoming common. There are many to choose from with their own set of requirements and expectations. So how do we know which one to choose?
This webinar will go through the importance of selecting a program that best suits your needs and competency level. It will also give you the knowledge and ability to challenge those certification bodies and learn if you are receiving a true certification or simply just an expensive piece of paper.
Blog Entry: I Failed the CFSE Exam, HELP!
It is tough to receive an email with this message from a prospective CFSE candidate. I know that when I have failed exams, I want to understand what was wrong so I can study those areas of knowledge more deeply and try again. Given the recognition and prestige of the…
News Item: exida to host Functional Safety and Cybersecurity Symposium in Germany
Functional Safety and Cybersecurity have an impact on a lot of different domains. Nearly all of them face a fast-paced development regarding new technologies and concepts. In parallel, the 3rd revision of IEC 61508 referred to as the mother of all functional safety standards, will be revised. This standard needs…
Magnetrol International, Inc. - Eclipse 700GWR Level Transmitter
IEC 61508 in the Safety Automation Equipment List
Recorded Webinars: The Importance of Proof Testing
Proof Testing is often a misunderstood concept since a proof test is not designed to prove that a Safety Instrumented Function (SIF) is working. On the contrary, the purpose of the proof test is to help find potentially dangerous, undetected faults that the automatic diagnostics can’t find. The purpose here is to prevent failures on demand of the SIF, which can lead to accidents.
When it comes to SIFs, it’s normally the final elements that contribute the highest portion of potential failures on demand. The very nature and mechanical design of a valve means that automatic diagnostics are limited to intelligent valve positioners and not the valve itself. For this reason, it’s very important to follow the manufacturers recommendations regarding proof testing and the frequency of the testing since a poorly written and/or executed proof test will increase the probability of failing on demand instead of reducing it.
The webinar will explore the importance and reasons why proof testing needs to be done, as well as the need to follow the Safety Requirements Specification (SRS) when it comes to the frequency of conducting proof testing. It emphasizes the importance of preventing failures on demand and looks at the impact on the overall probability of failing on demand for the SIF.
What you will learn?
- The importance of useful life
- How devices can fail
- The difference between random & systematic failures
- Why proof testing is important & the impact of imperfect proof testing
- What a proof test is and isn’t
Who should attend?
- SIS designers and Engineering contractors
- Operations and maintenance personnel
- Plant Managers and Supervisors
Blog Entry: Back to Basics: Failure Rates
Failure rates are the number of failures per unit time for a piece of equipment which are usually assumed to be a constant value. They can be broken down into several categories, such as safe and dangerous, detected and undetected, and independent/normal and common cause. Failure rates are often expressed…
Recorded Webinars: eRAVA: exida Remote Actuated Valve Assembly - Final Element Certification
Plant engineers know that many field failure reports show root cause due to errors in final element design and testing. A rigorous engineering process to design, verify, and test can catch errors in a remote actuated valve assembly before shipment and deployment. This rigorous process should also get credit for their practices. This webinar will show some example field failures and how they can be avoided by a rigorous integration process. The result is a decrease in realistic failure rate of the remote actuated valve assembly. This webinar will include examples and will show the positive impact on the risk reduction factor and SIL calcs.
Blog Entry: Bow Ties Part I: Great for Formal Occasions and for Risk Management
The bow tie methodology, originally developed by ICI in the late 1970’s, has seen increasing industry adoption over the last 20 years. Bow tie diagrams build on the “Swiss Cheese Model” of hazard escalation and causation popularized by James Reason. They provide a powerful means for visualizing how a company…
News Item: exida Announces Business Partnership with Total Plant
exida, a global supplier of functional safety products, services and certifications is pleased to announce a business partnership with Total Plant , a global company specialized in engineering, design, assessments, support to operations and maintenance with high focus on safety and reliability. “exida is delighted to partner with Total Plant…
Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc. - BM9 Series Slam Shut Valve
IEC 61508 in the Safety Automation Equipment List