Selecting Experienced Suppliers for Safety Instrumented Systems

In the evolving landscape of process industries, selecting experienced suppliers for Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) is crucial to comply with new safety standards and mitigate risks associated with unreliable systems.

This white paper by Farshad Hendi emphasizes the importance of choosing suppliers with proven expertise, particularly in light of new ANSI/ISA S84.01 and IEC-61508 standards that require strict adherence to Safety Integrity Levels (SIL). The document warns against newer companies that may lack the necessary experience, especially those attempting to combine control system functionalities with safety systems, which is deemed unsafe and non-compliant with regulations. It provides a practical checklist for selecting an appropriate logic solver vendor, highlighting the risks associated with nuisance trips and the benefits of Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) systems over dual systems. The role of TUV certification in ensuring system compliance and safety is also discussed. 

This paper serves as a guideline for industries to make informed decisions, protect workers, and meet regulatory demands effectively.