NEWS & EVENTS CONTINUALLY EVOLVING
EEMUA
Rapidly advancing technology is making good design and management of industrial alarm systems more important than ever
Using red for alarm and valve / pump status can confuse operators
Using red for alarms only is immediately obvious
© EEMUA 2020 © EEMUA 2020
ALARM SYSTEMS : KEY TO SAFE PROCESS PLANT OPERATION
In 1994 , an explosion at a refinery in Milford Haven , UK , caused widespread injuries and a repair bill of close to £ 50m . Operators were deluged by alarms , facing 275 of them in the 11 minutes before the blast . Interpreting the situation was exacerbated by the screen graphics in use .
EEMUA Publication 191 (‘ Alarm systems : a guide to design , management and procurement ’) sets out guidance to help avoid such incidents – recognising that local alarm systems must help , not hinder , plant operators . Rather than prescribe blueprints , it focuses on broad approaches and principles . Now in its third edition , it is regularly updated to reflect good practice , experience , and international standards .
TECHNOLOGY : MARVELLOUS POSSIBILITIES … MORE CHALLENGES
The rise of technologies like artificial intelligence and the internet of things offer marvellous possibilities but bring challenges for industrial safety and regulation . They also bring far more data and more to go wrong . However advanced these become , they ultimately rely on people . The human brain is still on Release 1.0 , with its preference to process about five things at a time . Compare that with quantum computing ’ s promised huge increase in processing power . Industrial alarm Systems lie at the border between these two worlds .
ADDRESSING COMMON ALARM ISSUES
EEMUA ’ s 191 guidance deals with everything from defining an alarm system , to its detailed design and KPIs . It also offers practical guidance , on common alarm issues ... Too many nuisance alarms ? Operator overload . Make definitions clearer . Develop KPIs that reflect their true capacity .
HOW CONTROL ROOM DESIGN CAN HELP
EEMUA Publication 201 ( Control rooms : a guide to their specification , design , commissioning , and operation ) complements alarm good practice by looking at the specific factors that make control rooms and operators more effective . Lighting can affect both alertness and well-being ; temperatures need to be even ; and screen layout should be considered against criteria like visibility and eyestrain .
The guidance also covers screen graphics design principles , such as only showing items with control functions , avoiding too much red , and keeping information coverage to 50 % of screen area .
Travelling further on the road to good practice EEMUA Publications 191 and 201 are complemented by awareness level e-learning modules , and freely downloadable alarms and control rooms checklists . Find out more at
ask @ eemua . org .
What makes a good alarm ? (© EEMUA 2020 )
Relevant : Not spurious / low operational value
Unique : Doesn ’ t duplicate another alarm
Timely : Not too long before the response is needed ; or after it
Prioritised : Importance is clear to operators
Understandable : Message is understandable
Diagnostic : Shows the problem clearly Advisory : Indicates the action needed
Focusing : Draws attention to the important
For further information , please visit www . eemua . org
80 PECM Issue 48