To help deliver cost-effective safety improvements, new ISA book outlines a performance-based and standards-based approach to Safety Instrumented System

  • August 21, 2017
  • Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

The International Society of Automation (ISA) announces it has published a new book intended to help companies achieve cost-effective safety improvements through a performance- and standards-based approach to Safety Instrumented System design.

"By following the Safety Lifecycle (SLC) design and engineering methods, and functional safety standards described in the book, companies can implement a SLC process that works better, saves project time and improves safety," says William M. Goble, Ph.D., PE, CFSE, who, along with Iwan van Beurden, MSc, CFSE, co-wrote Safety Instrumented System Design: Techniques and Design Verification.

Starting with a description of the entire SLC process, the authors illustrate the advantages and importance of performance-based design, from conceptual design to design verification. In addition to explaining the design phase of the SIS safety life cycle as defined in IEC 61511:2016, the book brings clarity to some of the potentially confusing language in the standard.

Appendices include statistics, probability, failure-rate data tables, and system architectures. Each chapter contains questions and answers similar to those found on professional certification exams for functional safety-making the book a valuable resource for those seeking to achieve certification.

To purchase a copy of Safety Instrumented System Design: Techniques and Design Verificationclick here.

For more details, read the informative author interview

For greater perspective on the value and significance of the new book as well a more detailed overview of its content, read the Q&A feature with Goble.

About ISA

The International Society of Automation (www.isa.org) is a nonprofit professional association that sets the standard for those who apply engineering and technology to improve the management, safety, and cybersecurity of modern automation and control systems used across industry and critical infrastructure. Founded in 1945, ISA develops widely used global standards; certifies industry professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; hosts conferences and exhibits; and provides networking and career development programs for its 40,000 members and 400,000 customers around the world.

ISA owns Automation.com, a leading online publisher of automation-related content, and is the founding sponsor of The Automation Federation (www.automationfederation.org), an association of non-profit organizations serving as "The Voice of Automation." Through a wholly owned subsidiary, ISA bridges the gap between standards and their implementation with the ISA Security Compliance Institute (www.isasecure.org) and the ISA Wireless Compliance Institute (www.isa100wci.org).