How Taking Credit for Planned and Unplanned Shutdowns Can Help You Achieve Your Safety Integrity Level (SIL) Targets

Achieving Safety Integrity Level (SIL) targets can be difficult when proof test intervals approach turnaround intervals of five years or more. However, some process units have planned and unplanned shutdowns almost on a monthly basis. During these shutdowns, it may be possible to document that the safety devices functioned properly. This can be incorporated into performance calculations to show that performance targets can now be met without incorporating expensive redundancy / fault tolerance. This can result in considerable cost savings. Case studies will be reviewed.