Eemua 191 Alarm Systems A Guide To Design Management And Procur

Alarm systems are essential for the safe and efficient operation of industrial processes. They provide vital support to the operators by warning them of situations that need their attention and have an important role in preventing, controlling and mitigating the effects of abnormal situations. However, alarm systems can also be a source of frustration and distraction if they are not well designed, managed and maintained. Poor alarm systems can lead to operator overload, confusion, complacency and errors, which can compromise plant safety, performance and profitability.

To help the industry improve the quality and effectiveness of alarm systems, the Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association (EEMUA) published EEMUA Publication 191 Alarm systems - a guide to design, management and procurement. This publication, first released in 1999 and updated in 2007 and 2015, has become the globally accepted and leading guide to good practice for all aspects of alarm systems. It provides clear guidance for both existing and new alarm systems, covering topics such as:

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The principles of alarm system design and engineering

The implementation of a system of alarm management

The procurement of alarm system hardware and software

The human factors aspects of alarm system design and operation

The maintenance and modification of alarm systems

The auditing and benchmarking of alarm system performance

EEMUA 191 is based on the collective experience and knowledge of alarm system experts working on high hazard sites across various industry sectors. It is also informed by real-world process safety incidents and lessons learned from them. The publication has been acknowledged as good practice by leading regulators such as the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It is also aligned with international standards for the management of alarm systems for the process industries, such as ISA 18.2 from the International Society of Automation and IEC 62682: 2015.

The latest edition of EEMUA 191 has been comprehensively updated and includes guidance on implementing the alarm management philosophy in practice; applications in geographically distributed processes; and performance metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs). It also provides examples of good and bad alarm system practices, as well as checklists and templates for various alarm management activities.

EEMUA 191 is primarily concerned with alarm systems provided for people operating industrial processes. These include alarm systems in industries such as chemical manufacture, power generation, oil and gas extraction and refining and others. However, much of the guidance is generic and with appropriate interpretation can be applied in other sectors. For example, the guide has been used successfully as a basis for training in the rail and transport sectors, in the nuclear industry, and elsewhere.

EEMUA 191 is available in both digital and hard copy formats from the EEMUA website. EEMUA also offers online training courses on alarm systems, as well as webinars, workshops and seminars on various aspects of alarm management. EEMUA members can access additional resources such as a free checklist for an alarm management philosophy document and a webinar recording on human factors.

EEMUA 191 is a valuable resource for anyone involved in the design, management or procurement of alarm systems for industrial processes. It can help to improve plant safety, efficiency and compliance by providing practical guidance on how to create and maintain effective alarm systems that support the operators in their decision making.

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