Safety automation grows; new products, resources

News in safety automation, controls and instrumentation includes a new report highlighting trends and 12% annual growth in process safety, product safety certifications and approvals, a new gas detection system for wastewater treatment, and launch of a site gathering safety resources for industrial automation and controls. Companies involved include Ametek, ARC Advisory Group, B&R Industrial Automation, Honeywell, Reed Business Information, Siemens Energy & Automation, and Sierra Monitor. See photos.
Process safety system market shows unprecedented growth : ARC Advisory Group reports in Process Safety System Worldwide Outlook– Market Analysis and Forecast Through 2012 strong growth of the Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) market. But due to the economic downturn in North America, the growth rate will be tempered after 2008. The worldwide market, around $1.4 billion last year, is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of more than 12% per year to beyond $2.5 billion in 2012.
“The safety system market has experienced unprecedented growth for the last two years. Increased demand for oil and gas due to the economic growth of China and India along with the high price of crude oil is fueling investments in oil and gas production and in refining, leading to increased demand for safety systems,” said the principal author of the study ARC vice president, Asish Ghosh.
Heightened awareness of safety standards (IEC 61508, IEC 61511, and ANSI/ISA-84) and the global environment awareness is increasing demand for safety systems. High-profile industrial accidents, such as the BP Texas refinery in the US and the Buncefield terminal in the UK, have increased a sense of vulnerability among manufacturers. In North America and Western Europe, obsolescence of equipment is driving demands for safety systems.
Major standards have specified safety lifecycles, which show considerable similarities. The safety lifecycle, specified by IEC 61511, shows a systematic approach to safety starting from a hazard-and-risk analysis to implementation of the system, and finally to its decommissioning. Demand for software that helps manage the safety lifecycle is growing. Many SIS suppliers and third parties offer custom consulting in these areas. SIS users are looking for packaged solutions to help them comply.
The greatest demand for safety systems is in the EMEA region, followed by Asia and North America. With booming economies in China and India, Asia will show the highest growth. EMEA will also grow substantially as the high price of crude oil leads to significant investments in grass-root facilities in the Middle East and parts of Europe.

Ametek receives ATEX certification for Jofra industrial pressure indicators : Ametek Calibration Instruments announced that Jofra Industrial Pressure Indicators (IPI) are now ATEX- and CSA-certified for use in potentially explosive environments in the field or in calibration laboratories. ATEX is the primary intrinsically safe standard in the EU, while CSA refers to relevant Canadian and U.S. standards.
Accurate toineries, off-shore platforms, chemical plants, gas production plants, oil and gas shipping, pharmaceuticals, and whisky distilleries.
Intrinsically-safe Jofra IPI indicators come in 10 pressure ranges and combine the simplicity of an analog gauge with the accuracy and easy-to-read display of a digital calibrator for units with fast set-up, intuitive functions, application flexibility, and long battery life.
An RS-232 interface is supplied as standard for configuration, calibration, and transfer of measurement data from the gauge. It enables Jofra IPI to be used as a pressure reference with Jofracal software, which provides control of a complete calibration procedure, storage of results, and a calibration audit trail through hard-copy certificates.
User-configurable functions designed into IPI include sampling rate, TARE, damping, auto shut off, and min-max. Once the gauge is configured, settings can be locked and password-protected.
TÜV Certificate for B&R integrated safety technology : B&R Industrial Automation have been certified by TÜV Rheinland for use in safety-oriented applications. In addition to meeting all specified safety criteria, B&R safety technology also seamlessly integrates into existing automation infrastructure. B&R says flexible adjustment of the safety behavior to the requirements of themachine guarantees that safety reactions will be carried optimally. Fixed wiring is replaced by safe data transfer via the existing machine bus system. Flexibly configured or programmed safety behavior adapts optimally to various situations. Complete diagnostics of safety components via the machinebus system provide detailed data about the status of the machine. Safety shut-offs do not always have to involve shutting down the machine. When opening a protective cover, for example, it is often sufficient to reduce the speed. Smart, safe reactions to various situations provide safety without stopping the production process. The machine does not need to be emptied and set up again, and manipulation is no longer necessary. This results in real advantages for the user that can be easily implemented with programmable safety behavior. Rapid advancements in technology make it necessary to continually update the safety regulations. Adapting safety products to the current regulations in the area of safety technology has the highest priority at B&R, the company says. Safety-related products SafeDesigner, SafeLogic, X20 SafeIO and Ethernet Powerlink Safety fulfill ISO 13849 (PL e) IEC 62061 (SIL 3) and IEC 61508 (SIL 3) standards.
Honeywell gets IECEX approval for Micro Switch BX product family: Honeywell received Electrotechnical Commission (IECEx) approval for its Micro Switch BX explosion-proof switch products . With IECEx approvals, manufacturers can specify one Honeywell Micro Switch BX-series switch for a machine that will potentially be used in Europe, Asia, or North America.

IECEx is the Commission’s certification of explosive atmospheres, incorporating all existing approvals. Current North American UL/CSA and European ATEX approvals are being superseded by IECEx recognition. Honeywell’s switch line obtained certification from the official global regulatory agency.
“The global nature of approvals is critical to pull together many countries’ and territories’ regulatory requirements,” said Leslie Neill, global product marketing manager for Honeywell explosion-proof and safety switches.
According to Brad Kautzer, vice president and general manager of electromechanical line of business for Honeywell Sensing and Control, “This allows our customers to apply our products almost anywhere in the world and meet ever-increasing levels of safety regulations. Honeywell offers a wide range of differentiated solutions to meet virtually any application requirement.”
Users worldwide can be assured their explosion-proof switches meet local safety regulations. Honeywell BX Series explosion-proof limit switches are used in hazardous locations, such as control valves in petrochemical, waste handling, or food processing plants. Honeywell Micro Switch explosion-proof limit switches may be most appropriate for use in dangerous environments where contamination or long distances render other sensing technologies ineffective, the company said.
Sierra Monitor gas detection system to be featured at WEFTEC 2008 : Sierra Monitor Corp ., a manufacturer of hazardous gas detection systems used in the wastewater treatment industry to monitor for combustible gases, oxygen deficiency and toxic gases, will display their systems at WEFTEC 2008 in Chicago, Oct. 18-22 .

Gas detection is a key safety tool in wastewater treatment. Combustible gases built up in wet wells and digesters and lack of oxygen in enclosed spaces is dangerous to personnel.
Toxic gases including carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and chlorine are present in various locations. While portable detectors are needed to protect individuals, fixed gas detection systems are necessary to protect all areas of the plant in order to prevent hazardous conditions.
The new Sierra Monitor IT Series network-enabled gas detectors feature user-friendly digital display, 4-20 mA output, RS-485 Modbus output, integral relays, SentryBus output and extensive self-diagnostics for accurate monitoring.
The Series meets user needs in integrated gas monitoring with plantwide safety monitoring. The 4501 Series 2-wire gas detectors provide low-cost installation and include digital display, self-diagnostics, and 4-20 mA output.
Also read, in a new product newsletter, H ₂ S IT gas sensor module .
SafetyBase.com focuses on industrial automation safety issues, OSHA regulations : Reed Business Information publications Control Engineering , Design News , Manufacturing Business Technology , and Plant Engineering have partnered with Siemens ’ U.S.-based safety experts to launch SafetyBase.com , an interactive Website designed to deliver a variety of information resources dealing with industrial automation safety issues.
SafetyBase.com is a free site where engineers, safety professionals, and managers can find information on:
-Industry standards and OSHA regulations;
-How safe environments correlate to increased productivity;
-Tips on improving machine, process and personnel safety; and
-Ways to reduce risks while minimizing insurance and liability costs.

Resources available on SafetyBase.com include white papers, best practices, success stories, blogs, Webcasts, and videos pooled from associated Reed Business Information media properties and Siemens. Discussion forums and links to professional services firms that provide safety-related services and OSHA advice also are available on the site. Published materials from Reed Business Information are used by

— Control Engineering News Desk
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