ARC has written extensively about the rapidly aging installed base of process automation systems that are approaching the end of their useful life, but the same principle applies to other systems, most notably process safety systems. ARC estimates that the value of the installed base of process safety systems reaching the end of their useful life could be in the neighborhood of dollar8 billion worldwide. Replacing or migrating process safety systems, however, carries with it a unique set of concerns and considerations compared to process automation systems. Conforming to international safety standards, such as IEC 61511, means that end users must conduct a hazards and risk analysis in addition to allocating safety functions to protection layers. Users should also consider the benefits of remote diagnostics provided by today's intelligent safety instrumented system (SIS) devices and control valves.
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