What approvals are required to replace the DCS system?
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Our company uses the MOORE DCS system, which has now been acquired by Siemens. It has been in use since 2000 without any changes, and we are planning to replace it with another DCS system. Are there any documents that need to be approved, such as those from the safety supervision authorities? Is there anyone who knows this and can help me get an introduction?
I’ve never heard of it. Can I just replace it myself? Keep the existing one, and do you plan to switch to that company’s system?
Does this still need approval? I didn’t hear that there are pipes involved in my own DCS modifications either; let’s see if anyone else knows about it, and we can learn from each other*
Since it’s my first time doing this as well, I’m not sure which departments’ approval is required
As for security, I’m not sure whether approval is required or if the company’s own security department is sufficient
I really don’t know much about this; no one has taken care of it, we all make the changes by ourselves. The safety department doesn’t get involved, and the problem is that they don’t understand it either. When the safety inspection team comes, they just take a look; it’s impossible for them to conduct a thorough examination internally
The need to replace the DCS depends mainly on the industry in which your process operates. In the chemical industry, approval from safety authorities is necessary (mainly regarding the design). If your industry does not fall under categories requiring special safety measures, then approval is generally not required. Let’s first see what industry you’re in
Such issues fall outside the scope of research in the instrumentation field; it is recommended to post them in the safety section for discussion, and also include information such as details about your company’s products.
The focus of safety supervision is on safety, such as ESD and SIS systems. Your modifications and updates are certainly carried out in accordance with the original design for logic functions such as system control and interlock alarms, meaning there is no change or only minor changes. As long as it has those functions that the safety supervision department is concerned about, it will be easy to pass the final inspection. To determine whether approval is required or not, it is sufficient to consult the local authorities.
There’s no problem with modifying the DCS itself; the main thing to consider is whether it’s necessary to add a SIS, as most systems that fall under the category of “two key aspects and one major issue” require such an addition. The safety supervision agency cannot issue a conclusion; it is necessary for a qualified entity to conduct an assessment and determine the grade.