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Alarm Design Standards

The document discusses industry standards for alarm management and how they impact alarm response procedures (ARPs). It outlines key studies from the 1980s-2000s that examined digital alarm systems and influenced standards like ANSI/ISA-18.2-2009, which defines a lifecycle approach to alarm management. The plan at WTP is to provide operators with adequate ARPs and training to respond to upsets using a standardized ARP content outlined in several references, including NUREG/CR-6684 and ANSI/ISA-18.2-2009.

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Donald Feldman
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69 views4 pages

Alarm Design Standards

The document discusses industry standards for alarm management and how they impact alarm response procedures (ARPs). It outlines key studies from the 1980s-2000s that examined digital alarm systems and influenced standards like ANSI/ISA-18.2-2009, which defines a lifecycle approach to alarm management. The plan at WTP is to provide operators with adequate ARPs and training to respond to upsets using a standardized ARP content outlined in several references, including NUREG/CR-6684 and ANSI/ISA-18.2-2009.

Uploaded by

Donald Feldman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ALARM DESIGN STANDARDS

EPRI Alarm Management and Annunciator Applications Guidelines (EPRI


report 1014316).

INPO 90-021, Alarm Response Procedures

SOURCE: Authors, NUREG/CR-3987, EPRI NP-3448. 4.9-2 Alarm Response


Procedure Content ARPs should contain the following information: The
system/functional group to which the alarm belongs, The exact alarm tile or legend, The
alarm source (sensor or sensors sending the signal, including processing or signal
validation logic) and the actuating device or devices for the alarm (with a reference to a
schematic diagram on which such devices can be found), Alarm setpoints, Priority,
Potential underlying causes for the alarm (e.g., low water level feed flow deficient in the
long term), Required immediate operator actions, including actions the operator can
take to confirm the existence of the alarm condition, Actions which are automatically
taken when the alarm occurs (and which the operator should verify as having taken take
place), Followup actions, and Pertinent references. SOURCE: Authors, Regulatory
Guide 1.33, EPRI NP-3448, IEC 964. 4.9-3 Consistency Information in ARPs should be
consistent with information on control boards, in alarm system, in I&C procedures used
to calibrate alarm setpoints, in controlling documents that determine setpoints (e.g.,
Technical Specifications, and accident analyses), in P&IDs, and in other plant
procedures. Discussion: This guideline is consistent with the high-level design review
principles of Consistency and Error Tolerance and Control (see Appendix A). SOURCE:
Authors. 4.9-4 Alarm Response Procedure Format The ARP format should:
NUREG/CR-6105 4-46 SOURCE: Authors, NUREG/CR-3987, EPRI NP-3448. 4.9-2
Alarm Response Procedure Content ARPs should contain the following information: The
system/functional group to which the alarm belongs, The exact alarm tile or legend, The
alarm source (sensor or sensors sending the signal, including processing or signal
validation logic) and the actuating device or devices for the alarm (with a reference to a
schematic diagram on which such devices can be found), Alarm setpoints, Priority,
Potential underlying causes for the alarm (e.g., low water level feed flow deficient in the
long term), Required immediate operator actions, including actions the operator can
take to confirm the existence of the alarm condition, Actions which are automatically
taken when the alarm occurs (and which the operator should verify as having taken take
place), Followup actions, and Pertinent references. SOURCE: Authors, Regulatory
Guide 1.33, EPRI NP-3448, IEC 964. 4.9-3 Consistency Information in ARPs should be
consistent with information on control boards, in alarm system, in I&C procedures use to
calibrate alarm setpoints, in controlling documents that determine setpoints (e.g.,
Technical Specifications, and accident analyses), in P&IDs, and in other plant
procedures. Discussion: This guideline is consistent with the high-level design review
principles of Consistency and Error Tolerance and Control (see Appendix A). SOURCE:
Authors. 4.9-4 Alarm Response Procedure Format The ARP format should:
NUREG/CR-6105 4-46

NUREG-0700, Part 2, Section 4.9 discusses ARPs.


INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR ALARM MANAGEMENT AND THE
IMPACT ON ALARM RESPONSE PROCEDURES (ARP’s)

The following provides a synopsis of relevant studies and resultant


standards related to alarm management and alarm response procedures.
The two topics are related in that a robust alarm management system is
necessary with the current Digital Control System (DCS) or Supervisory
Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems being used. It was
recognized early on that the HSI (human-system-interface) and the
information flow, particularly during upset conditions, can easily overwhelm
human operators. Many studies were conducted during the 80’s, 90’s and
early 2000’s as DCS usage became more prevalent replacing aging analog
control systems and the hardware/software of choice for new-build
processing facilities. Low risk processing facilities led the way and today
virtually every high hazard processing facility has converted some or all
their control systems to digital. All new-build processing facilities as well as
new nuclear are DCS. With the DCS came digital alarm systems. Based on
these benchmark studies, ANSI/ISA-18.2-2009 “Management of Alarm
Systems for the Process Industries” was issued. The standard focuses on
lifecycle management of the alarm system so it is a living process. Based
on this standard a systematic approach was defined for alarm
management, very similar to the ISMS or PCDA approach. EPRI validated
this approach at all of TVA’s coal fired facilities producing significant results
in reducing alarm rates.

The plan at WTP is to ensure that operators have adequate procedures to


respond to upset conditions, and the training to provide the knowledge and
skills to apply these procedures. Alarm response procedures are an
integral part of alarm life cycle management. ARP content is spelled out in
several of the standards and studies related to digital alarm systems. The
chart below outlines those content pieces and how they are recommended
in the various documents
ARP SOURCE DOCUMENT
CONTENT
XA9744359 –
NUREG/CR- NRC
6684 BNL- sponsored
NUREG- study **
52593*
Source input
Range/units
priority

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