ISA-18 : Instrument Signals and Alarms

Scope

This committee develops standards, technical reports, and guidelines for alarm systems including annunciators, process automation systems, and the general development, design, installation, and management of alarm systems in the process industries.

Purpose

To establish terminology and practices for alarm systems, including the definition, design, installation, operation, maintenance and modification and work processes recommended to effectively maintain an alarm system over time. .

Current Activities

The committee is focused on the development of the revision of ANSI/ISA-18.1-1979 (R2004), Annunciator Sequences and Specifications and the development of six technical reports for ISA-18.02, Management of Alarm Systems for the Process Industries.   The following is a list of the current working groups.

• ISA18.1 – WG to revise “Annunciator Sequences and Specifications”
• WG1 – Alarm Philosophy
• WG2 – Alarm Identification and Rationalization
• WG3 - Basic Alarm Design
• WG4 – Enhanced and Advanced Alarm Methods
• WG5 – Alarm Monitoring, Assessment, and Audit
• WG6 - Alarm Design for Batch and Discrete Processes