PHMSA Alarm Management With LogMate; Manage SCADA Alarms; API RP 1167

PHMSA Rule Now Effective

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published the final rule: 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195 Pipeline Safety: Control Room Management/Human Factors in December of 2009. This rule was effective as of February 1, 2010. To be in compliance, operators must develop control room management procedures by August 1, 2011 and implement the procedures by February 1, 2013. The rule imposes control room management requirements for all regulated gas and hazardous liquid pipelines that have at least one controller and control room.

White Paper: Application of Rule

The White Paper: Application of PHMSA Rule, Control Room Management/Human Factors provides a summary of the ruling with an emphasis on the regulatory requirements that Control Room Management (CRM) plans must address. Alarm Management is a key component of the rule, and this White Paper discusses best practices based on the AGA’s Alarm Management for Control Room Operations in the Natural Gas Industry and the soon to be released API Recommended Practice 1167 Pipeline Alarm Management.

Regulatory Readiness Out Of The Box

Right out of the box, LogMate can be used for PHMSA alarm management compliance. It is easy to get up and running and does not require any additional, or custom, code to deliver alarm management functionality.

Easy Solution to Install and Configure

No other solution can be installed, configured, and fully functional in only three days. The ease with which LogMate installs and collects data saves considerable services cost and valuable operations time.

Connects To Virtually Any System

LogMate can connect to virtually any SCADA system. Furthermore, as part of a strategic partnership with Telvent, OASyS DNA provides an integrated solution with LogMate.

Lowest Total Cost of Ownership

Starting at $30,000, LogMate delivers alarm management functionality and connects to virtually any SCADA system within three days. Its thin-client architecture results in a lower maintenance cost through streamlined upgrades.

Alarm Philosophy Document (APD) Workshop

Starting at $20,000, TiPS will provide complete philosophy development that includes one week onsite (2 days of training, and 3 days of philosophy development) and one week offsite to complete the actual written APD. The workshop can be reduced to only one week for operators that prefer to write the document themselves. An APD provides the foundation needed to develop a comprehensive plan.

Address Alarm Management Compliance Now

The PHMSA rule will require compliance with the following alarm management functions (taken directly from the rule):

Each operator using a SCADA system must have a written alarm management plan to provide for effective controller response to alarms. An operator’s plan must include provisions to:
(1) Review SCADA safety-related alarm operations using a process that ensures alarms are accurate and support safe pipeline operations;
(2) Identify at least once each calendar month points affecting safety that have been taken off scan in the SCADA host, have had alarms inhibited, generated false alarms, or that have had forced or manual values for periods of time exceeding that required for associated maintenance or operating activities;
(3) Verify the correct safety-related alarm set-point values and alarm descriptions at least once each calendar year, but at intervals not to exceed 15 months;
(4) Review the alarm management plan required by this paragraph at least once each calendar year, but at intervals not exceeding 15 months, to determine the effectiveness of the plan;
(5) Monitor the content and volume of general activity being directed to and required of each controller at least once each calendar year, but at intervals not to exceed 15 months, that will assure controllers have sufficient time to analyze and react to incoming alarms; and
(6) Address deficiencies identified through the implementation.

To learn more about Alarm Management, API RP 1167 and PHMSA compliance, complete the following form:

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PHMSA Compliance: Alarm Management

LogMate® Alarm Management Software