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Safety Instrumented Systems: A Lifecycle Approach (EC50)

EC50 Safety Instrumented Systems A Lifecycle Approach ISA Trainging - image of factory engineer
Safety Instrumented Systems: A Lifecycle Approach (EC50) focuses on the engineering requirements for the specification, design, analysis and justification of safety instrumented systems (SIS) for the process industries. Students will learn how to determine safety integrity levels (SILs) and evaluate whether proposed or existing systems meet the performance and documentation requirements defined in the Functional Safety—Safety Instrumented Systems ISA/IEC 61511 (ISA 84) standard.
This course is part of the ISA/IEC 61511 SIS Fundamentals Specialist Certificate Program. Course registration includes one exam fee. Pass the exam and earn the ISA/IEC 61511 SIS Fundamentals Specialist Certificate designation.

View Offerings by Format

Classroom (EC50)

Length: 4.5 days 
CEU Credits: 3.2

View EC50 Offerings

Virtual Classroom (EC50V)

Length: 4.5 days 
CEU Credits: 3.2

View EC50V Offerings


Instructor-Guided Online (EC50E)

Length: 8 weeks 
CEU Credits: 3.5

View EC50E Offerings


Self-Paced, Modular (EC50M)

Length: 12 Modules, 25-65 minutes each
CEU Credits: 2.0

View EC50M Offering

Visit our course formats page for a detailed description of each format. 

Learning Objectives

  • Define safety instrumented system (SIS)
  • Discuss how regulations have resulted through lessons learned from high profile process industry accidents
  • Determine which ANSI/ISA, AIChE and IEC guidelines and standards are relevant in industry
  • Identify the scope of ISA/IEC 61511
  • Discuss strategies for the management of functional safety
  • Identify the stages of the safety design lifecycle 
  • Identify available safety layers for industrial automation and control systems (IACS)
  • Discuss the importance of the "defense in depth" concept
  • Identify how SISs are used to reduce risk
  • Categorize risk using a process hazard analysis (PHA)
  • Determine SIL using qualitative methods
  • Determine performance requirements for each SIL
  • Conduct a layers of protection analysis (LOPA)
  • Discuss the LOPA methodology
  • Develop guidelines for a LOPA
  • Determine risk tolerance
  • Identify resources for cybersecurity in an IACS
  • Identify failure modes and the risks involved with each
  • Identify hardware modeling techniques (SIL verification)
  • Explain the impact of redundancy on failure rates
  • Demonstrate the use of fault tolerance tables
  • Develop a safety requirements specification (SRS)
  • Explain the pros and cons of relay logic systems
  • Explain the pros and cons of microprocessor systems
  • Discuss the pros and cons of pneumatic systems
  • Identify typical field devices in an IACS
  • Discuss impact of field devices on system performance
  • Explain the Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmarks
  • Explain the pros and cons of using certification vs. prior-use devices
  • Explain the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) process
  • Explain the installation and commissioning process
  • Explain the validation process
  • Identify the priorities of the operation and maintenance phase
  • Identify the safety requirements of a management of change (MOC) process
  • Identify documents to maintain for SRS

Topics Covered

  • Background, Scope, Management Issues, Lifecycle
    • High-profile process industry accidents
    • Resulting legislation
  • Lessons Learned
    • Hazard and Risk Assessment, Selecting SILs
    • Concepts and benefits of independent safety layers
    • Hazard identification
    • Risk assessment
    • Safety integrity levels (SIL)
  • Layer Of Protection Analysis (LOPA) and Cybersecurity
    • Semi-quantitative method of determining safety integrity levels called LOPA
  • Reliability and Modeling Issues
    • Reliability issues
    • Hardware fault tolerance requirement tables in the ISA84 standard
  • Safety Requirements Specification (SRS) and Logic Solver Technologies
    • SRS review
    • Pros and cons of pneumatic, relay and microprocessor logic systems
  • Field Devices, Certification, Miscellaneous Design Issues
    • Impact of field devices
    • Differences between using certified vs. proven-in-use devices
  • Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Beyond
    • FAT
    • Installation
    • Commission
    • Validation
    • Operations
    • Maintenance
    • Testing
    • Bypassing
    • MOC
A hand-held, scientific calculator should be brought to class.

Included Resources

Related Resources

  • ANSI/ISA-61511-1-2018/IEC 61511-1:2016+AMD1:2017 CSV, Functional Safety – Safety Instrumented Systems for the Process Industry Sector – Part 1: Framework, definitions, system, hardware and application programming requirements
  • ANSI/ISA-61511-2-2018/IEC 61511-2:2016, Functional Safety – Safety Instrumented Systems for the Process Industry Sector – Part 2: Guidelines for the application of IEC 61511-1:2016 (IEC 61511-2:2016, IDT)
  • ANSI/ISA-61511-3-2018/IEC 61511-3:2016, Functional Safety – Safety Instrumented Systems for the Process Industry Sector – Part 3: Guidance for the determination of the required safety integrity levels (IEC 61511-3:2016, IDT
  • ANSI/ISA-84.91.01-2021, Identification and Mechanical Integrity of Process Safety Controls, Alarms, and Interlocks in the Process Industry Sector

Take the First

Module Free!

Then choose the format that best fits your needs for the full course.

Not sure if this course is right for you? Take the EC50 knowledge check designed to evaluate your level of understanding of the course material and show you the types of questions you’ll be able to answer after completing the course.

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If your company is interested in bringing training on site to your team, please contact trainingsales@isa.org or call +1 919-549-8411.

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