LOPA - Most Common Mistakes

Instrumentation, PLC, DCS, Control systems, Electric motors, VFDs, Cabling, etc.
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opo21
Posts: 52
Joined: 22 Dec 2025, 08:14
Area of interest: Chemical Engineering

LOPA - Most Common Mistakes

Post by opo21 »

What are the most common mistakes which can happen during SIL determination using LOPA?
luca
Posts: 20
Joined: 26 Jul 2025, 14:46
Area of interest: Electrical Engineering

Re: LOPA - Most Common Mistakes

Post by luca »

I will make sure that I don't leave any common mistakes which we do during LOPA for SIL determination.
1. Treating Basic Process Control System (BPCS) as Independent When It Is Not
2. Giving Credit to Operator Response Without Verifying Reality
3. Double Counting IPLs
4. Using Unrealistic Initiating Event Frequencies
5. Confusing Safeguards With IPLs
6. Ignoring Common Cause Failure
7. Wrong Consequence Severity Selection
8. Applying Generic PFD Values Blindly
9. Not Defining the Scenario Properly
10. Assuming a PSV Always Eliminates Risk
11. Ignoring Enabling Conditions
12. No Validation of Time Available for SIS Action
13. Treating HAZOP Recommendations as IPLs
14. Poor Documentation of Assumptions
15. SIL Inflation Due to Weak LOPA Discipline
ww2i
Posts: 67
Joined: 20 Nov 2025, 21:06
Area of interest: Petroleum Engineering

Re: LOPA - Most Common Mistakes

Post by ww2i »

Quite an extensive list!
Double counting IPLs mean considering alarm high & high-high twice or how this mistake can be done?
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