Advances in Layer of Protection Analysis

Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) has become possibly the most commonly used quantitative risk methodology in the chemical industry.  This webinar provides an overview of the content of  two new LOPA texts published by CCPS.  Those attending should obtain insight about the advances in the application of the methodology from the chair of the subcommittees that developed both of these new Guidelines books.

LOPA is used as a companion method to qualitative PHAs to more precisely evaluate the risk of scenarios and determine the adequacy of controls.  The LOPA methodology is a recognized risk analysis method for the determination of safety integrity levels for safety instrumented systems, and the widespread adoption of the IEC 61511 consensus standard in the chemical industry has greatly increased the use of the methodology. 

The defining text for the LOPA methodology is Layer of Protection Analysis: Simplified Process Risk Assessment published by CCPS in 2001.  This text established the foundation for the LOPA methodology and its use throughout the industry.  However, individual companies and practitioners developed extensions and modifications to the LOPA methodology over the years.  CCPS determined that two new texts focusing on different aspects of the LOPA methodology was an appropriate means of bringing the method up to date.  A subcommittee was formed to develop a text on the foundational aspects of the LOPA methodology and Guidelines for Initiating Events and Independent Protection Layers in Layer of Protection Analysis that will be published in 2014.  A second subcommittee was formed to develop a text on two less commonly used aspects of the methodology and Guidelines for Enabling Conditions and Conditional Modifiers in Layer of Protection Analysis. This text was published in 2013.