The process sector has been quick to respond to the ISA’s call for proposals to be considered by its Wireless Systems for Automation standards committee. Howeverthe committee is hoping for yet more replies to ensure that any draft standard meets the needs of all end users.
In August the ISA announced that more than 20 companies from around the world had responded to the call for proposals from its Wireless Systems for Automation standards committee. This body is charged with establishing standardsrecommended practicestechnical reportsand related information that will define procedures for implementing wireless systems in the automation and control environment with a focus on the field level.
Guidance is directed towards those responsible for the complete life cycle including the designingimplementingon-going maintenancescalability or managing manufacturing and control systemsand will apply to userssystem integratorspractitionersand control systems manufacturers and vendors.
At the timetwo of the committee’s working groups – SP100.11 and SP100.14 – simultaneously issued calls for proposals (CFP) not only to provide input to the committee but also to encourage a variety of industry expertswho may not be membersto participate in this process.
The CFP process solicited input to help solve critical issues associated with the deployment of wireless technology for industrial automation.
The ISA said it was delighted with the number and variety of responseswhich saw proposals coming from the USACanadaJapanChinaGermanyand others.
The latest development in the processannounced as EPE went to pressis that the wireless systems for automation standards committee has completed nearly 20 case studies from end users and over 50 more such studies pending and in progress. The cases that have been completedand those in progresscover a variety of industriesincluding oil and gaswaternuclearfood processingchemicalaerospaceand automotive.
“As an end userI’m thrilled to see the response of other end users from around the world” said Greg LaFramboise of Chevron. “The use case solicitationand the overwhelming response to itwill help the committee draft a standard that truly speaks to the needs of the end user community.”
The case studies include data about site locationsobjectivesapplicationsand tasks required for the wireless application functionality. The users provide thorough site descriptionswhich describe specific variables about the location of deployment for a wireless system. Examples of locations studied might be an oil refineryoil drilling platformfood and other forms of processing plants such as a paper mill.
The studies also look at applicationor what a wireless solution would accomplish. Some tasks that wireless might accomplish include tank level monitoringperimeter security monitoringor temperature and pressure sensing.
Finallythey capture data about how individual tasks are accomplished and what type and quality of service is required for each user. For examplea user might require periodic reporting of monitoring valvesalerting and alarming servicesor device diagnostics and maintenance.
An initial use case interview takes about an hour to completeand subsequent interviews take less time. Each component of the process can be submitted by a different contact within the end user company. End users are encouraged to volunteer to complete a study by contacting Lois FersonISA standards managerat lferson@isa.orgor by completing a survey located at www.isa.org/sp100survey.
- The ISA has also announced that its Manufacturing Interoperability Guideline working group has established a set of principles for converging the OAGiISA-95and B2MML activities.
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