Commonly used Instrumentation

abbreviations
DCS - Distributed Control System

PLC - Programmable Logic Controller

DCS/PLC: DCS (Distributed Control System) / PLC (Programmable Logic Controller)

in a automated process/manufacturing plant is a window for plant operator to control,
monitor the entire plant from a common place i.e. central control room. It also performs
the safety interlocks of the plant.

ESD – Emergency Shutdown System. The ESD system forms part of the facility’s safety
systems. Its prime function is to shutdown the facilities to a safe state in case of an
emergency situation, thus protecting personnel, the environment and the asset.

PSS – Process Safety System : The PSS forms part of the facility’s safety systems. Upon
command, it shall automatically carry out the safe shutdown of particular units or
equipment as defined by the safety philosophies.

PCS – Process Control System : The PCS system forms part of facility’s control systems.
It shall ensure a safe, reliable and efficient control and monitoring of the process plant
and utilities.

FGS – Fire and Gas System – The F&G detection and protection system forms part of the
facility’s safety systems. Its function is to mitigate against the effects of any fire and/or
gas releases in order to protect personnel, the environment and the asset. The F&G
system will continuously monitor the facilities and initiate the protective actions as
defined in the safety philosophies.

HMI – Human Machine Interface : the HMI shall provide the facility for the operator to
control and monitor the plant via mimic displays, alarms, trend displays and operstor
commands.

EWS – Engineering Work Station: Engineering Work Station allows its control system’s
(DCS,PLC, etc) maintenance, configuration and diagnostic.

ICSS – Integrated Control & Safety System

I/O – Input/Output

SOE – Sequence Of Events. SER – Sequence of Events Recorder : A facility provided

by ICSS in order to identify and record the time of all events in any part of the system
(controllers) of all subsystems.
IPF - Instrumented Protective Function : A function comprising the Initiator function,
Logic Solver function and Final Element function for the purpose of preventing or
mitigating Hazardous Situations.

IPS – Instrumented Protective System : The electromechanical, electronic and/or

programmable electronic Logic Solver component of the Instrumented Protective
Function, complete with input and output equipment.

MTBF – Mean Time Between Failures : MTBF ratings are measured in hours or years
and indicate the reliability of equipment. Calculated by dividing the total unit operating
hours accrued in a period by the number of unit failures that occurred during the same
period.

Trip - An Instrumented Protective Function action to bring the Final Element(s) to a safe
state.

RTU - Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), used to continually collect data from the sensors
in the field, and process and send the information to a centralised Master Station.

SCADA - Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) is used to monitor and
control remote plant and equipment.

Operator console - A group of equipment comprising VDU screens, keyboards, pointing

devices and switches which are allocated to a defined part of the plant (e.g. "console for
hydrogen units").

TCP/IP - Transfer Control Protocol / Internet Protocol : The complete and (for
internet use) necessary protocol that allows computers to communicate irrespective of
brand, type, speed or operating system.

MMS – Machine Monitoring System

MCC – Motor Control Centre