PTTES SERVICES

Main topic:: Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) methodology

Document no.2017001

Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) methodology

LOPA is a semi‐quantitative risk analysis and assessment tool following a qualitative risk tool such
as HAZOP. It is used for a complex scenario that has a potential to develop a major accident. LOPA
study provides a more consistent approach to Safety Integrity Level (SIL) determination. Its
methodology comprises of

 Identifying the initiating events (IEs) Benefits

coming from failure modes of process
control and its operation
 Assigning initiating event frequency with
the use of plant historical reliablility data
or reliable sources
 Defining an Independent Protection
Layer (IPL)
 Assuming probability of failure of each
Protection Layer based on widely
acceptable references
 Considering conditional modifier and
enabling condition such as probability of
ignition and probability of personnel
being in an affected area
 Estimating severity of safety, financial,
environmental and social consequences
 Comparing the calculated risk with
company’s risk tolerance criterion
 Determining Risk reduction required or
SIL target for SIL rated Safety
Instrumented System (SIS)
 Assurance that major accident hazards are
identified and managed
 It’s a semi-quantitative, logically reasonable
approach that helps in reducing
emotionalism
 Support compliance with PHA (Process
Hazard Analysis) element in Process Safety
Management (PSM) regulation enforced by
Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand
(IEAT)
PTTES’ Certified Functional Safety Experts
(CFSE) can assist your organization in
facilitating HAZID, HAZOP, LOPA, SIL
assessment, SIL verification with the use of
software e.g. SIF Pro, Exsilentia.
Our experienced facilitators can lead an initial
or revalidation PHA and can also provide
those PHA technical courses for process
engineers, process safety engineers, control
and instrumentation engineers and operators
to become dedicated facilitators or team
members.
For more information please contact
Ekapol Poopat at ekapol.p@pttes.com
Sawita Lertsupochavanich at sawita.l@pttes.com

Technical Center of Excellence in AEC in 2020