What is BS 6739:2024 - Instrumentation in process control systems about?
For anyone managing, modifying, commissioning or installing process plant instrumentation equipment, BS 6739:2024 gives guidance and recommendations on good practice in installation design.
Who is BS 6739:2024 - Instrumentation in process control systems for?
For use in the oil and gas, chemical and petro-chemical, and power generation industries, this standard will be used by:
- process engineers (involved in the production of plant design);
- design (instrumentation & control) engineers (involved in the production of
- instrumentation specifications, drawings and diagrams);
- functional safety engineers (involved with plant safety devices and systems);
- proposal engineers (involved in the production of ‘invitation to tender’ of new process lines);
- installation (instrumentation) engineers (involved in the installation of instrument systems);
- functional safety technicians (involved in the proof testing of safety instrumented functions);
- performance engineers (involved in the performance monitoring of plant);
- environmental engineers (involved in the environmental monitoring of emissions);
- statutory bodies involved in ensuring that monitoring is installed and maintained to a required standard; and industrial process plant operators, designers, construction contractors.
What does BS 6739:2024 - Instrumentation in process control systems cover?
It gives recommendations for, and guidance on, the design for the installation of instrumentation of measurement and control systems in the process industry, and the implementation and commissioning of this installation.
BS 6739:2024 is intended to be used as a manual of good practice on the site and also to assist those who design the installation.
NOTE: The recommendations given in BS 6739:2024 are based on the assumption that all instruments will have been specified and all instrument panels will have been designed.
Why should you use BS 6739:2024 - Instrumentation in process control systems?
- to ensure compliance with industry standards and thereby the accuracy, security and maintainability of instrument systems;
- to provide governance to regulatory authorities;
- to provide a single point of reference for specifiers and providers of instrumentation installations;
- to provide an example of installation for different environments/requirements (i.e. potentially hazardous/ATEX, safety instrumented functions);
- to consistently achieve cost effective and efficient installations that meet both financial and operational goals;
- to help users develop their expertise;
- to improve operational efficiency and confidence;
- to strengthen risk management;
- to ensure uniform best practice along the supply chain; and
- to create a level playing field for SMEs who would otherwise find the cost of developing their own guidance prohibitive, reducing their ability to price competitively.
What has changed?
BS 6739:2024 supersedes BS 6739:2009. The principal changes bring existing recommendations up to date and introduce new ones to reflect changes in workplace practice and technology. Guidance relating to legislation is brought up to date and new considerations such as cybersecurity and human factors are introduced.
- new hardware that has been introduced and adopted by industry (including new transmission mediums);
- clear guidance (specifically for Safety Instrumented Systems) that a SIS should be initiated by manipulation of the process variable, rather than injection, etc;
- new methods of measuring, controlling and protecting processes;
- revised installation methods, based on ‘lessons learned’ from (world) industrial incidents;
- increased awareness and reference to legislation with regard to emissions (to land, water and air) and the incorporation of associated emission monitoring.
