Level sensors receive SIL-2 rating for use with safety systems

New certification allows Honeywell Flexline devices to be used with overfill protection systems.

November 9, 2010

Honeywell has announced that its FlexLine level gauges have been approved by TÜV for use in Safety Integrity Level-2 (SIL-2) rated loops, allowing industrial facilities to use the devices in applications that require certification to prevent safety incidents. FlexLine is used in overfill protection loops to prevent product spills and mitigate the likelihood of a catastrophic accident. 

“Safety is on everybody’s minds due to several recent incidents, so there is naturally an increasing awareness of process safety and how it can better protect people, the environment, and assets,” said John Joosten, product manager, Honeywell Process Solutions. “The SIL-2 certification for our FlexLine devices will give users access to greater safety measures and meet the standards that affect everyday oil and gas operations.”

Key enhancements to the FlexLine gage family include an improved safe failure fraction of more than 90%, which permits uses in SIL-2 safety loops. Diagnostics within the devices have also been improved, which extends the safety proof-test interval to four years to mitigate operational costs and strengthen reliability, depending on the safety requirements on the loop.

Additional safety functions make use of a dual redundancy which automatically detects failures in the safety circuitry, isolates and reports those failures, and still allows the gage to continue to function as a safety device without interrupting the process. This new device adds to Honeywell’s larger offering aimed at oil and gas terminal safety applications.

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Edited by Peter Welander, pwelander@cfemedia.com

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