Updated FOUNDATION For Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF) Interoperability Test Kit Available

The Fieldbus Foundation today announced the release of the latest version of its FOUNDATION for Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF) Interoperability Test Kit (ITK). This powerful test solution has been updated with new test cases to verify the functionality of H1 (31.25 bit/s) fieldbus devices based on the current Foundation for SIF technical specifications, including the newly introduced H1 dual-mode device capability employing powerful field diagnostics.

FOUNDATION for SIF ITK 1.2 is an excellent tool for troubleshooting and debugging fieldbus instruments, and provides all hardware and software required to ensure a manufacturer’s complete device interoperability as specified by the Fieldbus Foundation’s official registration testing procedure. By using the test kit, device developers can run tests identical to those used by the foundation before submitting their device for registration.

Fieldbus Foundation Director-Fieldbus Products Stephen Mitschke said, “The updated Foundation for SIF ITK verifies advanced functionality such as the new dual-mode H1 device capability, allowing automation suppliers to bring new safety products to market without having to design two entirely different devices. Developers can implement H1 instruments with SIF features activated or de-activated. More importantly, this means that plants will only have to stock one type of instrument that can be used as either a process device or a safety device.”

According to Mitschke, multiple Foundation for SIF pilot projects are underway at locations around the world with different end users. Saudi Aramco has successfully launched two pilot projects and is preparing to install working systems within operating oil and gas facilities. After these smaller pilot projects are complete, the company plans expanded deployment of FOUNDATION for SIF technology in order to exploit its benefits on larger, mega-scale projects. In addition, Shell Project & Technology has specified FOUNDATION for SIF for use on the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM) project in the Netherlands. These companies, along with other major end users, are encouraging the automation equipment industry to develop safety-approved products for their initial installations.

The FOUNDATION for SIF ITK includes a host of test cases verifying the functionality of a fieldbus device and its conformance with the Foundation fieldbus function block and transducer block specifications. It also incorporates a DD “Super Viewer” allowing examination and verification of a device's DD, and a conformance test procedure for the Physical Layer. Device developers can “walk” their DD, execute methods, and render visualization elements supported by DD 5.1 technology. The interoperability test suite can be paired with an ITK automation tool designed to eliminate several manual intervention steps required when performing pre-registration testing of fieldbus devices. The tool improves ITK schedule efficiency and provides a direct reduction in the person-hours needed to complete the testing phase. It is available with a maintenance agreement to keep the test suite software up to date with the latest enhancements.

FOUNDATION for SIF ITK 1.2 is available to current users with maintenance agreements, as well as for new purchases. For more information, please visit the Tools page of the Fieldbus Foundation Website or e-mail sales@fieldbus.org.

Fieldbus Foundation and ISA100 Wireless Collaboration Delivers Backhaul Architecture Model

The Fieldbus Foundation today announced approval of a backhaul architecture model, developed in collaboration with International Society of Automation standards committee ISA100 that provides a common framework enabling multiple industrial communication protocols to run over a shared wireless backhaul network in process automation systems.

Completion of this work is a key milestone supporting implementation of the Fieldbus Foundation's wireless High Speed Ethernet (HSE) backhaul included in FOUNDATION for Remote Operations Management (ROM) technology.

In June 2008, ISA100 leaders established a new working group, ISA100.15—Wireless Backhaul Networks Working Group—to develop standards and technical reports to address one or more dedicated or shared wireless backhaul(s) to support technologies running multiple applications. At the same time, Fieldbus Foundation end user members identified the wireless backhaul as critical for FOUNDATION for ROM development.

To expedite the work, the Fieldbus Foundation and ISA began joint collaboration on wireless networks combining Fieldbus Foundation application protocol expertise with ISA100 communication networking resources to complete the architecture model. ISA will publish the work as technical report ISA-TR100.15.01, Backhaul Architecture Model: Secured Connectivity over Untrusted or Trusted Networks, within the ISA100 family of standards.

Dr. Penny Chen, principal systems architect with Yokogawa and co-chair of the ISA100.15 working group, praised the results of the wireless backhaul collaborative effort. "Working together, dedicated engineers have a developed a solution meeting industry requirements for a wireless backhaul transport network to facilitate interoperability, end-to-end security, and end-to-end quality of service in industrial wireless installations," Dr. Chen said.

Dave Glanzer, Fieldbus Foundation director of technology development and co-chair of the working group commented, "The Fieldbus Foundation has consistently supported wireless advancements, and this joint initiative is crucial to FOUNDATION for ROM. Our ROM solution extends the capabilities of FOUNDATION fieldbus to countless wired and wireless devices installed in some of the world’s harshest and most remote locations. It provides a unified digital infrastructure for asset management in applications ranging from tank farms and terminals to pipelines, offshore platforms, and even OEM skids."

According to Glanzer, plans are underway for a series of field demonstrations using the FOUNDATION for ROM wireless HSE backhaul. Major end users hosting the demonstrations include Reliance Industries (India), Petrobras (Brazil) and Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia). Additional end user sites in Japan and Europe are expected to join the program. The field demos will offer a look at the full functionality of FOUNDATION for ROM, including wireless device integration, remote I/O integration, and wireless backhaul capabilities.

FOUNDATION for ROM was designed to enable fieldbus connectivity to remote I/O and the leading industrial wireless protocols, and is the first successful integration of ISA100.11a, WirelessHART®, wired HART®, and wired H1 protocols into a single standard environment without sacrificing the diagnostic capabilities of existing wireless devices. Instead, these capabilities are mapped into the FOUNDATION block structure to provide a standard environment for data management and quality, eliminating techniques which are highly customized and much more costly to maintain throughout the plant lifecycle.

As part of this solution, FOUNDATION for ROM provides a way to bring large concentrations of discrete and analog field I/O back to the control room using HSE communication. It also employs Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) and function blocks to ensure interoperability with FOUNDATION for ROM devices. This is essential to improve integration of critical functional areas, including machinery health monitoring, safety interlocks, fire & gas detection systems, and video surveillance.

To learn more about FOUNDATION for ROM, go to www.fieldbus.org and select the ROM navigation button, or call (512) 794-8890. For more information about ISA100, visit www.isa.org/standards.

Fieldbus Foundation 2013 General Assembly To Be Held in Shanghai, China

The Fieldbus Foundation has announced that our 2013 General Assembly will be held in Shanghai, China, on March 12-15, 2013. This annual event is open to Fieldbus Foundation members and non-members, and will be attended by leading Foundation fieldbus suppliers, end users and industry participants from around the world.

The highlight of the General Assembly is the conference to be held March 14. The conference program is focused on automation end users and will provide an overview of the many Fieldbus Foundation developments across the globe. It will include updates by leading fieldbus experts on the latest initiatives in Foundation technology, as well as presentations by major end users who have installed fieldbus in their industrial operations.

Representatives of Fieldbus Foundation member companies are invited to attend the General Assembly business meeting on March 15.

"Foundation fieldbus is a technology that's helping to drive global industrial development, so it only makes sense that our 2013 General Assembly would be held in Shanghai, China - the heart of one of the world's fastest growing markets and location of some of the largest fieldbus projects to date," said Rich Timoney, Fieldbus Foundation president and CEO. "Our annual meeting will attract a wide spectrum of the fieldbus community throughout China's burgeoning manufacturing and industrial base. We strongly encourage all end users of Foundation technology, and those looking to become users, to actively participate in this event."

Additional information on the 2013 General Assembly will be announced in the coming weeks. For more details and registration, please contact me at larry.obrien@fieldbus.org.

Updates to FOUNDATION Spec Allow for Easier Device Replacement

The Fieldbus Foundation today announced the latest updates to its open, non-proprietary FOUNDATION fieldbus specifications. These updates help automate device replacement and enable backwards compatibility among different revisions of FOUNDATION devices used in plant automation systems. End users will benefit from greater predictability in fieldbus implementation, while reducing integration risks and eliminating manual intervention for device configuration.

The most significant updates to the Foundation technical specifications are a revised series of function block and transducer block profiles, as well as requirements for H1 (31.25 kbit/s) device replacement that are now part of the Fieldbus Foundation’s device registration process. This enhancement enables the H1 interoperability test kit to verify consistent behavior between device and host implementations in fieldbus-based control systems.

End users are seeking increasingly automated replacement of intelligent devices. Device replacement automation makes it easier to reproduce an existing FOUNDATION device configuration (including function blocks and parameters) in a newer instrument by enabling a minimum set of functionality to exist so end users can get their process back up and running quickly and simply. This enhancement allows for final configuration to be completed after other critical tasks associated with the process outage have been addressed. This saves time and money and simplifies stocking of replacement devices.

Fieldbus Foundation Director-Fieldbus Products Stephen Mitschke commented, "The Foundation recognizes that ease of device replacement is an important concern for engineers and technicians in process plants. We see these updated specifications as a valuable opportunity and a first step in a series of things we can do to provide more value to the end users. It’s another example of our commitment to continuous improvement and being an end user driven standard."

Automation of device replacement allows the configuration in an existing field device to be restored in a newer version of that instrument without manual intervention. This ‘plug and play’ solution ensures features are consistent between different generations of devices without reengineering the host configuration or changing any other element of the H1 network other than the new instrument.

In addition to device replacement, the specification update provides improved positioner profile in fieldbus devices. This technology supports organization and integration of advanced device diagnostics within fieldbus systems. It provides standard definitions for positioner transducer blocks and includes parameter structure definitions for better data organization with fieldbus devices, including partial/full stroke test (PST/FST) of valves.

The new specification release also includes definitions for discrete process variables clarifying how variable values are interpreted in conjunction with state tables, as well as several new or updated application and technical notes.

For more information, please visit the Technical Specifications page of the Fieldbus Foundation’s website at www.fieldbus.org. You may also view the Spec Index for a full list of specifications included in the Foundation Technical Specifications package.

UK Marketing Committee Welcomes Richard Barnes as New Chairman

The Fieldbus Foundation UK Marketing Committee (FFUKMC) welcomes Richard Barnes as its new Chairman.

Currently AMS Consultant - Strategic Services Group Europe, at Emerson Process Management, he replaces Mike O'Neill of R.Stahl who stepped down from the position after nearly two years, following a career move.

Mike Keightley of Yokogawa has taken over the position of Vice-Chairman from Barnes.

The FFUKMC was formally established in 1999 to promote an increased awareness and adoption of Foundation technology throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland through a range of end user focused activities including technology seminars and roadshows, technical demonstrations and support, and trade show and conference participation. Barnes has been an active member of the FFUKMC since June 2011 when he took over the position of Vice-Chairman.

Fully supported by the Fieldbus Foundation EMEA Executive Advisory Council (EAC) and the Fieldbus Foundation EMEA Steering Committee, the FFUKMC plays an important role in promoting the primary value propositions of Foundation technology, which include process integrity, business intelligence and open, scalable integration of information across process manufacturing plants.

Marc Van Pelt, Vice-President - Fieldbus Foundation EMEA Operations, welcomes Barnes into his new role. "I am delighted that Richard has offered to take on an increased role within the UK marketing committee. His enthusiasm will continue to build on the achievements of the past few years. We are very grateful to Mike O'Neill for his contribution to these efforts and we wish him well in his new role."

Barnes studied electrical and electronic engineering and has worked with Emerson Process Management for over 25 years in various roles with Rosemount and Fisher-Rosemount system projects and asset optimisation business units. In his present role at the Nottingham facility, he supports the asset management and optimisation strategies of his European customer base.

Over the next 12 months, Barnes is keen to clarify to users and prospective users of Foundation technology how effective the technology can be in process plant control and monitoring solutions - especially in the significant reduction of capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operating expenditure (OPEX). He is also committed to promoting the importance of up-front project planning and the adoption of industry best practices in order to maximise the success and maintenance of a Foundation project implementation.

The FFUKMC has announced the first of its 2013 schedule of end user events - a study day in London on Tuesday 26 February, 2013. With a morning session focused on an introduction to Foundation technology, a lunch break with tabletop displays and additional break-out sessions, and an afternoon session offering a more advanced programme, delegates will be able to tailor the day to suit their own requirements. Visit the FFUKMC events webpage for more information.

The FFUKMC recently welcomed Rotork and Beamex as member companies, bringing the total membership to 16 companies. Rotork is a British-based manufacturer of electric, pneumatic and hydraulic valve actuators and associated control systems, and Beamex is a provider of integrated calibration solutions.

The FFUKMC membership now includes: ABB, Beamex, Beka Associates, Emerson Process Management, Endress+Hauser, Honeywell, MTL -Cooper Crouse-Hinds, Moore Industries, Pepperl+Fuchs, Rockwell Automation, Rotork, R.Stahl, Smar, Turck, Vega and Yokogawa.

Membership inquiries are always welcome.  You can email me at larry.obrien@fieldbus.org.   

Report from the Seminar in King of Prussia, PA

We held our end user and sales force training seminars in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania last week, just outside of Philadelphia.   We had a very good crowd for both the end user seminar on Wednesday and the sales force training seminar on Thursday.  It has been a long time since we visited the Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Delaware area, but we have many fieldbus end user sin this area from the life sciences industry to chemicals and refining, as well as a some large suppliers including ABB, Honeywell, and Siemens.

For those of you that have not been to one of our end user seminars, we include presentations from some of the leading voices in fieldbus. David Lancaster of our FOUNDATION Certified Training Program partner Trine University and formerly of Bechtel does a series of presentations on engineering, installation, and commissioning.  John Rezabek of Ashland Chemical and chairman of our End User Advisory Council provided excellent presentations on the value of the FOUNDATION fieldbus user layer, control in the field, and  how to use FOUNDATION fieldbus diagnostics.   Following the presentations, our host system demo sponsors step in and do a real life demonstration of the technology, these include a Yokogawa host system demonstration of how to commission a device, an Invensys host system demo of control in the field, and an Emerson host system demonstration of device diagnostics.  The demonstrations follow the phases of the fieldbus project lifecycle, from engineering and design through installation, commissioning, operations and maintenance.

Special thanks go out to the local ISA chapter, who really helped us get the word out to potential attendees. We presented ISA Philadelphia Section President Bill Dugary with a certificate of appreciation and offered one time discounts on ISA fieldbus related books for the seminar attendees.  We look forward to our next visit to the Philadelphia area.

Fieldbus Foundation Presents a Certificate of Appreciation to ISA Philadelphia Section
Left to Right, Brian Ivey and Bill Dugary (President) of ISA Philly Section
Larry O'Brien and Talon Petty of Fieldbus Foundation

Dave Lancaster of Trine University Talks About Engineering a FOUNDATION fieldbus Project

Register Now for the FOUNDATION Fieldbus Seminars in Oman and Kuwait

The Fieldbus Foundation Middle East Marketing Committee (FFMEMC) and Fieldbus Foundation End User Council - Middle East (FFEUC-ME) are hosting the first in its series of four end user seminars across the Middle East region on December 11 at the Golden Tulip Seeb hotel in Muscat, Oman.  On December 12 our seminar tour continues with a stop in Kuwait City, at the Al Manshar Rotana hotel.

These end user seminars aim to take the mystery out of FOUNDATION fieldbus and allow end users and systems integrators to realise the true lifecycle benefits of the technology. Whether you are a new user contemplating your first fieldbus project, an experienced user trying to get the most out of your installation, or a systems integrator that wants to implement fieldbus successfully – then these seminars are designed for you. The events are supported by Fieldbus Foundation member sponsorship and there is therefore no charge to attend.

The comprehensive agenda for both seminars includes overviews and updates about the latest technology developments and initiatives from FOUNDATION experts, an insight into FOUNDATION system design and implementation, and a presentation from an end user of FOUNDATION technology.

Question & answer sessions offer an open forum for the sharing of end user experiences and queries and are always a very valuable aspect of these end user events.Delegates will have the opportunity to meet representatives from the sponsoring members of the FFMEMC and review the technical catalogs of FOUNDATION fieldbus products and services that they offer.

All attendees are invited to stay for a complimentary dinner - providing a valuable opportunity for questions & answers or general discussions with fellow delegates, presenters and FOUNDATION fieldbus experts.

The FFMEMC enjoys a close working relationship with several ISA groups across the region and is pleased to be cooperating with the ISA Saudi Arabia Chapter and ISA Kuwait Chapter to host the events in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Similarly, the FFMEMC is delighted to be working with members of the Fieldbus Foundation End User Council - Middle East (FFEUCME) in Qatar, KSA, Kuwait and Oman.

E-Register for Muscat, Oman Seminar

E-Register for Kuwait City, Kuwait Seminar