Instrumented risk management measures (IRMM)

Following an upsurge in containment losses in the chemical and oil industries from 2007 onwards, a plan to modernize industrial facilities (PMII) was launched in 2008. This plan led to the definition of new obligations for manufacturers subject to the ICPE (installations classées pour la protection de l'environnement) regime, concerning the identification, assessment and monitoring of critical equipment.

The decree of October 4, 2010 requires manufacturers to implement a methodology for managing and controlling the ageing of instrumented risk control measures (MMRI). The aim is to guarantee that the performance of MMRIs used in hazard studies for SEVESO-classified sites is maintained over time.

The aim of this new requirement is to better prevent ageing, by imposing rigorous monitoring of all safety instrumented systems (SIS), as well as certain MMRs which combine technical equipment (sensor, valve, etc.) and human action. For this type of MMR, better known as safety manual action systems (SAMS), conditions regarding the nature of the human action need to be verified before they can be considered as MMRIs. The aim of this article is to provide the reader with the keys to understanding how to identify MMRIs and compile the information required to produce life sheets. Aspects relating to operations and skills management are not covered in this article. Readers may wish to refer to the recommendations set out in the methodological guide for the management and control of MMRI ageing (guide DT 93).