Rethinking Safety: Refineries Move Beyond PLCs

As industrial operations grow more complex, some refineries are taking a bold step - reconfiguring safety systems without traditional PLCs.

Why? To reduce latency, improve reliability, and better integrate with modern automation platforms. This shift reflects a broader trend: rethinking legacy architectures to meet today’s performance and safety demands.

There are several reasons why this shift is being made by some refineries:

• Increased use of edge computing and distributed control
• Need for faster response times in critical safety applications
• Integration with AI, robotics, and smart sensors
• Greater emphasis on cybersecurity and system resilience

For manufacturers and system designers, this opens new questions and opportunities:

• How do you validate safety without PLCs?
• What standards apply to non-traditional architectures?
• How do you ensure compliance and interoperability?

How Intertek Supports Next-Gen Safety Systems:

• Functional safety evaluations for component and integrated systems
• Cybersecurity and digital assurance for connected systems
• Compliance with IEC 61508, IEC 62061, and emerging standards

As refineries and other industrial sectors modernize, Intertek helps ensure that safety evolves with innovation.

Learn more: 
www.intertek.com/industrial
www.intertek.com/industrial/functional-safety/

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