Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA)
Unlock the power of LOPA
LOPA is a method used to evaluate heavy-consequence scenarios determining if the combination of probability of occurrence and severity of consequences meets a company’s risk tolerance.
Safeguarding through LOPA
Layers of Protection Analysis to safeguard your operations. Don't leave risk to chance. Discover how LOPA can help you evaluate heavy-consequence scenarios, ensure process safety, and minimize potential hazards. Because failure to focus on LOPA could expose your company to unnecessary risks.
DEKRA's Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) service answers key questions: "How safe is safe enough?" "How many independent protection layers are needed?" "How much risk reduction should each layer provide?" Our experts use LOPA to assess and mitigate risks, providing clear, documented decisions.
Our approach to controlling your risks
Our LOPA approach is your shield against unforeseen hazards. Typically, heavy-consequence scenarios surface during qualitative hazard evaluations like Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) or Hazard and Operability study (HAZOP). LOPA steps in for a meticulous examination of these scenarios. It's a quantitative tool, offering consistency, objectivity, and defensibility.
Imagine LOPA as layers of Swiss cheese slices, each with varying holes representing flaws. A heavy-consequence scenario materialises only when holes align, allowing multiple failures to propagate. For components like Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), relief valves, and rupture disks, knowing or estimating the Probability of Failure on Demand (PFD) is crucial.
We conduct an in-depth analysis of the process under investigation, identifying potential initiating events and assessing their occurrence frequency. Our comprehensive evaluation extends to all process-control features and safeguards, where we estimate the reliability of the protection they offer and ensure the independence of each Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA).
Armed with this critical information, we proceed to semi-quantitatively determine the likelihood of heavy-consequence scenarios. This assessment combines the frequency of occurrence with the severity of consequences, resulting in a robust risk evaluation.
Typically, we use a risk matrix to visually represent the possible combinations of probability and severity of consequences. The resulting risk assessment can then be compared against your facility or corporation's risk tolerance, ready for presentation to site and/or corporate management.
Our commitment to safety doesn't end there. We compile a comprehensive study report that serves as an enduring record of our thorough analysis. This report includes detailed descriptions of potential risks alongside existing safeguards. Furthermore, we provide recommendations for additional safeguards wherever deemed necessary to enhance safety and fortify your operations against unforeseen hazards.