Instrumentation Tip #07 ICSS & SCADA Sparing Philosophy — Getting It Right in FEED & EPC Design

Описание: If you’re an Engineering Consultant or EPC Engineer working on ICSS or SCADA systems, this one’s for you.

I’ve seen far too many projects stumble because the sparing philosophy was frozen before IOs were finalized or without a clear definition of “fully loaded” systems.

Let’s fix that mindset.

⚙️ Here’s the right approach

1️⃣ Freeze your IOs first — at least 80% completion.
By then, your H&MB, HSOP, SL, and model reviews should be done. Only then should you hand over the IO list to your ICSS engineer for FAT preparation.

2️⃣ Define your sparing on a fully loaded system.
That means the server, memory, operator stations, historian, IO cards, and cabinets — all sized after IO finalization.

3️⃣ Test your hardware based on that full load during FAT.
Use those figures to verify system performance. Don’t let vendors oversize or undersize.

💡 Bonus tip from experience

“ICSS vendors make their profit on hardware, not on software.”

If you want solid software engineering — process, shutdown, IPF, and control narratives — specify it early and clearly. Otherwise, it’ll slip through the cracks.

🧠 Why This Matters

A well-thought-out ICSS sparing philosophy prevents EPC-stage variations, reduces rework, and keeps the project aligned with cost, performance, and FAT readiness.
It’s about engineering foresight — not firefighting later.

📘 I’ve written a detailed article on this topic — check it out on my LinkedIn profile.
🎥 You can also find a full explanation on my YouTube channel (link in bio).

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