Control Automation Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

09/01/2023 Cyber updates What is the Cyber Assessment Framework, and should you consider implementing a cyber security programme? » Read More

19/12/2022 Safety leaders The Sir Moir Lockhead safety award recognises leaders in operational safety around the world. In this, the fourth year of the award, two winners are profiled » Read More

19/12/2022 H&S standards: changing of the guard ISO 45001, occupational health and safety (OH&S), management is intended to help develop a framework to improve safety, reduce workplace risks and create safer working conditions. It has supplanted OHSAS 18001 since March 2021. By David ... » Read More

19/12/2022 On the rise - lift maintenance developments Technologically-powered connectivity via Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and devices is driving time, cost, and environmental changes in the lift industry » Read More

19/12/2022 Musts when decommissioning buried storage tanks Underground storage tanks (USTs) provide an invaluable resource, but eventually their working lives come to an end and they need to be removed. How can that be done in an environmentally safe and hazard-free way? » Read More

19/12/2022 VAT and the domestic reverse charge On 1 March 2021, HMRC overhauled VAT liability within the construction supply chain by introducing a new VAT reverse charge. This affects a wide range of contractors and subcontractors throughout the construction industry, from those ... » Read More

19/12/2022 A squash and a squeeze The HSE’s Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 defines them as “any place including any chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well or other similar space in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a reasonably ... » Read More

19/12/2022 Taking the lead Lagging indicators have been used in the construction industry to measure safety for decades, but a programme of work, Discovering Safety, involving HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and the University of Manchester, is investigating an ... » Read More

19/12/2022 Supporting the Elizabeth line The Elizabeth line (formerly Crossrail) is the new mass-transit railway spanning London from East to West. It has been opening in stages over the past couple of years, to great acclaim. Next year, there may be up to 24 trains an hour ... » Read More

19/12/2022 Be careful out there As the UK heads into recession, engineer surveyors need to remain vigilant. It’s not just households that will be under strain, but businesses as well. Any cutbacks may affect their maintenance and staffing levels, and how frequently they ... » Read More

19/12/2022 Fire-resistant hydraulic fluids When lubricants operate under pressure, there is a risk of small leaks and a fine spray of lubricant being atomised into the air. If such leaks occur with mineral oil-based lubricants in an area where there is an ignition source or near ... » Read More

19/12/2022 Pros and cons of electric linear actuators Rotating machinery has almost entirely shifted to direct electric power, but for linear mechanisms pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders have dominated, thanks to their robustness and relatively small dimensions. Now a host of electric linear ... » Read More

06/12/2022 Time for a dry run Compressed air dryers improve air quality and protect valuable assets, but what types are available and how is it best to care for them? » Read More

06/12/2022 Determining SIL in accordance with IEC 62061 Sector-specific standard IEC 62061 considers the entire life cycle of a machine or plant from conception to dismantling. International safety integrity level (SIL) describes the safety-related performance capability. This article explains ... » Read More

29/11/2022 Powering up Uninterruptible power supplies play a key role when mains power fails, making a carefully planned maintenance regime all the more crucial » Read More

24/11/2022 When fasteners go wrong Taking machinery apart is a routine that every engineer knows – and often enjoys. But what if you can’t take it apart – if fasteners get stuck in place, or (worse) pull out of their fixings? » Read More

24/11/2022 Designing the right impellers Impeller design and specification is critical to fan performance in all applications, and especially when operating in harsh operating environments. Phil Kirkham, engineering manager at Elta Fans Applied Technology, explains what to look ... » Read More

14/11/2022 Shedding light on lighthouses Lighthouses use some of the most effective lights in the world but maintaining them can prove tricky. Ben Spencer finds out why » Read More

14/11/2022 Lighting for ATEX environments Illuminating hazardous and explosive environments can be quite a technical matter. Codes specify the technical solutions appropriate to the risks. By Toby Clark » Read More

14/11/2022 Energy efficiently While it may not be exciting, energy efficiency really has a vital role to play in helping the country make the most of its resources, both as consumers and industry. As an employee in the oil and gas industry, I have witnessed a number of ... » Read More

14/11/2022 Raising the bar in rebar repair One of the biggest degradation mechanisms of concrete is corrosion of the internal reinforcing bar, bringing a real threat of structural failure. How can it be managed to avoid such outcomes? By Brian Wall » Read More

14/11/2022 T Levels - the new broom The first engineering repair standard in the new T Level course suite took its first learners in September. Will Dalrymple reviews the course and approach » Read More

14/11/2022 Determining access rights for facilities Whether talking about a machine, robot, room or entire building, how is it best to ensure safety by restricting employee access? By Steed Webzell » Read More

14/11/2022 The sensor requirements of data centres With responsibility for around 1% of global electricity consumption, the sector is heavily affected by turbulence in energy costs, so there is a very strong demand for energy efficiency. In common with all good process efficiency measures, ... » Read More

14/11/2022 MIC: a solution in the pipeline Aiming to improve the detection, monitoring and mitigation of the billion-dollar issue of microbiologically influenced corrosion is a new joint industry project. By Steed Webzell » Read More