Definition:
OREDA is an industry-maintained reliability database owned and governed by the OREDA Joint Industry Project (JIP), a consortium of companies primarily from the offshore oil and gas sector. It provides failure rate and failure mode data for equipment used mainly in offshore applications. OREDA is referenced in reliability engineering, maintenance planning, and functional safety activities—especially when estimating failure rates for mechanical and process equipment where manufacturer data is limited or inconsistent.
Access to OREDA data depends on participation level. Member companies contribute field failure data and receive full access to the detailed database, handbooks, and analytical tools. Non-members can access selected publications and datasets, typically at higher cost and with reduced detail.
OREDA data is delivered through a combination of handbooks and a cloud-based platform, allowing users to query equipment classes, failure modes, service conditions, and confidence bounds. In the context of IEC 61511 work, OREDA is used as a source of generic mechanical failure rate data, applied with appropriate engineering judgment.
Importantly, OREDA does not replace vendor-specific FMEDA data for sensors, logic solvers, or certified final elements. Where high-quality, device-specific FMEDA data exists, that data is generally preferred for SIL verification.
Key Points:
- OREDA is a structured reliability database developed and maintained by the joint group of companies, based on real field failure data.
- OREDA has failure rates, failure modes, and distributions
- How it’s used in functional safety:
- Used when vendor FMEDA data is unavailable or unsuitable
- As an input for failure rate assumptions in SIL verification
- Often applied to final elements and mechanical components
- Important limitations:
- Data is generic, not device-specific
- Collected primarily from offshore environments—may not represent other services
- Requires careful justification and conservatism when applied to IEC 61511 SIS calculations
- As more SIL Certified components are available over time, OREDA is less relevant for SIS Engineering. It is though still relevant for other portions of a facility, such as the BPCS.
Example:
Example 1 – When OREDA is Useful
A SIL 2 SIF includes a pneumatically actuated final element.
- The valve is not SIL certified
- The engineer selects an OREDA failure rate for a comparable valve type and service class.
- Conservative assumptions are applied (e.g., worst-case failure mode selection).
- The selected OREDA data source, edition, and rationale are documented in the SIL calculation
Example 2 – When OREDA Is Not Necessary
A SIL 2 pressure protection SIF uses a pressure transmitter and a ON/OFF valve, both are SIL certified. The SIL Certificate (with FMEDA data) has all information needed. OREDA is unnecessary.
See also: failure rate, RAM
Cited Source:
- OREDA Official Site: https://www.oreda.com