How many locks do we need to Lockout a Double Block & Bleed arrangement

Several clients design Double Block and Bleed (DB&B) isolation into their process, especially when they know they will regularly enter certain Permit-Required Confined Spaces (PRCS). When these DB&B arrangements are part of the design, the isolation valves and the bleed valve are near one another. This allows us to use a single lock with some cable/chain and lockout devices.

We CLOSE the two (2) isolation valves, OPEN the bleed valve, and run the cable/chain around (or if we are using lockout devices on these valves the cable passes through these devices), and we use a single lock to secure the cable in place.

Be sure to read my other 2021 article that argues against this practice: Does Double Block and Bleed require INDEPENDENT isolation points?

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