The installation environment is a potential source of common cause failure. Therefore, it is vital that the compatibility of the equipment is established. The `environment` for these purposes includes the climatic, hazardous area, power, earthing, and EMC conditions. In many cases, there may not be a single installation environment. Elements of the system may be installed in differing locations, i.e. central control room, equipment rooms, and field installations. In these cases, it is important to establish the equipment and environment compatibility for each site.
Each installation shall be designed to ensure that the control equipment is not operated in environments that are beyond its design tolerances. Therefore, consideration should be given to the proper control of temperature, humidity, vibration, and shock, as well as adequate shielding and earth to ensure that exposure to electromagnetic interference and electrostatic discharge sources are minimized.