Device for controlling and monitoring sequential subsections of an installation

An apparatus for controlling and monitoring an installation,

• wherein the installation is composed of a plurality of subsections sequentially disposed one behind another in a chain of subsections, each of the subsections, except for terminal subsections at the respective ends of the chain of subsections, is arranged between a forward subsection and a rearward subsection;
• the apparatus comprising:
• a plurality of monitoring units including a first monitoring unit and a second monitoring unit;
• each of the subsections having a first monitoring unit and a second monitoring unit connected thereto;
• said first monitoring unit also being connected to the forward subsection and the second monitoring unit also being connected to the rearward subsection;
• and
• at least some of said monitoring units of the subsections communicating with one another, with the subsections themselves, and/or with a superordinate control point.