Thank you for your much appreciated answers.
So to sum up:
ESDV: site wide philosophy, safety related, no need to be fast actuating, linked to SCADA and/or Fire and gas/emergency shut down philosophy
Slam shut valve: local impact, process related, fast actuating, no link with SCADA or any PLC (I think there is always an uninterruptible power supply on a solenoid valve to shut the SSV in case of loss of control of the process)
But 2 related questions come to my mind:
1) Is there some regulations dealing with this difference (if possible if you know European regulations, I would take any regulations dealing with this topic though)?
2) Is there a regulation or best practice document dealing with the architecture of an ESDV (by-pass allowed with or without an ESDV on the by-pass, process use of the ESDV allowed if different PLCs are used with a priority for the Safety PLC...)?
Thanks again for your help