Functional safety in the process industry

When planning, setting up, and operating safe process plants and machines, current directives and laws provide the framework to be observed. These standards reflect the minimum state of the art of technology that is to be adhered to. The IEC 61511 series of standards governs the application of the functional safety of systems in the process industry.

The planners, manufacturers, and operators of systems are just as responsible for implementation as the system integration department that implements functional safety. Amendments to the requirements require regular adjustment to verification documents, processes, and employee training. Modifications and integration of subunits into existing systems make continuous checks necessary.

Applications

The process industry deals with a wide range of potential hazards for humans, property, and the environment. To minimize these risks, operation and regulation functions maintain the process control engineering sequences. Systems are protected with integrated safety technology systems.

Products

For functional safety applications in the process industry, Phoenix Contact offers a wide range of SIL-certified products, from safe coupling relays to safe controllers.

Standards and directives Requirements for designing protective functions in the process industry

There are special design guidelines with respect to functional safety when it comes to the fundamental requirements for safe operation of systems in the process industry. The internationally harmonized procedure for PCE safety equipment is described in IEC 61511. A significant part of this procedure is the safety lifecycle in conjunction with functional safety management. The individual phases of the procedure are highly interdependent and make it possible to bear in mind all requirements over the entire lifecycle of the safety equipment.