What is it about?

Two main standards are commonly used to design safety-related control systems for industrial machinery: ISO 13849 and IEC 62061. ISO 13849 has a long history, stretching back to EN 954-1:1996, while IEC 62061 is derived from IEC 61508 and was first published in 2005. An informal survey done in 2012 showed that about 95% of machine builders use ISO 13849 rather than IEC 62061 or any other standard. While the two standards are focused on the same topic, they take significantly different paths and produce similar but different classifications for the reliability of safety-related control systems. This paper looks at the differences and pros and cons of each approach.

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Why is it important?

Currently, there are two competing standards for the functional safety of machinery. The two standards use similar reliability data (PFH) but different methods to evaluate the reliability of these safety-critical systems. Selecting the most appropriate standard for a design project can be critical for its success and for protecting users from harm. Since competing standards exist in the machinery market, the challenge becomes which to choose. This paper examines the differences to help readers select the most appropriate standard.

Perspectives

Control system designers are often left confused when it comes to functional safety. The topic is rarely taught in depth yet is quite complex. Helping designers, technologists, and engineers understand the benefits of the standards that address functional safety can help reduce the confusion and ultimately make for safer machinery in workplaces worldwide.

Mr. Douglas S. G. Nix
Compliance inSight Consulting Inc.

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Safety of Machinery: Significant Differences in Two Widely Used International Standards for the Design of Safety-Related Control Systems, Safety, October 2019, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/safety5040076.
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