What is IEC 61508 and EN 13849?

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and European standard EN 13849 are two important standards in the field of functional safety. This article aims to provide a thorough understanding of these standards, their key concepts, and their significance in ensuring safety in various industries.

IEC 61508: The Basis for Safety

IEC 61508 is a comprehensive international standard that defines the requirements and methodologies for achieving functional safety in electrical, electronic, and programmable electronic safety-related systems (E/E/PE SRS). It provides guidelines for managing risks, designing safety functions, and validating the safety performance of systems.

The standard is based on the concept of safety integrity levels (SILs) that represent the level of risk reduction required for a specific safety function. SILs range from SIL 1 (low level of risk reduction) to SIL 4 (high level of risk reduction). IEC 61508 provides detailed guidance on the process of determining SILs, assessing the probability of dangerous failures, and implementing appropriate measures to achieve the desired SIL.

EN 13849: Safety of Machinery

EN 13849 is a harmonized European standard that specifically focuses on the safety of machinery and their control systems. It provides a framework for assessing and calculating the performance of safety-related control functions (SRCSFs) and determining the required performance level (PL).

The standard introduces the concept of PL, which ranges from PL 'a' (lowest) to PL 'e' (highest). Each PL corresponds to a predetermined level of risk reduction, considering factors such as severity of potential injury, exposure, possibility of avoiding hazards, and fault tolerance. EN 13849 outlines the methods and techniques for establishing the PL of SRCSFs and ensuring their integrity throughout the machinery lifecycle.

Significance in Ensuring Safety

IEC 61508 and EN 13849 play a crucial role in enhancing safety across various industries. By providing clear guidelines, risk assessment methodology, and requirements for safety functions and control systems, these standards enable engineers and designers to develop systems that effectively mitigate risks and protect users against potential hazards.

Adherence to these standards ensures that safety measures are systematically implemented, validated, and maintained. It helps mitigate liability risks for manufacturers, promotes international compatibility and acceptance, and instills consumer confidence in the safety of products and systems.

Conclusion

IEC 61508 and EN 13849 are essential standards that set the benchmark for functional safety and machinery safety. Compliance with these standards not only improves safety but also fosters innovation and competitiveness in industries worldwide. Embracing these standards enables organizations to create safe and reliable systems, protecting both people and assets from potential harm.