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Siemens D 31 · 2015
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Highlights
Safety Integrated
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Overview
Legal framework
Machine manufacturers and manufacturing plants must ensure
that their machines or plants cannot cause danger due to mal-
functions in addition to the general risks of electric shock, heat
or radiation.
In Europe, for example, compliance with the machinery directive
is required by law by the EC occupational health and safety
directive. In order to ensure compliance with this directive, it is
recommended that the corresponding harmonized European
standards are applied. This triggers the "assumption of confor-
mity" and gives manufacturers and operators the legal security
in terms of compliance with both national regulations and EU
directives. The machine manufacturer uses the CE marking to
document the compliance with all relevant directives and regu-
lations in the free movement of goods.
Safety-related standards
Functional safety is specified in various standards. For example,
EN ISO 12100 specifies standards pertaining to machine safety
(risk assessment and risk reduction). Fundamental requirements
of electrical, electronic and programmable electronic safety-re-
lated systems are defined by IEC 61508. Functional and safety-
relevant requirements of safety-related control systems are
specified in EN 62061 (applicable only to electrical and elec-
tronic control systems), and EN ISO 13849-1, the successor
standard to EN 954-1 which has since been withdrawn.
The above-mentioned standards define different safety require-
ments that the machine has to satisfy in accordance with the risk,
frequency of a dangerous situation, probability of occurrence
and the opportunities for recognizing impending danger.
•
EN ISO 13849-1: Performance Level PL a … e
•
EN 62061: Safety Integrity Level SIL 1 … 3
Trend toward integrated safety systems
The trend toward greater complexity and higher modularity of
machines has seen a shift in safety functions away from the clas-
sical central safety functions (for example, shutdown of the com-
plete machine using a main disconnecting means) and into the
machine control system and the drives. This is often accompa-
nied by a significant increase in productivity because the equip-
ping times are shortened. Depending on the type of machine, it
may even be possible to continue manufacturing other parts
while equipping is in progress.
Integrated safety functions act much faster than those of a con-
ventional design. The safety of a machine is increased further
with Safety Integrated. Furthermore, thanks to the faster method
of operation, safety measures controlled by integrated safety
systems are perceived as less of a hindrance by the machine
operator, therefore significantly reducing the motivation to con-
sciously bypass safety functions.
© Siemens AG 2014